![]() ![]() Wi-Fi routers with adequate switch ports can eliminate the need for a standalone network switch, as well. Doing so reserves valuable wireless bandwidth for wireless-only devices, and it can reduce intermittent issues that stem from wireless interference. A good, easy-to-configure user interface can make a big difference, as well.ĭespite the relentless push towards an all wireless worlds, it still makes sense to connect certain devices to the web via wires, such as Network-Attached Storage (NAS) appliances and desktop PCs. Wi-Fi management features and functionalityįinding the right Wi-Fi router for you is about more than a simple performance evaluation. You may never actually be able to get 1,750Mbps on a single stream from such a router. A Wi-Fi router that offers AC1750, for instance, really supports just 450Mbps on 2.5GHz and 1,300Mbps on 5GHz (450 + 1,300 = 1,750). To make the whole thing even more confusing, the manufacturers of some Wi-Fi routers combine the maximum theoretical speeds of the two or three bands their products support to come up with highly misleading performance numbers, such as AC1200, AC1750 and AC3200. Most of today’s mobile devices can only use one band at a time, so it may be a better idea to buy a second Wi-Fi router, or roll out a business-grade Wi-Fi system to better support large numbers of Wi-Fi devices. Unless you plan to simultaneously use a dozen or more 5GHz devices, a cutting-edge, tri-band router probably isn’t worth the money. In theory, 802.11n devices can offer as many as four separate spatial streams, and 802.11ac supports up to eight streams.Īny new Wi-Fi router you buy today should support dual-band wireless, so it’s backwards compatibility with older 2.4GHz devices, as well as any devices that use the 5GHz band, which is less prone to interference. To enable speedier data transfer, 802.11n and 802.11ac leverage Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology, which uses different antennas to send multiple streams of wireless data for better performance. That family includes the trusted 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g standards, and newer Wi-Fi devices support the much faster 802.11n and 802.11ac, as well. ![]() Mobile devices that support Wi-Fi today conform to the 802.11 family of protocols for wireless communication. Making sense of Wi-Fi standards and technologies Does your home office Wi-Fi router’s lackluster performance hamper your productivity? Do you constantly deal with wireless connectivity issues that drive you crazy? And do the problems get worse as you add more wireless devices to the network? If you answered yes to any of these questions, an upgrade of your aging, overloaded Wi-Fi router may be the only guaranteed solution.īefore you buy that bargain basement router or even splurge on the most expensive model, it’s wise to make sure you understand the technologies behind your in-home wireless so you can pick the best router for your workspace or small office.
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