What to look for when choosing a good router. Our homes are becoming more and more connected, so it’s no wonder that we need to equip them with good routers. But how do you choose the best one? Here is a list of things you should think about before deciding on a router.
Table of Contents
1. Number of devices you will use at the same time
The number of devices determines the speed offered by a router. Routers provide speeds from 0 to 300 Mbps, but in practical terms, speeds range from 50 Mbps to 100 Mbps. This may not seem much if your Internet speed is 30 Mbps or 40 Mbps, but it can cause problems when many people simultaneously try to access online content from their mobile phones, tablets, and other Wi-Fi-enabled appliances.
In these cases, slowdowns in the network are a problem, and this is where routers with higher speeds can be helpful. If you have many people using the same network simultaneously, consider choosing a router that offers 100 Mbps or more. It should also be noted that some services, such as Netflix in HD quality, require very high speeds to work at their best.
2. When choosing a good router, you should consider its security features.
With the myriad options available, it’s easy to get lost and not know what you need to look for. But don’t worry! We’ll give some tips on choosing the best router on the market. In addition to security, there are several factors you should keep in mind: speed, number of antennas, types of wireless standards supported, and security capabilities. Depending on your needs — whether you’re just surfing the web or streaming video — we can recommend some models that will suit your purposes and offer the kind of connectivity you’re looking for! Wireless standards: WIFI-A/B/G/N/AC
3. Dual-band router.
This type of model allows both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands so that there’s less congestion and because each device will be using a different radio band, increasing data transfer speeds and reducing dead spots in the home.
Another thing to keep in mind when choosing a router is wireless standards — 802.11a/b/g/n or AC — which indicate the maximum speed it supports on the 5GHz frequency band (although all devices don’t necessarily support these standards!). These days, we recommend getting a wireless AC1200 or higher to ensure excellent coverage throughout your home without any dropped connections or dead spots.
What’s your home look like? Does it have thick concrete walls, or is it an open concept loft with high ceilings? If you live in a larger space, you’ll likely need a router that offers tri-band support to make sure everyone can enjoy good connections at the same time.
Another factor to consider is how many devices we plan on connecting — let’s say we want to connect ten smartphones and one smart TV — and whether we need MU-MIMO capability (multi-user, multiple-input, multiple outputs). MU-MIMO allows routers to communicate simultaneously with several wireless devices and boosts data transfer speeds and network performance by about 30 percent! All devices must be MU-MIMO ready to get the most out of this technology.
4. Choosing a good router let’s get into the specs.
Most routers are pre-equipped with two antennas or more, but you can also choose one equipped with four or eight antennas to improve signal range. Also, remember that the more powerful the router, the stronger your connection will be throughout your home—2.4GHz vs. 5GHz.
If your devices have a wireless adapter capable of connecting to both bands, it’s always better to connect them on 5 GHz when available since this band is much faster than 2.4 GHz (300 Mbps compared to 54 Mbps). However, if you don’t have many compatible devices in your network and too much interference is present in your area, this won’t make much of a difference; your devices will still have to cope with slower speeds.
And if you are running newer devices that can also connect on the 5GHz band, there is absolutely no reason to connect them on 2.4 GHz since they are not compatible with legacy wireless adapters.
4.1 Antennas
Remember how we told you that the more antennas a router have, the better its signal range? Well, one other benefit of this feature is that some routers allow you to point the antennas in specific directions to target your wireless coverage where it’s needed most. This means less congestion and stronger signals for all of your devices; homeowners should always aim for this kind of router!
4.2. USB support .
More modern routers now come equipped with at least two USB ports that turn them into wireless adapters for any device with a USB port. This means that you can create a wireless hotspot in your home without the hassle of buying an additional wireless adapter to do the job.
4.3. Guest networking
Guest networking is another great feature that allows you to set up a separate network for visitors, which blocks their access to devices and files on your main network. The best part about this feature is it’s incredibly easy to use; activate it, configure the name and password for the guest network, and finally publish the new settings so others around you can enjoy it too!
4.4. Parental Control
Having complete control over who gets access to what in your house might seem like something only businesses would need, but it’s beneficial for those who have children as well. Some routers come with a built-in DHCP service that allows you to block specific websites and services and even allows parents to limit the time of day their kids can go online.
4.5. Bandwidth monitoring & control
Your router might already come with a bandwidth meter, but it’s usually limited to just telling you how many GB’s you’ve used in a given month or week. This is why Netgear has included speed thresholds that allow users (you) to determine when your connection should be prioritized for data transfer. In addition, you can set individual connections on your computer or device to use the same threshold value, thus setting all traffic on said device/computer to always this one rule unless otherwise changed.
4.6. Block specific devices from accessing the internet
Parents, in general, love to set limits on their kids. The trouble is that much modern software relies on internet access to work correctly. One way around this would be to dedicate a laptop or tablet just to the kid and make sure it has no other purpose but to play their games, read books and watch movies/TV shows online. Just remember, though: kids will eventually find a way around any restriction adults put in place if they want something badly enough 😀 In which case, router configuration might still come in handy because you could permanently block a device from ever connecting to the internet using your router’s security features.
4.7. Net Nanny / Net Sitter
Net Nanny or Net Sitter are types of software that block access to online content such as websites, games, and apps based on their content category (i.e., Social Networks = yes, Violence = no). These programs usually come included in routers from manufacturers like Belkin or Linksys, so you do not have to go out and buy them separately. The good thing about these programs is that they work on every device behind the router: laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc… So if you have kids, you can go with this option to prevent them from accessing inappropriate content.
4.8. Internal Filtering (Content-Control) Software
If the “phones are off” or there is no app for filtering (see point 7), parents need to install software on each computer/tablet/smartphone to control what sites their children can visit. The advantage of using internal software is that the child cannot switch it off and that it only sees the stuff that comes through your router (all devices on your network). See point 5 above for more details.
4.9. Restrict Internet Access During Specific Hours
This is the cheapest way since you don’t need additional hardware other than an old alarm clock, which will set the time for internet access to be blocked. It is also a good solution if your children behave in the late evening but need a curfew during other times throughout the day. You can buy old alarm clocks for as little as $5-10 at thrift stores and even cheaper via Amazon or eBay.
Conclusion
When choosing a router, you need to consider your needs for wifi connectivity. Do you want the best performance, or do you prioritize saving money? Would it be more convenient if your router could share an internet connection with other devices in the home? If so, then look for one that includes either Ethernet ports or wireless range extenders, which can provide additional coverage. And finally, how much time are you willing to spend configuring and setting up the device before it’s ready to use?
The longer they take to set up, the easier they will be able to configure updates and troubleshoot problems like interference from appliances such as microwaves. Take these considerations when deciding on a router.