Choosing the Right Router for Your Home Network

Paying for high-speed internet service for your home but still experiencing dead spots or slowdowns? It may be time to consider upgrading to a new router. Before making a decision, it's essential to understand the differences between traditional routers and mesh networks.

A modem connects your home network to the internet, while a router directs the internet connection to all your connected devices, such as smartphones, laptops, smart speakers, and smart TVs. When shopping for a router, you need to decide whether to choose a traditional router or a mesh network. The size and layout of your home and what it's made of are significant factors in deciding which type of router is best for you.

Wi-Fi routers send radio waves throughout your home, but many factors can interfere with the signal, such as the number of floors, walls, and windows, as well as metal plumbing. In fact, CR's route tests reveal that the more obstacles, the worse the performance. For instance, if you live in a small apartment or have a home less than 1,500 square feet, a standard router may be sufficient. However, if you live in a larger home, you'll need a router that can send a strong Wi-Fi signal pretty far.

For optimal results, place the router in a central location, but this might not always be possible, especially if your modem is stuck in a corner of your home. That's where mesh networks come into play. A mesh network consists of two or more routers that work together to seamlessly spread the Wi-Fi signal throughout your home. Connect the hub unit to your modem or internet service provider's Ethernet connection near the center of your house, if possible. Then, move the satellite units around until you eliminate dead spots.

The downside of mesh networks is they can be pricey, with a good one costing anywhere from $170 to $500. In contrast, a CR top-rated router can be had for around $200. If you're having trouble getting a signal in a specific area of your house, another option is a Wi-Fi range extender. An extender can push signals from your router deeper into the targeted area of your home, but internet speeds may be slower than usual due to the extender cutting speeds in half.

The bottom line is that while an extender might be a cheaper option and may work for you, a mesh network is more likely to smoothly stream 4K video to multiple TVs in your home all at once. When choosing a router, keep the following factors in mind: the number of USB and LAN ports needed; ease of setup and management using an app on your smartphone or tablet; the ability to buy your own router instead of renting it from your cable company; and the importance of setting up strong passwords to protect your network.

In addition to these considerations, it's crucial to understand how to set up and manage your router. Most routers and mesh networks can be set up and updated using an app on your smartphone or tablet. You should also change the SSID (Service Set Identifier), which is a fancy term for the name of your Wi-Fi network. This step can be done in your router's app or online account.

Moreover, it's essential to put a strong and unique password on both your router and its online account. Additionally, you need to keep your router's firmware up-to-date using the online or app account, as automatic updates are often not available. Firmware is a type of software that runs the hardware of your router or any Internet of Things (IoT) device. When a manufacturer rolls out a firmware update, it often includes security fixes, which can help keep hackers out of your home network and everything connected to it.

For more information on routers, visit cur.org/routers.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enPaying for high-speed internetservice for your home,but you still have deadspots or slowdowns?It might be timefor a new router.Here's what you need toknow before choosing one.A modem connects your homenetwork to the internet.A router connects toyour modem and directsthat internet connection toall your connected devices,like smartphones, laptops,smart speakers, and smart TVs.The first decisionyou need to makewhen shopping-- traditionalrouter or mesh network?The size and layout of yourhome and what it's made ofare some of the biggestfactors in deciding whichtype of router is best for you.Wi-Fi routers send radiowaves throughout your home.Those waves travellike ripples on a pond.Many factors in yourhome can interferewith the router's performance.Generally, the more floors,walls, and windows, the worsefor the signal.Even metal plumbingcan cause issues.In CR's routertests, our expertscheck the speed at which eachrouter sends a Wi-Fi signalfrom severaldifferent distances.That speed is knownas throughput.The routers at thetop of our ratingsperform well at all distances.If you live in a smallapartment or homeless than 1,500 squarefeet, a standard routeris probably all you need.If you live in a home largerthan 1,500 square feet,you'll need a router that cansend a strong Wi-Fi signalpretty far.For best results, place therouter in a central location.But that's not alwayspossible, especiallyif your modem is stuck in somefar-off corner of your home.That's where a meshnetwork comes in handy.It's a set of twoor more routersthat work together to seamlesslyspread the Wi-Fi signalthroughout your home.Connect the hub unit to yourmodem or internet serviceprovider's Ethernet connectionnear the center of your houseif possible.Then move thesatellite units arounduntil you get ridof any dead spots.The downside of mesh networksis they tend to be pricey.You can get a CR top-ratedrouter for around $200while a good meshnetwork can cost anywherefrom $170 to $500.If you're havingtrouble getting a signalin a specific areaof your house,another option is aWi-Fi range extender.An extender can pushsignals from your routerdeeper into a targetedpart of your home.But your internetspeeds may be slowerthan you're used to becauseextenders cut speeds in half.The bottom line.An extender may be a cheaperoption and may work for you,but a mesh network is morelikely to smoothly stream 4Kvideo to multiple TVs inyour home all at once.Here are a few more thingsyou should know about routers.No matter what kind ofrouter you choose, make sureit has enough USB andLAN ports for your needs.They're used forhooking up thingslike a connected home hub,a printer, flash drive,or an external hard drive.Most routers and meshnetworks can be set upand updated using an app onyour smartphone or tablet.Our experts test each routerto see how easy or difficultit is to set up and manage.You can save money bybuying your own routerinstead of renting itfrom your cable company.You can even buy your ownmodem or a combo modem routerif your internet serviceprovider allows it.But the most important tip--put a strong and unique passwordon your router differentfrom the default passwordit came with.It'll help keep yourrouter safe from hackers,and those defaultpasswords are almostimpossible to remember anyway.To make your routereven more secure,change the SSID, orService Set Identifier.That's just a fancy term forthe name of your Wi-Fi network.So where do you change thename and default password?In your router's appor online account.That's where you can accessall of your router settings.It's also very important to puta strong and unique passwordon this account as well.One last thing.The privacy andsecurity of your datais very importantto Consumer Reports.That's why we test eachrouter to see how well itkeeps your information safe.But there's somethingyou can do as well.If your router doesn't haveautomatic firmware updating,make sure to keepthe firmware upto date using theonline or app account.Firmware is a typeof software thatruns the hardware of yourrouter or any Internet of Thingsthing.And when a manufacturerrolls out a firmware update,it often includessecurity fixes.So keeping it up to datecan help keep hackers outof your home networkand everything that'sconnected to it.For more info on routers,go to cur.org/routers.\n"