Tag: WiFi

Best Mesh Wi-Fi Router Systems of 2023

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$58 at Amazon

Nest Wifi

A solid Wi-Fi 5 system (but don’t spend more than $200)

What is the best mesh router overall?

The further you get from your router, the weaker your internet connection tends to be. The best thing you can do to fix the issue is to upgrade to a mesh router. For most homes, our top pick is the TP-Link Deco W7200, a two-piece mesh system that offers excellent performance for around $180. There are lots of other top-tier mesh routers worth considering too, and we’ve spent years testing them out in order to find the best systems of the bunch.

Why does mesh Wi-Fi matter? Between working from home, gaming online, video chatting and streaming shows and movies, there are plenty of reasons to want a fast, reliable Wi-Fi signal throughout the entirety of your home.

With multiple devices spread throughout your home, a mesh router is like a team of routers that can relay your wireless traffic back to the modem better than a traditional router. They’re particularly good fits for large or multistory homes where your Wi-Fi network has a lot of ground that it needs to cover — and walls to travel through — but they can also help boost speeds at range in small- or medium-size homes. And in 2023, there are lots of new, next-gen options on the market, so it’s a good time to make the switch.

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Watch this: Best Wi-Fi Routers for 2023: A Buying Guide

Some of the most consistent mesh router performance we’ve seen in our tests comes from systems from Eero, which popularized mesh networking before being bought by Amazon in 2019, as well as the latest setups from the TP-Link Deco, Asus ZenWiFi, Netgear Orbi and Google Nest product lines. Mesh systems regularly sold for as much as $500 a few years ago, but now these manufacturers offer multipoint mesh router systems — including the main router and the additional satellite extenders — for closer to $200. Though we’d recommend aiming a bit higher, you can even find basic, entry-level mesh systems for as little as $40 per device that can provide strong Wi-Fi signal throughout your entire home.

We’ve still got lots of routers and mesh systems we’d like to try out, the majority of which use Wi-Fi 6 technology, promising better performance and faster speeds. Shop around, and you’ll find mesh routers from Eero, Nest, Netgear Orbi, Linksys and others that support Wi-Fi 6E, which means they can also access a newly unlocked mass of fresh bandwidth in the 6GHz band.

Expect regular updates to this post as new Wi-Fi mesh routers like those make it to market. For now, here are our picks for the top-tested systems you should be considering first if you’re shopping for the best mesh Wi-Fi system options available now. 

Best mesh Wi-Fi router systems of 2023

Ry Crist/CNET

Wi-Fi Standard Wi-Fi

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Best mesh wifi units in the Uk 2023

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Before you purchase, it is really really worth recognizing that a mesh wifi procedure is a little bit more intimidating than the standard wifi routers you may be made use of to. And they’re much more sophisticated, necessitating you to expend a bit more time on set up and in an app tinkering with options. Having said that, it can feel like a considerable upgrade too, so it really is worthy of having to pay notice to the following crucial factors to obtain the best mesh wifi program for your requires:

Coverage

A mesh wifi technique really should protect an region of at the very least 2,000 square feet but some protect more. You will will need to determine out how a lot area you are going to have to have to be protected which includes any outdoor areas you want to hook up in like balconies or gardens.

The range of node models

You can get anywhere in between 1 and three nodes for most styles. How several you will need will depend on many factors, including in which in your residence your wifi hub is situated. Coverage places are a useful indicator of likely functionality, but the versions in distinctive buildings will have a large effects on these. In general you are going to want two models for larger flats and flats, and 3 for lesser houses. Most systems allow you to hook up much more units if needed, so if your mansion proves specially wi-fi-resilient, introducing more units will clear up the dilemma.

Pace

As spelled out earlier mentioned, the pace shipped by your mesh wifi method is theoretical, and will be break up across the bands. The highest velocity the finest mesh wifi units can attain at present generally ranges amongst 1,000Mbps and 3,000Mbps, but some go to as much as a blazing-quick velocity of up to 5.4Gbps. For most of us, the highest pace made available on your line will not achieve anyplace near to this, but a better overall velocity machine is far better for faster speeds in general.

Twin or tri-band

Modern routers broadcast wifi networks on at the very least two different bands: 2.4GHz, which is superior for long distances but can be slower, and 5GHz, which offers quicker speeds but only handles shorter distances. All mesh wifi networks appear with both equally 2.4GHz and 5GHz (referred to as dual-band), but some have two 5GHz bands and a 2.4GHz band (known as tri-band). This implies the obtain details can exchange details about the wifi network concerning each other making use of a single band, liberating up the other two to preserve your net regular. Confusingly, more recent mesh techniques with wifi 6E (additional on that underneath) offer 6GHz band coverage as perfectly, in some circumstances also calling this ‘tri-band’. It is truly worth examining particularly which of these choices you are working with.

Wifi 6 support

What is wifi 6? This new world-wide-web relationship regular employs various tech to assure it’s as

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Best Wi-Fi Routers for 2023

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$200 at Netgear

Netgear Orbi (dual-band, AC1200)

Best mesh router on a budget

In this article:

Your internet speed is only as fast as the router it’s going through. But that doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune. For most homes, the TP-Link Archer AX21 is the best router choice based on our testing — and it’s a Wi-Fi 6 model that costs less than $100. But the best fit for your network depends on a few factors, from the size and layout of your home to the content you stream. We’ve tested dozens of the latest models to help find plenty of picks for every situation.

It’s a particularly good time to make sure that your router is up to snuff. Even as things have opened up again since the early days of the pandemic (and the surge in home internet use that came with it), reliable Wi-Fi at home remains a necessity. The good news is that routers have come a long way in the past few years, with a number of today’s best Wi-Fi router options boasting impressive speeds and features worth investing in. 

For starters, there’s a new and improved version of the Wi-Fi standard called 802.11ax — or Wi-Fi 6 — and it boasts faster, more efficient home network performance. On top of that, there’s a growing number of mesh router options that are well worth considering, too, particularly since many of them are far less expensive than the router combo systems that came before them.

Shop around, and you’ll also find new Wi-Fi 6E routers capable of sending signals using newly opened bandwidth in the 6GHz band. Just don’t expect routers like those to come cheap.

All of that means that you’ve got a lot to think about if you’re currently in the market for an upgrade. That’s where we come in. Whether you’re interested in gaming routers, mesh systems, Wi-Fi 6 routers or if you just want something decent that won’t break the bank, we’re here to simplify things and point you in the right direction so that you can find the best Wi-Fi router to manage your needs.

Expect regular updates to this post as we continue testing networking devices periodically. When we find a new router that merits strong consideration, we’ll add it to this list with links to our most recent test data so that you can always find the best router.

Read more: Best Internet Providers for 2023

Best Wi-Fi routers of 2023

Ry Crist/CNET

Available for $100 (or less if you catch a sale), the TP-Link Archer AX21 is an entry-level, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 router that supports top speeds of up to 1,201Mbps (1.2Gbps) on its 5GHz band. It’s nothing fancy, but it offered near flawless performance for small- to medium-size homes in our tests, and it’s a cinch to setup and use thanks to TP-Link’s Tether app.

Best of all, when tested against other, similar

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Find Free Wi-Fi Almost Anywhere Your Travels Take You. Here’s How

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Vacation is the perfect opportunity to disconnect, but that’s mainly from work and other responsibilities, not everything. You’ll undoubtedly still want a good internet connection for keeping in touch with friends and family on social media, researching local places to eat or streaming your favorite shows when you have the down time.

So what happens when you’re out and about, away from your home Wi-Fi? Or what if your home internet isn’t that speedy in the first place?

In this guide, we’ll give you a quick rundown on how to quickly get online using a hotspot, and how to find free Wi-Fi anywhere in the world. (You can also learn how to tell if your Wi-Fi is slow due to internet throttling, how to speed up your Wi-Fi and our picks for the best VPNs.) 

What is a hotspot?

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A hotspot is a central location or device that offers wireless access to the internet, and any network device can connect provided it has the right access. Depending on your mobile provider and plan, you may be able to use your smartphone as a hotspot. 

There are two different types of hotspots: public and private. 

In the above scenario where you’ve paid your mobile provider for the ability to create a hotspot with your smartphone, the smartphone is the physical device that creates wireless access for other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, like laptops, desktop computers and streaming devices. This is an example of a private hotspot. 

A public hotspot is usually created by a business to provide internet service when visitors, customers and clients are on site. Many free, public Wi-Fi connections are hotspots. But for the sake of accuracy, it is important to note a difference between standard Wi-Fi and a hotspot.

What’s the difference between Wi-Fi and a hotspot?

Whereas hotspots are a physical location or device, Wi-Fi is a wireless technology that devices can use to send information to each other. If you have Wi-Fi at home, it’s because you have a Wi-Fi router quarterbacking all of your wireless gadgets, and an internet service provider that’s connecting that router to the internet. 

So long as you set a strong password, a private Wi-Fi network like that is going to be more secure than a public hotspot because you control who and what connects to it. Public hotspots, on the other hand, are open to anyone within range, which is why it’s a good idea to use a VPN or some other security measure if you need to do anything sensitive, like shopping or sending money.

Read more: How to Save Up to $75 per Month on Your Internet Bill

A Telstra technician installs a 5G-capable public Wi-Fi hotspot

A hotspot is a central location or device that offers wireless access to the internet.

Brad Wagner/Telstra

How to find free Wi-Fi or free public hotspots

While this probably won’t be possible at home (unless you happen to live really close to someone who has an unsecured network), there are usually lots of options for

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Your Router Is in the Wrong Spot. Here’s Where to Move It to Speed Up Your Wi-Fi

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Few things are more frustrating than a slow home internet connection. It’s a massive headache if you work from home, if you’re trying to install smart home gadgets, or if you just want to unwind with some Netflix at the end of the day. So what can you do if your Wi-Fi always seems to be unstable, regardless of what internet service provider you have or how many devices are connected? 

The good news is there’s an easy way to optimize your Wi-Fi network and address these issues — and it’ll only take you a few minutes. 

Shopping for a faster internet speed?

We’ll send you the fastest internet options, so you don’t have to find them.

There are a lot of factors that determine internet speeds and while there are a few tricks or guidelines you can follow to improve the overall wireless speeds and coverage in your home, one of the most crucial factors is the location of your router. And the best place is not always where the technician sets it up. So keep reading to learn about the best place in your home for your router and other tricks for faster Wi-Fi. You can also check out our picks for the best Wi-Fi 6 routers, the best mesh routers and the best Wi-Fi extenders. (And if you have a mesh router, make sure you check out our guide for where and how to set that up the right way, too.)

See also: T-Mobile Home Internet Review

Choose the right router for your space

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First things first: It all starts with choosing the right router or other equipment. Not all routers are the same and the size and layout of your home will determine what type of wireless network you need.

For most apartments and smaller homes (under 1,500 square feet), a single wireless access point should suffice. That said, if your router is several years old, you may want to consider upgrading to a newer model with support for 802.11ax, or Wi-Fi 6. That’s the latest generation of Wi-Fi technology, and it’ll give you the fastest wireless speeds possible and the best overall coverage.

For bigger, multilevel homes, it’s worth considering making the upgrade to a mesh network to offer consistent coverage throughout the entire house. Once the main access point is installed, if you find a far corner of your home doesn’t have solid wireless coverage, just add another node to that area. Problem solved.

To learn more, check out our list of the best mesh routers of the year (our top pick is the TP-Link Deco W7200). If you need some additional guidance, consult our router buying guide.

Just remember: Regardless of whether you have a single access point or a mesh network, where you place the primary access point still matters. 

OK, so what’s the best place to put your router?

TP Link router on a blue background

Check out all of the different routers available to you: Wi-Fi routers, mesh networks

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Slow Wi-Fi? Your Internet Provider May Be Throttling Your Speed. Here’s How to Tell

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When your internet isn’t performing up to standard, your first thought probably won’t be to blame your internet provider. After all, there are many reasons why your internet could be moving slowly. 

It might be because of an outdated router or a less-than-ideal router location. You might be able to solve slow speeds with an easy fix, like upgrading to a mesh network (which also has to be set up in the right spot) or simply restarting your modem and router. 

Shopping for a faster internet speed?

We’ll send you the fastest internet options, so you don’t have to find them.

But if you’ve already attempted many of these tried-and-true methods and your internet speeds are still subpar, the issue might be something your internet service provider is intentionally doing: bandwidth throttling.

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Yes, you read that right. Your ISP could be making your Wi-Fi slower on purpose. Because of a 2019 Supreme Court decision in which the court declined to hear an appeal on net neutrality, ISPs can still legally stifle your internet, limiting your broadband if you’re streaming more TV than they want and serving slower connections to websites owned by their competitors. 

One solution to slow Wi-Fi (if it’s caused by internet throttling) is a virtual private network. Basically, ISPs need to see your IP address to slow down your internet, and a good VPN will shield that identity — though this comes with some limitations and downsides, which I’ll discuss below. We’ll walk you through how to tell if throttling is to blame and, if not, what to do about fixing your crummy Wi-Fi. (You can also learn more about how to get free Wi-Fi anywhere in the world.) 

Step 1

First, troubleshoot your slow internet connection

So your Wi-Fi is slow and you think your service provider is throttling your connection. Before you jump to those conclusions, it’s important to run through the usual troubleshooting list: Check that your router is centrally located in your home, reposition its antennas, double-check your network security and so on. If you want to read about more ways to optimize your Wi-Fi, check out our suggestions.

If you’ve run through the laundry list and your Wi-Fi is still chugging slowly, move on to the next step.

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Screenshot by David Priest/CNET

Step 2

Test your internet speed

VPN service on a laptop
Norton

Step 3

Find a reliable VPN

fast.png
Screenshot by David Priest/CNET

Step 4

Compare your speed with the VPN

Next, test your internet speed somewhere like Fast.com or Speedtest.net. Compare the results with the same test when your VPN is active. The use of any VPN should cut your speed considerably, so the speed tests should show a discrepancy, with the VPN-active speed being notably slower than the VPN-inactive speed. But a VPN also hides the IP address that providers use to identify you, so if your speed test with the VPN is faster than without the VPN, that may mean your ISP is targeting your IP

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