The key to a linked house is the linked part. A smart gadget without the wireless communication features is just a regular old device! Some smart units talk via Bluetooth, but the huge mainity join by Wi-Fi. Therefore, the Wi-Fi router is among the most necessary elements of a smart house!
Sometimes your internet service provider offers to have you lease a router. This is often a bad deal. You may usually save money by buying your own router. Read on to search out the right router to your home.
Router Speed
There are several completely different classifications of router speeds, denoted as 802.11 followed by a letter. The Wi-Fi speed ranks go like this: a -> b -> g -> n -> ac, with “a” being the slowest, and “ac” being the fastest.
If you happen to’re within the market for a new router, beware 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g routers. These routers are a number of years old-fashioned, and unless you’re getting them for rock backside greenback, they are not well worth the money.
802.11n routers tout speeds as much as 300 megabits per second, and 802.11ac routers can reach speeds round 1300+ megabits per second. Now keep in mind, the maximum speed you will get depends on the internet service you pay for. Most modern homes shouldn’t have access to speeds faster than 300 megabits, so you’d likely be okay with buying an 802.11n router. Nonetheless, if you wish to be future-proof, buying an 802.11ac router ought to have you set for the next several years.
Dual Band vs. Single Band
Many routers supply twin band functionality, reminiscent of 2.4 ghz signals and 5 ghz signals. Single band routers only provide 2.four ghz signals. When you have a lot of devices or really want the extra speed, go for the twin band router. In case your router use will be modest, you can save some cash and stick with the single band.
Extenders and Mesh Networks
In case you have a large house, chances are you’ll have to buy Wi-Fi extenders. These devices can increase the signal and attain further rooms within the house. I like to recommend setting up your new router first to see if extenders are necessary.
If money is not any object, you could possibly buy routers with mesh networking technology. These routers automatically work together to create a robust Wi-Fi network. The technology is mostly utilized in commercial buildings, however is now becoming more accessible for the consumer. That being said, mesh routers could be very expensive!