Some users on forums are wondering if it is possible to remove the stand that comes already embedded in the Movistar Smart WiFi 6 router. The stand is that black support or base, on which the sticker with information about the router and the network is placed. At the ends, it has black rubber stoppers that also serve as a support for the device, which is designed to be placed in a vertical position.
One might wonder why anyone would want to remove it, since this support doesn’t get in the way at all and, after all, it’s part of the body of the router from the moment we take it out of the box. But, as one user recently explained on forums, there are people who may want to place the router inside a wiring box or inside a storage room or drawer, where space is very limited and the stand makes it difficult to fit.
For example, this user has to place the router inside the wiring box where the Ethernet cables come out, and the space, built into the wall, is too narrow. And from there come the questions of whether it can be removed, and how to do it without damaging the router.
But even if you manage to remove that base, there is also the issue of a possible penalty from Movistar, since if one day you decide to change operator, you will have to return the router in good condition or, otherwise, you will have to pay an amount.
However, some users encourage people to carefully disassemble it, unscrewing the rubber stoppers and checking if there are any cables, and if so, simply remove it. Another user even claims that their installation technician agreed to remove the stand with a saw, which does not seem to be true, although we cannot know for sure.
Better not take it off
In any case, there is an official response from Movistar. In response to a similar question asked in 2023 in the forum Movistar, a user answered the question, which a Movistar technician later confirmed was valid. The truth is that no, it cannot or should not be removed, since the stand is considered part of the router.
They also indicate that the router should never be placed inside an ICT box: “The router should never be placed in the ICT box, it will suffer high temperatures (and even more so the Smart WiFi 6, and the WiFi coverage will be affected,” explains user Antena-KAT. He also explains that today there is no other Movistar router model without such support.
For all these reasons, we have come to the conclusion that it is preferable not to tamper with the router in this way. It could compromise its operation and cause a breakdown. We should also have a connection point that is not inside a telecommunications wiring box, where the router could be exposed to high temperatures and this, in the long run, will also result in a breakdown or, worse, a fire if a spark occurs.
