3 Things to Think About Before Buying a New Router
A new WiFi router may help your home network if you want it to handle it in an effective way. One problem that may concern you is the availability of the numerous options, and looking for the update might be confusing. Even after that, you may get puzzled by the jargon.
How swiftly is too swift? Is it worth spending the bucks on a router that supports the WiFi 6, i.e. the most updated WiFi standard or a multipoint mesh router? Don’t forget the WiFi 6E routers, which allow the users to have a wide range of the 6GHZ spectrum. There is more to it and think about a better internet plan such as Xfinity Internet.
It is not that hard to find a good router. All you need is a dependable router, and the rest case is ours. You don’t have to think about anything else. It should be noted that wireless networks require a lot of technicalities and abnormalities. But in case you are looking for the one which works exceptionally for you and are easy to use, then it is not difficult to find the suitable one.
Let’s look at the three prime fundamentals to contemplate before you buy a new router.
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Maybe You Don’t Even Need a New Router
Before you invest any bucks on the new one, ensure that you making the most of your current router. As we know that WiFi is choosy and vulnerable to interruption, your router does not fall in that category if your network connection is slower than it requires it to be.
There are a number of ways to make sure that the router is working at full efficiency. But there are two important concerns about it to the environment and elevated off the ground.
However, Keeping the router inside the closet or under your TV will weaken the WiFi signal. The new router could not assist you in this if you place the router in the same place.
You just need to keep away from physical hindrances such as Furniture, and heavy appliances like Televisions that could potentially hamper and interfere with the connection. There are some ways like Folding the antenna flat or at an angle, which may help you direct the signal up or down to help cover a basement or higher level. However, the best direction for horizontal coverage in a single-story home is straight up and down.
Additionally, If you need our router signal to be extended by a room, then you might get the speed by investing in a WiFi range extender. This is rather less expensive than buying a new router.
Lastly, It will be worthwhile if you check your internet service provider to make sure you are using the new technology.
Your ISP Sets the Speed Limit
You should always keep this fact in mind that despite the super-fast router that you may have at any point in time, your network largely depends upon the maximum speed allowed by your ISP’s plan that you have opted for. Your router cannot get higher than the speed of your internet plan. Suppose you have bought a plan where the maximum speed is 100Mbps, then no matter what router you are using, your speed will always be less than or upto 100 Mbps. Period.
The average broadband speed in the US is a little over 150 MBPS. Only a few among us can actually browse the internet as smoothly as they imagine. However, we do notice a rise in the number of routers in our testing for top-speed internet, and we do see many routers can easily reach 1 GBPS.
This does not mean routers that provide high speed are invaluable. Maximum speeds are still within your reach. For instance, you are using your router to pull data from one system to another only on your local network. In such a case, the speed tests on the internet showing upload and download speeds are absolutely useless. It is because you are utilizing the local home network to transmit and receive data.
Additionally, giving your router an upgrade can help you utilize your home’s internet in the best way possible. Especially if you are one of those, who have to connect remotely. While surfing the internet, look for the reviews of the routers you are interested in, and see what’s the best one for your home, according to your requirements.
Wi-fi is Important, But Not a Big Deal
You must have seen a recent upsurge in demand for routers that easily give gigabits of speed and it is because of Wi-fi 6. The all-new Wi-fi standard is the fastest. To simplify the terminology for you, Wi-fi 6 is capable of sending more data to a bigger number of devices simultaneously.
Do you know what’s the good news here? Wi-fi 6 is globally available now and you will also get some cheaper choices to choose from. But that’s not it! There’s more good news. The latest Wi-fi 6 will also work with your existing devices since it is capable of connecting with old technology too. However, this does not mean that the speed of your old devices will drastically improve, as they are still working on an older model of connectivity.
Wi-fi 6 will most impact large premises where people struggle to connect with wi-fi networks due to far range. Do not upgrade your Wi-fi network instantly because there might not be a genuine need for it right now.
Final Reflections
We always think about internet speed when talking about routers; however, to be true, only two speeds exist- “fast” and “not fast enough”.
For the majority, the primary change in home networks is only to change the single-point router to an expanding mesh system cause obviously, meh is a better choice. Not only does a mesh system gives a reliable network for multiple devices but it also is super fast throughout your space.
In the end, it all depends upon your Wifi requirements.