It tried them with a 2012 iPhone 5, a 2014 iPhone 6 Plus, a 2013 HTC One M7, a 2015 Samsung Galaxy S6, a 2012 MacBook Air and a 2014 MacBook Air. But even older devices that support only the previous standard, 802.11n, can enjoy faster speeds at long range with a newer 802.11ac router.įor these tests, The Wirecutter used two routers: its top 802.11ac router recommendation, TP-Link’s Archer C7, and an older 802.11n router, Netgear’s WNDR3700. Many smartphones, tablets and laptops released since 2013 support 802.11ac. Many also support the latest Wi-Fi standard - 802.11ac - which has top speeds that are nearly three times faster than the previous standard, 802.11n, for the fastest wireless devices you can buy today. Not only can a newer router improve the speed and range for users, the routers typically have upgraded internal components and strong external antennas.
2.4 ghz router upgrade#
The Wirecutter performed a battery of tests on two top-performing routers with six devices, and the results were unmistakable: If your current router is at least three years old, there is no reason not to upgrade to a new router.
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That means it is time to buy a newer, faster router. Those routers, which often double as modems, are often slow and short-ranged. Some people never upgrade routers, especially those who still use the router that their Internet service provider lent them years ago. An outdated router becomes a bottleneck that hinders the speeds of web downloads and file transfers between connected devices. People may wait years before buying a new router, so their devices might be more up-to-date than their infrastructure. All of a sudden Wi-Fi is in everything and everywhere, and we’re moving around our homes much more.”Ĭonsumer behavior is also to blame for Wi-Fi headaches. “All they were thinking about was supporting people with laptops in their homes and commercial environments. “The router manufacturers are kind of brain-dead,” said Dave Fraser, the chief executive of Devicescape, which develops technology for making public Wi-Fi networks usable for mobile phone service. And routers are spewing out energy for longer distances that may be bumping into neighbors’ signals. In buildings crowded with smartphones, computers, smart TVs and tablets, the devices’ signals are now fighting for room on the same radio channels. That did little to prepare people for the explosion of Internet-connected mobile devices. For years, router makers like Netgear, Linksys and Cisco focused on making Wi-Fi technology transmit data at higher speeds and over longer distances. Wi-Fi headaches start with how the technology has evolved. But they should be wary of buying a cheap router that isn’t any good, or spending too much on one that is too complex for their needs. The bottom line: People with devices both new and old will see an improvement by upgrading to a recent router that supports the latest Wi-Fi standards. It also ran new tests for The New York Times to come up with best practices for getting a stronger, signal. The Wirecutter put dozens of top-rated routers and devices through hundreds of hours of testing to pick out the best router for most people and come up with other recommendations tailored to different living situations and budgets. So to diagnose and cure Wi-Fi headaches, we teamed up with The Wirecutter, the product recommendations website. Jargony tech terms like 802.11 or dual-band add to the confusion when people upgrade a router or try to decide which one to pick. Most routers are difficult to configure for anyone who doesn’t work in an information technology department.
2.4 ghz router install#
The condition is rooted in the networking devices called routers that people install in their homes for Wi-Fi connectivity. McConnell experienced is a situation we call “Wi-Fi headache,” and it’s an ailment that many can relate to. “Things would work, and then the next morning they wouldn’t work again.” McConnell, who lives in a condominium building in Kirkland, Wash. “It was totally ruining my life,” said Mr.
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Instead, he got the opposite, with his iPad often getting no wireless connection in his bedroom.įor days, he tinkered with the router’s settings, but couldn’t figure out a fix.
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Bob McConnell, a retired engineer, set up a new wireless router in his home this year to get faster Internet speeds.