Multiple antennas create several streams for sharing data over radio channels, which brings more bandwidth to your devices. When purchasing a router, think less about the number of antennas and more about added functionality. Why it matters: Single, dual, and tri-band refers to the frequency channels of a router. Dual band routers support both 2. Tri-band routers support a third band on the 5GHz channel, 5.
By utilizing both the 2. As the technology continues to improve, this will change in the future. How to choose: While some households can operate successfully on This more than counters the fact that, in lab conditions, 5GHz signals do not actually broadcast as far as 2.
The second key factor is Rather than throw out wireless signal equally in all directions, WiFi with beamforming detects where devices are and intensifies the signal in their direction s. This technology has been around in proprietary form it made a huge impact in the D-Link DIR , but now it will be inside every The combination of these two technologies is profound. This was most clearly seen with the Linksys EA which hit speeds of The real world result is Of course some manufacturers have jumped the gun.
The Draft Certified products are. The good news is the first certified chipsets are already creeping out and they come from the likes of Intel, Qualcomm, Cisco, Realtek, Marvell, Broadcom and Samsung — manufacturers with extensive networking expertise and who licence their chipsets to others. A full list of Furthermore, adoption should be fast. N Routers. Nighthawk Routers. Powerline and Wall Plug Extenders. Wireless Access Points. Other Business Products. Mobile Broadband.
That's a clear sign that the router is falling short of your network's potential. If problems like those persist, try running some speed tests in various spots around your home using a few different devices -- both your phone and your laptop, for instance. I like the Ookla speed test, which is fast, free, reliable and easy to use -- you can run it in your browser by clicking here , or you can download Ookla's speed-testing app to your Android or iOS device, or even to an Apple TV.
Whatever devices you use, those results should give you a clearer sense of whether the problem is tied to a specific client device or location in your home, or whether it's a bigger issue affecting everything. With the numbers giving you a better understanding of the status quo, make some quick tweaks and see if things improve. Try repositioning the router to a spot that's more open and central within your home, preferably in a location that's as high as possible. While you're at it, adjusting the angle of the antennas might help boost the signal to specific spots around the house.
It's also a good idea to blast the ports in the back and the airflow vents with a can of compressed air to break through dust build-up -- gunk like that can cause your router to overheat and its performance to dip. Router technology and security are always improving, and we've seen some significant jumps in the past few years with the arrival of Wi-Fi 6 and WPA3 , the latest generations of Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi security, respectively.
Generational advances like those leave yesterday's routers in the dust, so it's worth upgrading to a router that supports them as soon as it makes sense for you to do so -- even if the one you're using now is still getting the job done.
Outside of that, the mere fact that so many of us are spending so much more time at home these days makes the idea of upgrading your router even more compelling. Upgrading to Wi-Fi 6, a new generation of Wi-Fi that's better suited for dense, crowded environments where you have lots of devices competing for bandwidth, is definitely one way to give your network a boost -- and with lots of new Wi-Fi 6 routers and client devices available on the market right now, seems like a particularly good year to buy in.
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