Everybody wants reliable and fast internet, and a good router can help. The trick is figuring out how the complicated mess of standards, confusing acronyms, and sci-fi-sounding features translate to better Wi-Fi in your home. Join us as we pull back the curtain on revealing the pertinent facts about Wi-Fi, routers, mesh systems, and other jargon. Hopefully, you’ll be better equipped to buy a router in the end.
Updated April 2023: We’ve added information about Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi 7, updated the latest broadband speeds, updated our minimum recommendations, and added an explanation of the SSID.
table of Contents
Special offer for Gear readers: get a 1 year subscription to WITH CABLE for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if desired). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
Who is your internet service provider?
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) connect your home to the Internet and typically send you a modem and router (sometimes in one device). The modem connects your home to the general Internet, the router connects to the modem, and you connect all of your devices, wired or wireless, to the router to access that connectivity. ISPs often charge you a rental fee for this equipment, and their routers are often basic in terms of performance and features. The good news is that, by law, ISPs are no longer allowed to force you to use their equipment or charge you for using your own teamalthough you may still have to return your stuff to avoid charges.
In this guide, we are largely looking at using your own router and your ISP’s modem. By using yours, you can save money in the long run, but you can also enjoy faster Wi-Fi, better coverage, easier setup, and added features like parental controls and guest Wi-Fi networks. We’ll go over your router options, but whichever system you decide to use, check compatibility with your ISP before you buy. You can also search your ISP’s forums to find posts where people discuss using different routers and modems. A little research before you buy can save you a big headache down the road.
What kind of router do you need?
Photography: Netgear
There are many ways to make your Wi-Fi faster, and buying a new router is one of the most obvious. To help you decide which type of router to choose, estimate the approximate square footage of your home before you begin.
single router
The easiest solution for most people is to choose a single router or a combination of router and modem. Please note that this device will need to be connected to your existing outlet or modem via an Ethernet cable, which restricts where you can place it. The Wi-Fi signal will be strongest close to the router and will gradually wane and wane as you get further away. If you can, place your router in the center of your home and leave it out in the open.
Routers should always list square footage for coverage, but certain types of construction (thick walls, insulation, and other devices) can interfere with Wi-Fi signals, so don’t expect high-speed Wi-Fi over distances. longer. Powerful routers with wide coverage are usually large devices with multiple external antennas, but they are often very expensive.
mesh systems
If you have a large home and want solid coverage in your yard, or have thick walls and specific dead spots with your current setup, then mesh Wi-Fi could be the answer. mesh systems They consist of a central hub, which connects as a single router, as well as additional satellites or nodes that you can place around the home.
Devices connect to the Internet through the nearest node, so you can achieve wider Wi-Fi coverage and more reliable connection in different areas by adding a node. Just keep in mind that each node will need a power outlet. Mesh systems are typically more expensive than single-router setups (though not always), but they improve coverage and reliability and often come with additional features and control options. They also tend to be smaller than regular routers and are usually designed to blend in with your decor.
Most mesh systems are expandable, and some manufacturers allow you to link individual routers together to create a mesh, so you can start with just one router and add more as needed. Just make sure you understand what devices are supported. For example, any Asus router that supports AiMesh can work as part of a mesh system, but TP-Link’s OneMesh technology only allows you to add compatible Wi-Fi extenders; you cannot link routers together.
Alternatives to a new router
Photo: Eskay Lim/Getty Images
If your problem is more about coverage and you have a single problem where you want to improve Wi-Fi, or a particular device that needs a faster connection, you may not need to buy a new router. Try one of these alternatives. Each have their own technical challenges and potential problems. Even when successfully implemented, they won’t come close to the convenience of a good mesh system, but they are all much cheaper.
ethernet cables
Before Wi-Fi was ubiquitous, we relied on Ethernet cables to connect computers and other devices to routers. Ethernet connections are much faster, more stable, and more secure than Wi-Fi (or any other option we suggest here). The downside is that the device you want to connect must have an Ethernet port and you must run a cable from your router to the device. If you need to run Ethernet cables at multiple points, use an Ethernet switch. With a switch, you can connect one cable from your router and connect multiple cables to multiple devices. Anyone looking to get the best performance from a mesh system should also consider running Ethernet cables between the main router and the nodes to create a wired backhaul that leaves Wi-Fi bands free for their devices to connect.
Power Line Adapters
Sold in pairs, powerline adapters transmit an Internet signal through your electrical wiring. You plug one into an outlet near your router and connect it with an Ethernet cable, while the other powerline adapter plugs into an outlet in the room where you want a faster internet connection. They might be a good solution if you have a console or smart TV in your living room at the back of the house, but your router is in the front hallway, for example. Unfortunately, the effectiveness largely depends on your electrical wiring.
MoCA (Multimedia Over Coax Alliance)
If your home already has coaxial cables installed (perhaps for cable TV), you can use them to create a reliable wired network that offers high speeds and low latency compared to Wi-Fi. You can purchase routers, network adapters, or Wi-Fi extenders that are compatible with MoCA standard. Like powerline adapters, this can be a great way to pass an internet signal to a smart TV, game console, or desktop that doesn’t get a strong Wi-Fi signal.
wifi repeaters
You can use Wi-Fi repeaters to spread Wi-Fi a bit further from a single router and potentially boost the signal in a dead spot. These devices are a good solution for some people, but they can be inefficient, prone to interference, and often create a secondary network with a different name than your regular Wi-Fi.
Access points
If you don’t mind a challenge and have an old router to spare, you can set it up as an access point or use it as a Wi-Fi extender. This can be particularly effective if you can connect it to your main router via wiring, but setup can be tricky.
Photography: Getty Images
There’s a lot to consider when you’re trying to decide how fast your router should be. The maximum speed of your Internet is determined by your ISP. Internet speeds are expressed in Mbps (megabits per second). The global average fixed broadband speed is 79 Mbps for downloads and 34 Mbps for uploads, according to Ookla speed test. Most ISPs will list up to a certain speed or give you a range, like 300 Mbps download and 30 Mbps upload, but what you actually get is often lower than the maximum (especially upload speeds), and you should shared among all your connected devices.
—————————————————-
Source link