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We thoroughly test all routers that come through PC Labs, so you'll know how much muscle a product has before you buy.Ĩ02.11ax, the technology behind today's leading-edge Wi-Fi 6 routers, is now hitting the market with frequency. It's important to note that routers rarely, if ever, reach these 'maximum speeds' in real-world applications, but if you're looking for performance, consider one of the high-speed routers (but be prepared to pay a premium).

A tri-band AC3200 router gives you 600Mbps over the 2.4GHz band and 1,300Mbps over each of the two 5GHz bands, and an AC5400 router is capable of speeds of up to 1Gbps on the 2.4GHz band and 2.1Gbps on each of the two 5GHz bands. For example, a router that can achieve a maximum link rate of 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1,300Mbps on the 5GHz band is considered an AC1750 router. This designates the theoretical maximum speed of the router. You'll see 802.11ac routers with labels like AC1200, AC1750, AC3200, and so on. Routers that support MU-MIMO are widely available, but the fact that consumers have been slow to understand exactly what the benefits of MU-MIMO are has kept the number of client devices somewhat scarce. In order for MU-MIMO to work, the router and the client devices must contain MU-MIMO Wi-Fi circuitry.

That means up to four clients can have their own data streams instead of waiting in turn to receive data from the router.

The 802.11ac protocol also offers downstream Multi-User MIMO ( MU-MIMO) technology, which is designed to provide bandwidth to multiple devices simultaneously rather than sequentially. It also supports beamforming, a technology that sends Wi-Fi signals directly to a client rather than broadcasting in all directions, and automatic band-steering, which lets the router select the most efficient radio band based on network traffic, band availability, and range. It utilizes Multiple Input Multiple Output ( MIMO) technology, which uses several antennas to send and receive up to eight spatial streams, resulting in enhanced performance. The most widely used Wi-Fi protocol, 802.11ac, allows for maximum (theoretical) data rates of up to 5,400Mbps and operates on both the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz bands. Wireless Ethernet networks use 802.11 protocols to send and receive data. Which Wireless Protocols Should I Look For? Most dual-band routers allow you to assign a band to specific applications and clients, thereby easing the load on both bands. If one or more of your devices will be streaming video from a service such as Netflix, or connecting to an online gaming service, the less crowded 5GHz band offers significantly more throughput with minimal signal interference. That said, it is perfectly adequate for tasks like web surfing and connecting to social media services like Facebook and Twitter.

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However, it doesn't offer the fat pipe and high-speed access that you get with the 5GHz band.Īdditionally, the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band has to compete with other devices in the home that use the same frequency, such as microwave ovens, Bluetooth gear, and wireless phones. The 2.4GHz band operates at a lower frequency than the 5GHz band and offers better range because it is more adept at penetrating walls and other structures. Nowadays, any router worth its salt will offer at least two radio bands, a 2.4GHz band and a 5GHz band. Below we guide you through choosing a router that will handle your current and future wireless networking needs, and offer our top picks to get you started. But if you have several family members vying for bandwidth for things like streaming Netflix video and playing PC games online, a new router with modern management capabilities can make a world of difference and help keep the peace. If you're looking for a lower price rather than a big bundle of bleeding-edge features, check out this list of budget routers. Not everybody needs the kind of performance that you get with the latest and greatest models, and there's no reason to pay for features that you will likely never use. When you're shopping for a new wireless router, it's best to start by considering the size of your coverage area and the number of clients you need to support, as well as the types of devices that you'll be connecting.

#BEST SMALL BUSINESS ROUTERS HOW TO#

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#BEST SMALL BUSINESS ROUTERS MAC#

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Best small business routers