USB ports allow you to connect other devices - such as printers - so you can access them over the network. USB portsĪnother feature you should look for is USB ports. This can be a useful feature if you want to create multiple networks, such as for guests, streaming, or public access. This means that a multiband router is capable of sending more than one wireless signal. Routers come with single, dual, or tri-band capabilities. In addition, open-source router firmware has a reputation of being more stable and secure than stock firmware, making it a good option for applications where security is of paramount importance. TP-Link, like many router manufacturers, has had a long history of allowing third-party firmware to be installed on its routers.Īlthough this won’t appeal to many users, having the option to use third-party or open-source firmware gives experienced users the ability to fine-tune how their router operates in ways that the factory firmware can’t match. Third-party firmwareĪnother factor to consider is the addition of third-party firmware. If your device doesn’t support 802.11ac, it can still connect thanks to backward compatibility, but it will not be able to take advantage of MU-MIMO features and will, instead, receive data via SU-MIMO. MU-MIMO relies on 802.11ac for its advanced functionality. This ensures that all devices have an uninterrupted stream of data, thereby reducing lag and performance issues.
MU-MIMO solves this problem by serving data to multiple devices simultaneously, rather than one at a time. In practice, however, if a router is under a heavy load - such as one or more devices streaming data while another device is gaming - the rotation may become very noticeable in the form of extra lag. In theory, this rotation happens so quickly that you should never notice a performance hit. SU-MIMO routers can only deliver data to a single device at a time on a rotating basis. MU-MIMOĪnother thing to consider is whether a router offers SU-MIMO, which stands for single-user, multiple-input, multiple-output, or MU-MIMO, which stands for multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output. Because 802.11ac is backward compatible, even if you have older devices, they should still be able to connect. The version of the protocol that’s best for future-proofing your purchase is 802.11ac, as many current and most future devices will support it.
The wireless spec has gone through several revisions over the years, signified by the letters that follow the numbers. Even if your ISP doesn't currently offer high speeds, it’s usually worth the few extra dollars it costs to future-proof your router and be prepared for when higher speeds are available. As a result, there’s no point in having a router that bottlenecks your speed.
With the introduction of fiber-based internet access in many markets, more and more ISPs are offering speeds of several hundred megabits. The problem is that most routers that are sub-gigabit only provide speeds of 100 megabits. Most internet service providers (ISP) serve internet access that’s still measured in megabits, not gigabits. Add in the strain of multiple devices streaming from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and other services, and older basic routers simply can’t keep up. Today, there are computers, smartphones, tablets, printers, and TVs. Years ago, there might have been only one or two computers in an entire home that were connected to the internet. This is especially the case as more devices log onto a router for internet access. The more powerful the processor and the more memory it has, the better it performs. Just like a computer, a router has a CPU and memory that enables it to perform its tasks. If your internet connection seems too slow or network latency skyrockets as devices log on, there’s a good chance your current router is not up to the task of handling the amount of traffic on your network.
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