11/6/2023 0 Comments Mesh router vs routerThe modem supplies an IP address from the ISP to the router via an Ethernet cable. In some cases, it splits up phone, TV and internet from one connection into three separate connections, but we’re focusing on the internet in this guide. ![]() This last piece is how your home gets connected and is basically the intake for whatever services you use from the cable company. That router has an Ethernet cable plugged into the back, which comes from a modem. There’s a chance you might be able to save some money here by buying your own router. We’d recommend checking your bill to see if you’re leasing one and paying monthly for it. Right now, you might be using a router from your cable company, otherwise known as your ISP or internet service provider. It casts the Wi-Fi network so that devices (like your phone, tablet, laptop, TV and smart speakers) can connect to the internet. Simply put, a router is what powers the internet in your home or apartment. Let’s dive into just what a mesh router is. The base one will still live next to where the Ethernet intake comes from the internet service provider, but the second one can go on your main floor and the third on the second floor, giving you much more coverage.īut this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to routers, and we’re not leaving you hanging. Instead of just one router powering the network for a whole house, you can get a set of two or three. Essentially, a mesh router is multiple routers that work with each other to cast a wider net over your home. If you’re experiencing slowdowns, it could be that there’s not enough bandwidth to support all the devices.Īnd that’s where a mesh router can come into play. There’s only so much network space to go around. And that’s a lot for one piece of equipment to handle, especially if you have a multi-story home or one with many rooms. If you’re using a traditional router, likely one you bought a few years ago or got from your internet service provider, that one device is casting out a network for your whole home. With kids home from school taking online classes, college students back in the nest studying (or playing games), and lots of folks working remotely, all those extra devices straining the router can result in a slowdown. It’s how we connect to the world.Īnd currently, there’s a good chance your home network is getting a lot of use. Specifically Wi-Fi - whether we’re at home, in a public space like a coffee shop, or in an office, that network is the backbone for our devices. With all the devices we use on a daily basis, there’s one thread that runs through just about every tech thing we do: connectivity. ![]() (Just to add more confusion, 5 GHz bands are often labeled as “5G” out of the box, despite having nothing to do with your phone’s 5G network.Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account Your router may automatically divvy up connections between these two bands, or it may display them as separate networks, letting you manually assign devices to each one. Today’s Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 routers offer two bands to minimize congestion, with the 2.4 GHz band offering slower speeds at longer range, and the 5 GHz band offering faster speeds at somewhat shorter range. Wi-Fi 6E is theoretically a big deal because it adds a new frequency band to home routers for the first time in more than a decade. (We’ve found, for instance, that TP-Link’s Archer AX50 Wi-Fi 6 router has better performance and range than the Archer A7 with Wi-Fi 5.) Still, Wi-Fi 6 alone doesn’t guarantee better reception, and its speed gains won’t be noticeable for most internet use cases. Granted, some Wi-Fi 6 routers benefit from additional features that aren’t directly related to the standard itself, such as better-designed antennas or more powerful processors. They support a stronger from of network security as well, but unless all your devices support Wi-Fi 6, you won’t reap the benefits of that extra protection. Router makers also claim that phones and laptops get better battery life while using Wi-Fi 6, though I’ve yet to see any independent tests that quantify this.
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