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An array of four beamforming antennas and MU-MIMO support also means your 5GHz devices won’t slow each other down. Surprisingly, it even supports the latest WPA3 wireless encryption standard, and includes a built-in OpenVPN server. Starting at $700 for the two-piece setup seen here, the AX6000 version of the Netgear Orbi is far more expensive than the dual-band version listed above, but it's also a lot more powerful. Looking for Wi-Fi 6 on the cheap, along with a smattering of key features, including USB connectivity and security software support?
Respondents were extremely pleased with every aspect of their devices, starting with very impressive reliability. Synology has won a PCMag Readers' Choice Award for network attached storage every year since 2012. It keeps that impressive streak going by delivering devices that handle all of its customers needs from backup to sharing files across the network and the Internet. Too few of our respondents are using the OnHub or Eero routers, so they're not included in our survey results. However, a couple of the established players, Apple and Asus, have been providing very satisfying home networking experiences for years.
Network-Attached Storage (NAS)
You can even find modem/router combo units that unite both of these functions into one device. Investing in your own router instead of renting one from your internet provider can increase your speed and keep you safe from potential hackers. I think most will find better value with something less expensive -- and you've got a growing number of solid options that fit the bill.
Just make sure your router supports whatever antennas you buy, or you'll probably wind up with decreased performance. If you have a busy network with numerous clients vying for bandwidth, a tri-band router is the way to go. They use three radios—one that operates at 2.4GHz and two that operate at 5GHz, for load balancing. If you have a house full of gamers, we have a specificbest gaming routers listfor you.
Business Choice Awards 2016: Routers
While the modem is the component that actually connects to the internet, the wireless router is really the linchpin of the entire system that connects everything together. Jeremy Laukkonen is an experienced tech journalist with a background in automotive repair. He specializes in VPNs, antivirus, and home electronics, including wireless routers. Keeping your kids safe from the darker corners of the internet can be a challenge, but fortunately, there are routers like Synology’s RT2600ac to give you a helping hand. The RT2600ac protects your kids from online threats right at the perimeter of your home network, so you don’t need to worry about installing parental control apps on each of their devices. With up to 2,500 square feet of coverage along with support for 160MHz-wide channels, this router will make sure you get the streaming, video calling, and gaming performance that you need.
It gives you plenty of control over your home network, such as the ability to scan for local wireless networks that may cause interference, and extensive logging to see exactly how much bandwidth each of your computers is consuming. The Asus RT-AC88U justifies its above-average pricing with unrivalled record-breaking next-generation 802.11ac wireless performance. With four antennas and NitroQAM technology, which pushes speeds further still, this router enables wireless performance that can break the 1GB/sec limit.
TP-Link Archer GX-90 AX6600 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router
In either case, these numbers refer to the maximum throughput that the router can offer for all of the devices that are connected to it simultaneously, across all of its frequency bands combined. For example, a dual-band AC1700 router has a theoretical maximum speed of 1,700Mbps, but that's split across both its 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Similarly, tri-band routers usually have much higher numbers like AC5400 since that total speed is divvied up across three bands instead of only two.
Thanks to its suite of AiProtection Pro features powered by Trend Micro, the RT-AX88U will block malicious sites to protect your devices from malware, phishing, spam, adware, and ransomware attacks. A two-way intrusion prevention system also prevents infected devices in your home from making outbound connections that could transmit your sensitive personal information. There's also built-in router security assessment tool helps you lock things down properly by identifying potentially insecure settings, so you won’t need to worry about a misconfigured router leaving your home network vulnerable to hackers. Asus has a huge suite of routers, but most are, at best, targeted at small businesses. It made the cut for this survey, but didn't get ratings from readers that gave it much credibility as a solution worth having in the network closet.
You don’t get many extra features with the Reyee RG-E5, but for around $150 you get the latest Wi-Fi 6 technologies, solid throughput performance, and wide Wi-Fi signal coverage. The RG-E5 is easy to install and manage and gets you into a Wi-Fi 6 network without spending a bundle. If you require multi-gig ports and parental control software, be prepared to spend significantly more money for a router like the TP-Link Archer AX11000. Plus, today’s top-end models are blisteringly quick, thanks to a technology called NitroQAM.
This 802.11n is backward compatible so it will even accept connections from previous generation Wi-Fi client devices (802.11b or g). Theoretically, the data throughput rate of this router is 150Mbps since it adheres to the specifications of single-stream IEEE 802.11n. The Ethereal ports of this router are quite fast and it also has a rich set of security features too.
The devices on your home network comprise your WLAN, or wireless local area network. In fact, of those three systems, Netgear Orbi clocked in with the fastest average top speed at close range -- and it displayed surprisingly strong signal strength when we mapped those signals outat the CNET Smart Home. I even like the design, with clever contours on top that vent out heat in style.
Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox. So what are the best options for the budget conscious person who still wants to have access to the latest Internet technologies? Buffalo is the next closest competitor, with an overall satisfaction rating of 8.3.
With the exception of the Eero Beacons, you’ll also get a pair of Gigabit Ethernet ports on each unit, so you also can hardwire in non-Wi-Fi devices like game consoles or smart TVs. The more discrete Eero Beacons, on the other hand, omit the wired ports, but have the advantage of simply plugging directly into any wall outlet—and they can double as night lights around your home, too. On the hardware side, the RT-AX88U also offers up a powerful beamforming antenna array that can cover a 5,000-square-foot home, with a total of 6Gbps of bandwidth for your devices. It also sports a generous collection of eight Gigabit Ethernet ports around the back to hardwire in your PC or game console for maximum performance, plus a pair of USB 3.1 ports for sharing files and other media on your home network. Netgear’s Orbi offers a much more living room friendly aesthetic than most wireless routers, and it’s actually a pretty big departure from Netgear’s usual design. However, it’s also the company’s firstmesh Wi-Fi system, so it’s not something you’re expected to hide somewhere in your basement.
Parental controls allow you to limit network access for certain users to specific times and days, ideal for parents who want to keep tabs on their child's online gaming and social networking activities. Additionally, 802.11ax takes advantage of previously unused radio frequencies to provide faster 2.4GHz performance, and it uses refined uplink and downlink bandwidth management to provide enhanced Quality of Service . It also offers uplink and downlink MU-MIMO streaming (whereas 802.11ac only supports downlink MU-MIMO). As with the 802.11ac protocol, 802.11ax is backward-compatible and will work with devices that use 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi radios. For more on the benefits of the 802.11ax protocol, check out our primerWhat Is Wi-Fi 6? Additionally, 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.
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