So, you have finally decided to buy a new router, but you are a little bit lost on what to look for when you purchase one. Well, don’t worry, certain tips can help you with solving the problem of buying a new router in 2023.
The basic thing to do when you are buying a router is to check the place where you will be placing the router and the average number of devices you will be connecting to the network. Did you know that every device that accesses the internet has a unique address? This IP address is provided by your ISP.
This article linked here will help you know more about it. Contact your internet service provider to check if the router is compatible with the connection provided.
Table of Contents
1. Choosing the bandwidth.
This depends on your daily usage of the network. Make sure your router has dual bandwidth connectivity or a tri-bandwidth one. Routers with single bandwidth connectivity only offer 2.4ghz bandwidth, whereas dual and tri bandwidth routers offer both 2.4ghz and 5ghz connectivity.
The difference between the two is that 2.4 GHz has a larger range, but the speeds are reduced. This is because all electronic devices have a default bandwidth of 2.4 GHz, and the increase in the number of connections causes the speed to decrease. On the other hand, the 5ghz bandwidth has a shorter range, but it can provide high speeds. And since only certain devices can connect to it, the network traffic is very low.
Since the routers with dual and tri bandwidth connectivity offer both options, it is advisable to go for them.
2. Look for the standard.
Check for the latest Wi-Fi standard that is supported on the router. The most common standards in the market today are 802.11n and 802.11ac. Both are good. The 802.11n is the most used one as it is preferred for normal usage. They can support a speed limit of up to 600mbps and offer both 2.4ghz and 5ghz connectivity. The second one, 802.11ac, is for heavier usage. They support a speed limit of up to 1 Gbps. However, the drawback is that they offer only 5ghz connectivity. The router must have multiple inputs and multiple output features (MIMO) to allow many users to connect to the same network.
3. Security
Security is no joke. When buying the router, make sure it has at least WPA2 (Wi-Fi-protected access) protection. This is to prevent the connection from being hacked. It is further advisable to ensure that all the connected devices share the same amount of protection. It must have the latest firewall protection, antivirus, and a high level of encryption. So, choose a good and reputable brand that focuses on customer satisfaction and thus provides all the required safety measures.
4. Intelligent quality of service
It is better if the router has an adaptive or intelligent quality of service feature. This helps the router to manage the tasks based on priority. It can split the connection to high for streaming videos or gaming and low to less demanding jobs. And with new features constantly rolling out these days, it will be good if the router has a smart home integration system to connect with Alexa and google Nests. It must have a mobile app to monitor the usage of data and check speed.
5. Customer service
Don’t buy a router just because it looks attractive. When buying, choose a brand that has a well-established name in the market. This ensures you receive a proper response from the company if any problems happen unknowingly with the router after purchasing it.
It would help if you considered a few other things while buying a router, but these facts are not as important as those mentioned above. The router with a USB slot in the back can be used to store data via a USB, and this data can be transmitted to various devices on the same network. In some routers, the antennas are located inside the casing, offering a more elegant look. However, the disadvantage here is that this can cause a decrease in the signal strength rather than the antennas outside the casing. If the antennas are adjustable, they can obtain the best coverage, thus improving the signal strength.
It would be great if you compare the real-life speed of the router with the claimed speed. The router must have a decent configuration, such as a good processor and a ram. This is because the routers need a lot of power to manage all the high-performance activities such as online gaming and video streaming.
