Smart City Telecom Blog

5 things to consider when buying a Wi-Fi router

By Krista Lockhart
Wi-Fi
What to consider when buying a Wi-Fi Router.

Selecting a Wi-Fi router is tricky because it acts as the central hub for your devices. A Wi-Fi router supports your entertainment, working from home, and virtual school needs. Selecting the right Wi-Fi router ensures safe and secure connectivity and uninterrupted web browsing. While it can be tricky, here are our top 5 considerations for selecting the Wi-Fi router that will fit your needs.

Discover the top 5 considerations before purchasing the best Wi-Fi router for your home.

Wi-Fi Band:

First, wireless routers operate on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. The 2.4GHz band can get congested with numerous devices and is slower at a longer range. However, the 5GHz band offers a faster, less crowded connection but with the drawback of a shorter range. Dual-band routers, utilizing both bands simultaneously, are ideal for large residential communities.

Range:

Dead zones exist in virtually every home or office. So, ideally, your Wi-Fi router should be centrally located away from obstacles and positioned higher on a shelf.  Power-line adapters may improve the range and extend network coverage by utilizing your electrical wiring. Be aware of their speed limitations, as they usually only provide physical ethernet connections.

Speed:

We recommend opting for a Wi-Fi router that exceeds the speeds promised by your internet subscription with multiple devices connected simultaneously. Ensure the router supports the highest speeds for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. Fun fact: Linking your Wi-Fi router via an Ethernet cable should deliver the fastest gaming speeds. For example, if you are looking for 1 GiG speeds or higher, make sure the router can support those speeds. GiG routers may say “maximum speed of xxx Gbps” or are labeled “Gigabit router”.

Security:

The Internet offers a gateway to entertainment, work, and learning. It is also an enabler of scams and cyber attacks. So look for Wifi routers with cloud-based firewalls, antivirus, and parental controls. These essential features protect against hacking and malware and support a secure network. Skip routers that lack these crucial features and protections.

USB Port & VPN:

Next, look for Wi-Fi routers with USB 3.0 ports. These routers offer advanced functionality, such as connecting to external hard drives for network-attached storage (NAS) and being easy to use when setting up a media streaming service. Consider routers with robust hardware if you plan to use them as a VPN server for remote access to your home network.
In the modern digital era, a Wi-Fi router is essential. Keeping these 5 considerations in mind will help you pick the Wi-Fi router that will fit your needs now and in the future.