Smart phones, tablets, and laptops are designed to be used wirelessly, and the only way to get online with them is by connecting them to the device that provides the Wi-Fi signal in your home.
This device is called a router, but you might also hear it referred to as a gateway or access point. The name doesn’t matter, but the device itself has a big impact on the quality of your home Wi-Fi.
If you are not getting the performance you expect, the first thing to check is whether your router is based on older technology. If files take forever to download, streaming videos don’t display smoothly, and you have trouble connecting to the Wi-Fi in some areas of your home, then there’s a good chance an old router is the culprit.
The fact is, all routers are not created equal. If your router is even a few years old, it is out of date. Unfortunately that means you are not getting the most out of the new wireless devices you’ve invested in, which are designed to work best when they are using the latest Wi-Fi technology.
So, why are the newer routers so much better? They are based on the new technology of 802.11ac standard vs the older 802.11b/g/n standard….making them much faster. An up-to-date router is two to three times faster than routers using the older technology. This can make a huge difference, especially when downloading large files, streaming movies, or gaming online. This also applies when you have several people connecting to your home Wi-Fi at the same time.
The newer routers give you better range, which means you can enjoy the Internet even when you are a further distance away from your router. This is accomplished due to newer technology that detects where a device is and then sends a stronger signal in that direction. There are some factors that can affect the distance of the Wi-Fi signal, such as brick walls, tin roofs, large TVs, even microwave ovens.
As you can see, the latest routers provide some big advantages and improvements over Wi-Fi routers that are using older technology. If you are not happy with the performance of the Wi-Fi in your home, please give us a call 1.800.687.3222. We will be happy to help you determine if your router is using older technology and discuss newer models that will give you the best performance possible.
To learn more about wireless routers, please give us a call Monday – Friday from 8:00 am-5:00pm or to learn more about Brazos Communications visit us online at www.brazosnet.com.