Step 1. Calculate the maximum speed of your internet. You can do this by contacting your internet service provider (ISP) or by verifying your account information. Internet speed, usually measured in megabits per second (Mbps), determines your router’s minimum speed.
Step 2. Search for Local Internet Service Providers. There may be better alternatives to the ones you are already using and your current local ISP can determine the type of router you are using.
Some ISPs can directly rent and buy a router/modem combo that is compatible with the service they offer. Leasing gets more expensive in the long run, but it’s a good option for people who can’t afford to replace or upgrade hundreds of dollar routers every few years.
Step 3. Find out if you already have a modem. If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll need to buy a modem and router. The modem interacts with the Internet access point (like the physical cable) while the router connects to the modem to transmit the Wi-Fi signal.
If you already have a modem from another service provider, check with your current ISP to see if it will work with their services.
You can buy modem and router combos for a lower price, although these units are often more expensive to repair or replace.
Step 4. Describe your budget. It’s easy to spend way more money than necessary on a router and modem. If you know how much you’re spending (and how much you’ll have to pay), you can exclude some of the high-end routers from your search.
In general, you can expect to spend around $200 total for a quality modem and router.
Keep in mind that your budget needs to be a bit flexible as a router that exceeds your budget could be worth the price in terms of reliability and performance.
Step 5. Determine the space you want the router to cover. A good way to do this is to find out where to place the router (e.g. get.reach.
Walls and floors impede a radio signal. That means you’ll need a router with stronger signal strength for a multi-story or multi-story area than for a smaller space (like an apartment or classroom).
If you have many locations or a large area, you may need to purchase more than one router and host them on the same network.
Step 6. Make a note of each device supported by your router. By writing down a list of the devices that will be connected to the router (e.g. phones, computers, consoles, etc.) you can determine the size of the router as you will need a large router to support multiple active devices at the same time . at the same time. at the same time. at the same time. at the same time. at the same time. at the same time. at the same time. and vice versa. . and vice versa
In general, a small, average-performance router can handle many standard computers running low-bandwidth operations. At the same time, you need a more powerful router for high-bandwidth operation and other devices (e.g. printers).
Also consider how you intend to use the Internet, since casual browsing and light work require far less processing than gaming or constant file transfers (e.g. uploading and downloading).
Step 7. Understand what router speed and range mean. It can be tempting to buy the fastest face value router you can afford. However, your router can provide the maximum speed of your Internet connection (e.g. 100 Mbit/s). Some other points to consider are as follows
Advertised Speed: A full mix of all speeds from all router brands. This is the number that appears in your router’s product description. Since most devices cannot connect to more than one band at a time, this number is a technical error.
Maximum speed: This value determines the maximum speed at which your plans can use the network. For example, a router that connects at a speed of 800 Mbps will not help a device that can only reach 400 Mbps to reach a higher maximum speed.
Router Range: Your router’s maximum range determines how far it can go while still receiving a usable signal. It would help if you choose a router with a strong password for larger areas, or purchase a mesh network system that uses multiple routers spread across the area.
Step 8. Limit your search to “N” and “AC” type routers. Each router has a numerical rating of 802.11, the international standard for Wi-Fi. However, the letter (or two letters) before the router’s model number indicates its version, and therefore its maximum speed.
For best performance and compatibility, buy a router with “AC” before the model number.
The designations A, B and G are carefully obsolete.
Step 9. Make sure your router supports WPA2 encryption. There are many different types of security, but WPA2 is the latest version of encryption and therefore the most secure. All routers marked “AC” must support WPA2 encryption.
Avoid WEP and WPA as both will be deprecated in 2006.
If you cannot find the WPA2 certification on the router box or features page, contact the manufacturer or customer service and ask about the encryption your router supports.
Step 10. Search for a specific router. After you’ve narrowed your search to find specific models, perform a detailed search by rating, user rating, and usage report. This will give you the best possible idea of how the router will perform under the circumstances in which you will be using it.
This is also a good time to call your local ISP and ask about their optional routers.
When reading reviews from other users, pay close attention to the bad ones. These are usually the most revealing router errors, especially when other users share the same reviews.
If your particular router model has overwhelmingly positive reviews and is purchased by a large user base, it’s probably a good choice.
Step 11. Talk to customer service. If you decide to buy your router from a store, someone in the technical department can help you. You may be able to provide other personal or other information about the router’s performance.
In particular, ask about the response rate for the model you have chosen. The lower the number, the better.
If you order your router from a place like Amazon or eBay, you should find a physical store with the same model and call their customer service team to inquire about the router’s performance.
Also Read: Top 8 Work-From-Home Gadgets to Use in 2022
