When you sign up for a new internet service, you will receive a router that will cover your home’s invaluable Wi-Fi. This box will perform its job admirably, so you may not see the need to invest your hard-earned cash in an upgrade. However, depending on the router type and what you want to do with your home network, an upgrade may be necessary.
Start by familiarizing yourself with the characteristics and features you’ll be dealing with in the router world if you’re considering upgrading your Wi-Fi setup but aren’t sure what to look for. The initial speed of the internet flowing into your home will not be affected by the router you pick but depends entirely on the ISP you choose and the plan you opt for. They do not anticipate significantly quicker download and upload speeds because these are two separate things.
We recommend checking out high-speed internet providers like Cox that provide top-of-the-line routers along with reliable services. You may also look for Cox internet prices to see how affordable its packages are.
Internet Package & Equipment
Having improved coverage is the actual advantage of new equipment. If there are any dead zones at your house or apartment where you cannot make an emergency call or attend an important meeting, you need a new router that could produce stronger signals that transmit Wi-Fi signals to every corner of the house. Even with the same broadband plan, this implies a quicker, more reliable connection.
Conduction a wifi speed test and comparing the internet speed you signed up with your ISP with the current speed you’re experiencing on your devices is an excellent method to measure this. Accessing a basic internet speed test site like speedcheck.org will suffice. If you see a significant difference between the two, you may need to update your router.
When looking for a router update, you will find that many of the more expensive versions come with many, larger antennas. They are not just for show; they are also capable of beaming Wi-Fi signals that are stronger and go further. More antennas are typically preferred since they provide more connection points for your devices.
To get a sense of the Wi-Fi speeds you can receive and how much of your house can be covered by the network, look for the claimed throughput and range on a router. Do not forget to look up customer evaluations on the internet to verify the manufacturer’s promises are accurate.
Although the number of antennae is essential, bear in mind that it is only one of several factors that determine how quickly a router can pipe Wi-Fi to your devices.
What Are Dual-Band Routers?
Dual-band routers that operate at both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies are increasingly popular. They essentially offer your Wi-Fi transmissions extra frequency channels to go along, reducing the likelihood of signal interference. This eliminates sluggish and unreliable connection links.
Conventional 2.4GHz channels are slower and more susceptible to interference than 5GHz channels. They can, however, travel greater distances and penetrate barriers better like doors and walls. Similarly, routers with dual-band are intelligent and are able to manage channels on their own, making sure that you are always connected to the optimal channel at all times, regardless of any place in your house.
Wi-Fi Improvements
Wi-Fi has generations, just like video game consoles and smartphone CPUs. Wi-Fi 6 is the most recent version, and it’s supported by some of the top routers on the market around the world.
With each Wi-Fi upgrade, engineering and algorithms improve, allowing data to be sent quicker, safely, and with minimal disturbance. A higher generation also means the connection can handle more devices at the same time.
Upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6 router to increase Wi-Fi coverage, however, the improvements will not be significant until all of your devices are Wi-Fi 6 compatible. And, bear in mind, because it requires a hardware upgrade, this might take time.
Latest Mesh Trend
Several mesh routers have been on the market in recent years, including devices from Google, Netgear, and Eero. These systems come with a core router as well as one or more satellite terminals that may be placed throughout the house.
Instead of a single router performing the whole job, the load will be shared among many devices, covering a larger area and working together to ensure that your devices always have the best Wi-Fi signal available.
If you have a large house and are sick of corners where you don’t get signals, mesh routers are the best choice for you as they offer a lot of versatility. While their highest speeds aren’t always as fast as the finest standalone routers, they’re generally a superior range solution.
Final Words
If you are lucky to have a big house but are suffering from a lot of dead zones, you need to reconsider your router choice. Quality of service, or QoS, elements should also be on your radar. They’re incorporated into router software and allow it to prioritize internet traffic, providing high-bandwidth devices like gaming consoles, more bandwidth than low-bandwidth devices like smart speakers.
