Wi-Fi is an ever-evolving technology that connects our favorite devices wirelessly to the internet. From routers to laptops to phones and IoT gizmos, if it gets wireless internet, it's using a Wi-Fi standard.

As it stands at the beginning of 2026, most of our hardware is still using Wi-Fi 5 (the 802.11ac standard introduced in 2013) or Wi-Fi 6 (the 802.11ax standard introduced in 2021).

Yes, Wi-Fi 7 made its official debut in 2024 with the 802.11be standard, but so far it hasn't been largely adopted. Sure, lots of new devices — including many of the PCs and laptops introduced at CES 2026 — are now shipping with Wi-Fi 7, but the vast majority are still operating on an older standard.

Despite the ongoing adoption of Wi-Fi 7, there's already something new on the way from the Wi-Fi Alliance, the non-profit organization in charge of the Wi-Fi trademark and certification.

Call me ignorant, but it was at CES 2026 that I first heard about Wi-Fi 8. More specifically, it was ASUS and its ROG WiFi 8 concept router that tipped me off to the upcoming standard. The ROG NeoCore, as it's known, is expected to arrive in 2026, long before the new Wi-Fi 8 standard is officially finalized.

Setting the ASUS concept aside, let's dig into Wi-Fi 8 and what we can expect when it arrives.

What is Wi-Fi 8? Specs and jargon explained

Wi-Fi 8 is the next standard of wireless networking, officially known as IEEE 802.11bn. It's been given the moniker Ultra High Reliability (UHR), which begins to make a lot more sense once you start to dig into the advancements it represents.

The Wi-Fi Alliance is targeting improvements to reliability instead of increased speeds, especially important in the age of ubiquitous Wi-Fi practically anywhere you go.

These advancements in reliability are seen as crucial for areas that require low-latency wireless connections. Think augmented, virtual, and mixed reality, gaming, healthcare, enterprise or public networks, and IoT.

There are several key features arriving with Wi-Fi 8 that help set it apart from previous standards.

When does Wi-Fi 8 officially arrive?

The Wi-Fi Alliance formed the Wi-Fi 8 study group in 2021. The standard entered its initial development phases in 2022, with later draft phases beginning in 2025 and expected to continue until 2027.

Currently, the Wi-Fi Alliance is targeting a September 2028 date for the final standard's approval.

That doesn't mean you won't see Wi-Fi 8 devices long before then, as evidenced by the new ASUS ROG Wi-Fi 8 router concept shown off at CES 2026. Traditionally, new Wi-Fi devices launch well before a standard is finalized. Why? There aren't often many large changes to a standard, and manufacturers want to be first to market with their products.

Wi-Fi 7 vs. Wi-Fi 8: How much of an upgrade?

For the average internet user, the differences between Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 8 won't really be noticed.

Mesh and multi-AP networks seem to stand to benefit the most, with improved consistency and more seamless handoffs between access points. You might also notice that your signal is more reliable when you're at the edge of your router's signal. Gamers will likely notice a bigger difference as latency comes down and signals become more reliable.

Does that mean you should rush out and buy a Wi-Fi 8 router as soon as it's available? No. It's going to take time for Wi-Fi 8 to arrive in our devices, and even then, it's probably not worth the cost for the vast majority of people.

Setting the improvements that I listed above to the side for a moment, you can see how similar Wi-Fi 8 is to Wi-Fi 7 in terms of raw specs.

Wi-Fi 8: FAQ

What you need to know

• Microsoft recently issued a fix for a critical vulnerability affecting Windows 11 and 10 users via its June 11, 2024 security update.
• The flaw allows hackers to access and compromise systems as long as they are connected to the same public Wi-fi network.
• The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 8.8 out of 10 and is labeled 'important' (Microsoft's second-highest severity rating for security vulnerabilities).

If you're like me, you probably refrain from installing the latest Windows 11 update as soon as it ships. This is because the updates feature annoying bugs that may alter your operating system's user experience and interfere with your workflow. You might recall April's 2024 Windows 11 and 10 update featured a bug preventing users from using VPNs.

However, you'll be better off installing the latest Windows update. According to The Register, Microsoft issued a fix for a critical vulnerability (CVE-2024-30078) affecting Windows 11 and Windows 10. The vulnerability makes users more susceptible to deceitful ploys by hackers when connected to public Wi-Fi.

The critical vulnerability has a CVSS score of 8.8 out of 10 and is labeled 'important' (Microsoft's second-highest severity rating for security vulnerabilities). It allows hackers to compromise susceptible systems without physical access — though they must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network to gain access.

Hackers won't require authentication to access any settings or files to gain access to a susceptible device using the same Wi-Fi network. Microsoft shipped the important patch for the vulnerability in its monthly security update last week on June 11, 2024. Obviously, this is less concerning for users who work from home than anyone using their device in a hotel, co-sharing workspaces, and eateries. 

The only limit to what you can do with a Raspberry Pi is your imagination, but even if your ambitions are a little more basic, there's still lots of fun to be had. In many use cases, you'll be looking at using a Raspberry Pi headless, that is to say without it being attached to a display. It's also perfectly possible to set it up this way using your Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC. Here's how.

Grabbing the software you need

Before you do anything, you'll need both a copy of the OS for the Raspberry Pi and something to flash an image of it to the microSD card. Raspberry Pi has its own imager but for the purposes of this guide we're using a third-party app called balenaEtcher since it has uses beyond just the Raspberry Pi and is a useful tool to have around.

Then you'll need to go to the Raspberry Pi downloads page and grab a copy of the OS. We're just going to use the standard Raspberry Pi OS for this guide, a customized version of Debian Linux built especially for the Raspberry Pi. There are various downloads available from the Raspberry Pi website, but for the purposes of what we're trying to do here grab a copy of the "Lite" download.

You ideally want the Lite version for headless setup, especially on a Raspberry Pi Zero, as it's a much lighter image with a smaller download footprint and importantly, no desktop UI. As we won't be using it there's no need to waste resources on it.

How to flash the Raspberry Pi OS image on Windows 10 and Windows 11

The first step is to flash your microSD card with the OS image for the Raspberry Pi.

1. Locate the downloaded zip file of the Raspberry Pi OS Lite image.
2. Extract the files and note the location of the extracted image.
3. Load up balenaEtcher on your PC.
4. Select Flash from file.
5. Select your extracted Raspberry Pi OS image from step 2.
6. Connect your microSD card to your PC.
7. Click Select target.
8. Choose your microSD card.
9. Click Flash.

BalenaEtcher will now run through a short process that should only take a couple of minutes (depending on your hardware), and when you're done leave it attached to your PC for the next step.

How to set up Wi-Fi and SSH access on your Raspberry Pi

The key to being able to set up a headless Raspberry Pi is being able to connect to it from your Windows PC. For that, you'll need it to be on your local network, and while you could use Ethernet, on the Raspberry Pi Zero, in particular, this requires additional hardware and it's really not necessary.

To connect the Raspberry Pi to your home network and allow remote access we need to ensure it has two things:

• Your Wi-Fi network SSID and password
• SSH

Both of these we'll add from your PC.

1. Ensure your Raspberry Pi OS microSD card is attached to your PC.
2. Open File Explorer.
3. Select the microSD card, it should be called boot.
4. Within the root directory, right-click and select New then Text Document.
5. Name this file ssh.
6. Right-click and select Rename.
7. Delete the .txt extension.
8. When prompted to confirm, click yes.

It's important to make sure the blank file has no file extension to function properly. You'll know it has been successfully changed as the icon will now look like a blank piece of paper compared to one with lines on it.

Next, we'll build a file containing your Wi-Fi network credentials.

1. Ensure your Raspberry Pi OS microSD card is attached to your PC.
2. Open File Explorer.
3. Select the microSD card.
4. Within the root directory, right-click and select New then Text Document.
5. Rename this file to wpa_supplicant.conf ensuring that the .txt file extension has been replaced.
6. When prompted to confirm, click yes.
7. Right-click on the file and choose Open with ....
8. Select Notepad or your own preferred text editor.

Once you have the wpa_supplicant.conf file open in a text editor, you'll need to enter some code to tell your Raspberry Pi how to connect to your network. Set up your file like the image above.

Enter the name of your Wi-Fi network inside the ssid quotation marks and your network password inside the psk quotation marks. Then save the file. Also, ensure you change the country to the two-letter code for your location.

Then save the file and close Notepad.

How to set up the Raspberry Pi using SSH

There was a time that you'd have to install a third-party application such as PuTTY to use SSH on Windows, but that's not the case anymore; you can simply do it through the terminal. PowerShell works just fine, but if you have WSL enabled you can also use the Linux terminal assuming you have SSH enabled in it. Ubuntu, for example, has it out of the box, but Debian does not.

For this, we'll be using PowerShell. Before getting started, make sure the boot microSD is inserted in the Raspberry Pi and that you power it on. You also need to find out the IP address on your network for the Raspberry Pi. There are many ways to do this, but the easiest is to just look in your router's settings for connected devices and locate it there. If you're only using one Raspberry Pi on your network, the default command below can be used. 

pi@raspberrypi.local

Then follow these steps.

1. Open Windows PowerShell.
2. Type ssh pi@yourIPaddress.
3. When prompted at the authenticity message, type yes and press enter.
4. When prompted for a password, enter raspberry.

You should now be presented with a short welcome blurb from Linux having successfully connected to the Raspberry Pi. The prompt will also have changed from PowerShell to pi@raspberrypi.

The first thing to do is to change the default password from raspberry.

1. In the terminal type passwd.
2. When asked for the current password, enter raspberry.
3. Choose a new password and press enter.
4. Confirm the new password and press enter.

Assuming they match, you'll see a confirmation message that you successfully changed the password. This is now the password you'll use when logging in to your Raspberry Pi over SSH.

The basic setup of the Raspberry Pi is now done, but there are a couple of basic commands to run first before you exit out of it. These are basic Linux commands that you'll use quite often, but essentially it'll ensure your Raspberry Pi is all up to date. Enter these two commands:

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade

The first run-through of these commands may take some time, especially on a Pi Zero. Then, once you're done with your Raspberry Pi, you can quit back to regular old Powershell simply by typing ''quit'' into the terminal.

While you can use PowerShell or any installed WSL Linux distros to SSH into your Raspberry Pi, if you're going to eventually handle multiple machines there are more elegant ways to handle and manage your connections. On Windows, there's the old favorite, PuTTY as well as the popular and elegant cross-platform client, Termius.

And that's all you need to know. By now you'll have a fully functioning Raspberry Pi that you can interact with and get creative with all without the need for a display, mouse, and keyboard.

This process is the same whether you go for the Raspberry Pi Zero or the regular model, but the Pi Zero is a great way to dip your toe and start to learn about Raspberry Pi. If you're new to things like SSH, terminal, or even just Linux in general, it's such an affordable way to get started and learn some new skills, with the added bonus that the maker ecosystem is enormous. The only limit is your imagination.

More homes are filled with wireless electronics now than ever, all reliant on your Wi-Fi. The only problem is, not every house is built to support the tech, and many people find they suffer from network dead spots in the farthest-reaching spaces. High-speed internet is great, but only if you can use it in every room.

Rock Space offers a solution to your potential wireless woes with its affordable AC2100 Wi-Fi range extender, designed to boost the signal from your router and allow devices to connect farther away. There are alternatives on the market, so you're probably here to see whether this budget offering is worth it. I spent the weekend running tests for our Rock Space AC2100 range extender review to find out.

Rock Space AC2100: Price, availability, and specs

Rock Space sells the AC2100 Wi-Fi range extender through its official website and third-party retailers, including Amazon and Walmart, for a $70 MSRP. There are no detachable parts, so the box only includes the device and documentation, such as a quick start guide.

Rock Space AC2100: What's good

My first impressions of this Wi-Fi extender were decent, but I remarked on its chunky build. Most usually are the size of a regular AC socket, but the AC2100 is still a touch bigger. The antennas are adjustable, and Rock Space recommends extending all four if placing the unit on a separate floor of your home. For my testing, I'll be doing just that.

The walls in my house are so thick that they annihilate most wireless signals, a problem I've solved by using mesh Wi-Fi in the past, bypassing extenders completely. It'll be interesting to see how this compares, especially since this Rock Space unit doesn't require extra cables and plugs directly into an outlet.

There is a Gigabit Ethernet port on the underside of the AC2100 to connect wired devices like a desktop PC, useful for a home office like mine. For now, it's time to get everything set up and run some tests. I positioned the extender upstairs, in a room overhead from the base router, just about the perfect central point of my house.

A couple of recommended setup methods are described in the included quick start guide, so I tried them both. The first is about what you might expect; the AC2100 extender unit broadcasts a Wi-Fi SSID named rockspace_EXT as soon as you hit the power. Connecting to that via a phone, laptop, or another wireless device allows you to access the basic internal Rock Space dashboard.

You can link the extender to your router from this web-based control center. It's not too dissimilar to how devices like Google Chromecast work and doesn't take long to get started.

You can keep the same SSID network name as your router, allowing seamless roaming around your house, or use something unique to keep devices separate.

In basic terms, using the same SSID means you don't have to select the extender whenever you move close to it. Your devices should connect to the router or extender automatically, choosing whichever has the strongest available signal.

The secondary setup method is even faster. If your router has a compatible WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button, you can press the same button on the Rock Space extender within two minutes to quickly pair them together. It means the extender will apply default settings, but it's much faster and more straightforward for networking beginners.

Three little lights show the status on the front of the unit, and they all reported a strong connection, with the signal LED holding a solid blue color to confirm. The dashboard reports 83% signal strength, which is the best I could manage upstairs. Walking around each room of my house never had my phone drop from its signal significantly, and I could reach the full speed provided by my ISP anywhere. 

Admittedly, we don't have the fastest internet around, but this at least proves that the Rock Space extender is suitable for any home similar to ours. Our internet caps at around 100Mbps, which is totally achievable in every room upstairs when connected to the range extender.

I ran networking tests with iperf3, and average speeds hit around 262Mbps over 2.4GHz on LAN, with 5GHz barely beating that, as I'll explain soon. That's good enough for my house, but it would be a little lackluster for homes with faster internet. Overall, the setup was super simple, providing a decent enough connection to handle a modest internet package, but performance over LAN leaves something to be desired.

Rock Space AC2100: What's not so good

Considering I was hitting speeds close to the advertised 300Mbps maximum on the 2.4GHz band, I couldn't get the Rock Space extender to provide anything faster on 5GHz. Both signals are combined by default, but even separating them and forcing devices to connect to the latter didn't yield satisfying results.

Unfortunately, like my experience with the Rock Space AX1800 router, much of the included documentation seems roughly translated, with no genuine care for proofreading afterward. Bizarre titles in the frequently asked questions section include "always prompt for failure when extending" and "why is it useless to press the RST button?"

The lacking 5GHz performance is a disappointing return for Rock Space, seemingly relying on the faster band for maintaining a connection to your router instead of providing rapid transfer speeds for your devices. Flimsy antennas make a comeback, feeling as though they could snap in a mild accident, which is worrying when the unit is supposed to take its place in an available power socket, often close to the ground.

The performance remains firmly in the territory of being just good enough, with nothing standing out against the competition. The ease of use and effectiveness of its 2.4GHz band does manage to balance the downsides, but you'll need to consider your ISP speeds and requirements for any devices connected over LAN before buying.

Rock Space AC2100: The competition

Since the Rock Space AC2100 extender winds up performing best as a 2.4GHz device, hitting speeds close enough to its advertised 300Mbps, it goes head to head with devices in the same category.

The TP-Link AC750 Wi-Fi extender (RE215) offers a dual-band solution with the same 2.4GHz max speed and a more realistic 433Mbps over 5GHz. Sold for a $30 MSRP, it's a much more affordable option and includes support for TP-Link's OneMesh whole-home mesh Wi-Fi environment, compatible with similar adapters and other devices.

Alternatively, the Netgear AC1200 Wi-Fi extender (EX6120) offers a similar solution to cover up to 1,500 square feet with a reliable wireless signal. It is more expensive at a $70 MSRP, but this is more in line with the Rock Space price, so it's worth researching your options.

Rock Space AC2100: Should you buy?

You should buy this if ...

• You need a quick solution to weak Wi-Fi
• You prefer simple networking tech

You shouldn't buy this if ...

• You have Multi-Gig internet
• You need the fastest LAN speeds

Anyone suffering from spotty Wi-Fi performance in their home will benefit from an extender, and this dual-band offering from Rock Space will do the job. Setup is super simple if your router has a WPS quick-connect button, and performance on the 2.4GHz is ideal for anyone averaging 200-300Mbps from their internet provider.

The 5GHz band, unfortunately, doesn't perform much better, but the support for compatible devices will at least help reduce congestion. Users exceeding Gigabit speeds need to look for a stronger alternative or check our roundup of the best mesh Wi-Fi router systems. Still, this single extender is an affordable solution to wireless dead spots.

Why shop for a specific router?

Because of its essential role in a connected home, choosing the best Wi-Fi router is becoming more critical than ever. Many internet service providers (ISP) will supply you with a complementary wireless router — often coupled with a cable or DSL modem — and some might assume it's as good as it gets. It connects your devices to the internet, so why worry?

In some cases, the router provided by your ISP will serve you well, and you'll be satisfied with what you have, especially if it's loaned to you as part of the subscription package. For years I lived in a small, open place that quickly picked up my few devices with a single antenna, and when I needed to hit top speed, I used an Ethernet cable.

If, however, you have to rent a router from your ISP, or if it's outdated compared to the devices you're using in your home, you can likely take advantage of an upgrade.

A shoddy router will become even more apparent now that many can work from home due to the recent pandemic and a general shift in working environments. Reliable home networking is now more of a necessity than a family convenience.

What are the different types of Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi uses a global standard so that devices can connect without issue, and manufacturers must meet some specifications. That standard is known as 802.11, and the letters a, b, g, n, ac, and the new ax that follow it designate the version. The versions are backward compatible, but connecting to an earlier version means your device will be capped at a slower speed.

With the release of the Wi-Fi 6/6E 802.11ax standard, a new naming method has emerged to help differentiate the older versions of Wi-Fi. They are now designated as follows:

• 802.11b is now Wi-Fi 1
• 802.11a is now Wi-Fi 2
• 802.11g is now Wi-Fi 3
• 802.11n is now Wi-Fi 4
• 802.11ac is now Wi-Fi 5
• 802.11ax is now Wi-Fi 6

What exactly are Wi-Fi 6 and 6E?

Wi-Fi has not stopped evolving, and AX is currently the latest version, though N- and AC-version devices and routers are still relevant and quite common. Buying a new 802.11n router generally doesn't make as much sense, at least as an 802.11ac or Wi-Fi 5 router, primarily because of how much they've dropped in price.

Routers like the TP-Link Archer GX90 adopted the 802.11ax standard (Wi-Fi 6), and it's wise to look to the future. Wi-Fi 6 has significant benefits over the older Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). Wi-Fi 6E expands the latest standard with a tri-band setup involving a 6GHz band on top of the usual 2.4GHz and 5GHz, reducing wireless traffic congestion.

Wi-Fi 6E still uses the Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax antenna tech, and there aren't a lot of devices out there fully supporting it yet. The Wi-Fi Alliance (the standards body that oversees Wi-Fi technology) lists these four key benefits of Wi-Fi 6:

• Faster overall transfer speeds to and from devices
• More capacity for connected devices
• Better performance with many connected devices
• Less device battery drain when connected

Wi-Fi 6 is much better cut out for handling traffic from large crowds, and it can handle a much higher theoretical speed up to about 9.6Gbps (about three times the current theoretical limit of Wi-Fi 5). As people move to high-resolution streaming, intensive gaming, and many more connected devices, Wi-Fi 6E will show even more benefits.

If you're interested in future-proofing your Wi-Fi network and already have some Wi-Fi 6E devices that can connect to a shiny new router, check out our roundup of the best Wi-Fi 6E routers. If you don't have anything in your home that can use it to its fullest, then consider sticking with a cheaper Wi-Fi 6 alternative.

Dual-band, Tri-band, what's the difference?

Wireless communication happens over radios (also called bands), which can be seen as roads that your data travels along. While routers up to and including 802.11g operated solely on the 2.4GHz band, support for 5GHz bands was added in 802.11n and carried over to 802.11ac and 802.11ax with 6GHz on Wi-Fi 6E. Why? The 2.4GHz band was becoming crowded, leading to a rush-hour scenario where traffic was getting jammed up.

Devices that can use only the 2.4GHz radio are called single-band devices, while dual-band devices can use the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios. Whereas the lower-frequency radio has a lower speed limit and is more narrow, the 5GHz and 6GHz bands are much wider and have a much higher speed limit.

There are drawbacks to the 5GHz and 6GHz bands. Higher frequencies mean the signal loses more strength as it deals with walls, furniture, and other obstacles. However, modern routers have a feature called beamforming that will send a signal in the direction of a device rather than just spraying a signal in a sphere around it. Still, the increased speed and wider road mean it's perfect for streaming high-def video and gaming.

Typically, your router will be dual-band or tri-band. Dual-band routers have both a 2.4GHz band and a 5GHz band, and Tri-band routers add a second 5GHz or a 6GHz band. More than one band frees up congestion from your devices and prioritizes them based on the band's distance from them.

Does internet speed matter?

Each Wi-Fi standard contains classifications that determine the actual performance you'll get. You might see a router advertising a line rate of AC1200 or AX6000, but that doesn't mean you're getting a top speed of 1,200Mbps or 6,000Mbps. This number is a combination of speeds from all available bands. For example, an AC1200 router will likely have a 2.4GHz band with a top speed of 300Mbps and a 5GHz band with a top speed of 867Mbps (rounded up to the nearest hundred).

Even these speeds are theoretical, and in real-world testing, you likely won't get anywhere near that number. Likewise, if you see a Wi-Fi 5 router labeled with something like AC5000, it's not magically hitting 5,000Mbps. Instead, you're getting a single 600Mbps 2.4GHz band and two 2,166Mbps 5GHz bands.

In the case of an AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 router, which can triple speeds on the radios, you're looking at theoretical speeds up to 1.2Gbps on the 2.4GHz radio and 4.8Gbps on the 5GHz radio. So, stepping out and buying the biggest, most expensive router might be tempting, but paying for something you don't need will be more of a letdown.

For example, if you're paying for a 50Mbps internet plan from your ISP and you live in a one-bedroom apartment, it doesn't make much sense to buy an AC5000 router with eight antennas. Your internet can only be as fast as the slowest point in the connection, which in this case, is likely what your ISP provides.

How much area do you need to cover?

Living in a large home can cause problems when it comes to serving Wi-Fi to all of your devices, especially when using the 5GHz band. For smaller apartments or homes, a single router with powerful antennas will no doubt get the job done, and it doesn't hurt to test things out before buying something too expensive. Reading reviews is a great way to get an idea of how much range a router has.

If you know you're going to have an issue covering an ample space and don't want to buy a single, large router, you can always look at mesh Wi-Fi kits. These systems work in unison to deliver Wi-Fi to a large area, often covering thousands of square feet of indoor space.

They're built to be as easy as possible to set up, and they're an increasingly popular choice even for smaller areas. We've rounded up the best mesh Wi-Fi 6 systems to help you buy what's suitable for your space.

How many devices are you connecting?

If you're living alone and have but a few devices that you would connect at once — a console, a phone, a laptop, a TV streaming device — you shouldn't have to worry about putting too much strain on your router. While you shouldn't ever hit a point where you can no longer connect devices (unless you're supplying internet for the entire block), the more connections you have at once will slow speeds.

If you have a router with a 2.4GHz band hitting a theoretical max of 300Mbps and have 10 devices connected at once, each device would only get an average of about 30Mbps. A high-end, dual-band router is your best bet for anyone in a crowded home with multiple devices connected at once. If your family can't stop streaming Netflix, a tri-band router with two 5GHz bands is something to consider.

On that note, pay attention to how many Ethernet ports a router has. Have lots of devices for which you want to provide a wired connection? Start counting. Likewise, check for USB ports if you plan to add an external drive or other network-enabled devices like printers to your home network.

What is MU-MIMO, and do you need it?

Most new routers have a multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output (MU-MIMO) tech to complicate things with more networking jargon. Whereas more traditional single-user, multiple-input, multiple-output (SU-MIMO) tech delivers data to individual devices on a rotating basis, MU-MIMO allows for simultaneous data delivery.

SU-MIMO is fine for most purposes, and the rotating delivery happens so fast you usually won't notice. If, however, someone in the home is streaming video and you're trying to game online, MU-MIMO can come in handy by offering uninterrupted data flows to both devices.

If you're mainly using older devices, MU-MIMO won't be as important, but if you're constantly updating hardware, you'll no doubt be able to take full advantage of the feature.

How important are security features?

If you want to control everything that goes through your router entirely, go for one with advanced firmware and a decent firewall. Any additional features you may require, or advanced third-party firmware like DD-WRT (an open source operating system for routers) can provide those features.

If you are concerned about your children being exposed to inappropriate information on the internet, choosing a router with built-in parental controls can be helpful.

Some routers even let you allow and restrict internet access for your children based on time slots and offer guest access for your visitors so that you won't need to provide them with your primary Wi-Fi password.

How to choose the best Wi-Fi router for you

Now that we've thrown all these terms and acronyms at you let's do a bit of a recap. An 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E) router is your best bet for a future-proof connection, though an AC (Wi-Fi 5) router can be had for dirt cheap and is likely suitable if you aren't paying for a high-speed connection from your ISP. If you are paying for a high-speed connection, ensure you're investing in a router with multi-Gig Ethernet ports that can handle it. You want to extend that speed to all your devices, whether with a dual-band or a tri-band router.

Consider how much space you need to cover, and plan accordingly. Some high-end routers can tackle a pretty impressive chunk of real estate, but you might need to invest in a mesh Wi-Fi system to hit that bottom corner of the basement.

If you are in ample space, you might have a lot of people trying to connect their devices simultaneously. If this is the case, investing in a router with two 5GHz bands on Wi-Fi 6 or 6GHz on 6E isn't a bad idea, and going for something with a high speed might come in handy if you decide to upgrade your ISP's internet package in the future.

Finally, choose a router with the appropriate customization options. If you want to tweak a lot of settings, ensure it makes them available to you. If you'd instead just plug it in and not worry about it, you'll likely have a much easier time shopping.

There's no shortage of choices when it comes to routers, to the point it becomes overwhelming when trying to find the best model for your network. With thousands of variations and features to understand, we've made it easier to find the best Wi-Fi router by narrowing the selection to these easy-to-understand categories.

Covering all the bases for performance and value, the Archer AX73 features the modern Wi-Fi 6 standard and all the luxuries it brings. Its dual-band signal is broadcasted over six separate antennas, supporting intelligent beamforming to concentrate on your devices. Even with hundreds of devices connected, TP-Link has ensured you won't suffer congestion with the addition of OFDMA and MU-MIMO tech, some of the best upgrades with Wi-Fi 6.

Its single Gigabit WAN and four gigabit LAN ports keep your wired devices connected, with static link aggregation (LAG) supporting even faster speeds by combining two ports. USB-powered network drives (NAS) can connect to a USB 3.0 port, perfect for backing up your data from anywhere on the network. The Archer AX73 has a flush feature set without overreaching and is the best overall Wi-Fi router available today, ready to support your home network for years to come.

Proven to be a fantastic solution to weak wireless signals in our Deco X55 review, this mesh system from TP-Link is one of the most painless routers to set up due to its companion mobile app. Connecting a family of Deco units means automatically connecting the power and watching them do everything else. The Deco app gives tips on router placement and offers network optimization to help select the best Wi-Fi channel and minimize congestion.

Extending the reach of your wireless network and connecting wired devices in the farthest-reaching rooms of your home doesn't get any easier. With its Ethernet backhaul support, you can push for the maximum speeds your ISP offers in every room without compromise. The larger packs might push the price up, but they are worth the cost considering the benefits. Factor in the support of Amazon Alexa voice commands; this mesh set makes your home network a breeze to manage.

For the ultimate experience in online gaming, you want the lowest possible latency to eliminate any semblance of lag. The downside is that you'll have nothing to blame for your losses, but that's part of the deal with the incredible ROG Rapture GT-AC2900 gaming router. ASUS touts "triple-level" game acceleration which gives your PC or console priority for its data traffic, taking your gaming packets on the shortest path possible to the server. This tech means it plays very well with game streaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now, so there's no better gaming router than this.

Its ASUS Aura RGB lighting will appeal to the gamer aesthetic, with customizable color selection and modes to reflect the status of your network. These gamer-centric features join a fantastic set of networking hardware in the dual-band GT-AC2900, including beamforming and MU-MIMO tech to reduce congestion. Four Gigabit LAN ports sit aside a single Gigabit WAN and two USB ports, perfect for connecting gaming devices via Ethernet for maximum transfer speeds. It might rely on previous-gen Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) tech, but the antennas kick out a strong signal, and the dashboard is feature-rich for optimizing online multiplayer gaming.

On the higher end of Netgear's Nighthawk router range, the RAX70 is a tri-band router with its Wi-Fi 6 tech bringing modern networking tools and fast transfer speeds. Four Gigabit Ethernet ports provide adequate connectivity for wired devices, with link aggregation combining two ports for compatible 2G internet packages. Wirelessly, the 802.11ax signal covers up to 2,500 square feet with 40 connected devices.

It's hardly the cheapest option, but the RAX70 packs some powerful hardware under the hood. A quad-core 1.5GHz processor pairs with 512MB DDR3 SDRAM to reliably handle heavy traffic in your network, including USB-attached storage devices, thanks to an included USB 3.0 port. The design might not be for everyone since it looks like a spaceship that escaped a sci-fi movie, but there are certainly uglier routers than this.

If you're interested in a cable internet package, you'll need a DOCSIS modem. Some service providers include standalone modems free of charge or as part of their fees, but you can usually use a replacement without issue. A combination router modem like the Nighthawk C700 saves space and power by including DOCSIS 3.0, supporting maximum download speeds of 1Gbps. It's undoubtedly a cost-saving method, and the C7000 is an excellent choice without going overboard. 

Four Gigabit Ethernet ports provide the fastest transfer speeds for desktop computers and games consoles, and its Wi-Fi AC1900 signal can reach a maximum bandwidth of 1,900Mbps on the local network. Double-check your cable plans to ensure compatibility, then save cash by picking up this wireless combination router.

The most affordable approach to Wi-Fi 6, the Archer AX21 packs an impressive feature set considering its bargain price. It brings all the luxuries of a modern wireless standard without breaking the bank. The dual-band signal hits up to 1,800Mb/s with OFDMA tech to handle dozens of devices at once, with plenty of bandwidth for HD video streams and gaming.

Four Gigabit LAN ports and a single Gigabit WAN keep the options open for wired devices, with a single USB port connecting devices like printers directly to your network. Pair the AX21 with a TP-Link OneMesh range extender to further increase the reach of the wireless signal, all protected by the latest WPA3 security for password encryption and firewall protection against unwanted intruders.

Choosing the best Wi-Fi router

The best overall choice for anyone is the Archer AX73 from TP-Link, a jack-of-all-trades dual-band router with the perfect balance of features, style, and affordability. If your home suffers from weak wireless, then mesh Wi-Fi with the TP-Link Deco X55 set proved in our review to be the solution. Extending the reach of your wireless signal with the powerful and modern Wi-Fi 6 standard ensures you get the fastest speeds available in the farthest-reaching rooms of your home.

For gamers, lag is the ultimate enemy of online multiplayer. The ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AC2900 is designed with you in mind, packing plenty of tools and features into its firmware to prioritize your gaming traffic and keep the games running smoothly. Keep costs down with the Archer AX21, another fantastic choice from TP-Link with affordable Wi-Fi 6 tech without any serious sacrifices in its features. Whatever your networking needs might be, there's a router for you.

To have quality internet in your home, something you can't go without is a good, reliable router. Routers act as the bridge between your devices and your internet, so having one you can put your faith in is paramount. Something a lot of folks don't realize, though, is that you can get a quality router for a surprisingly low cost. Budget routers under $100 are much less expensive than premium ones, but their performance is still great, meaning that you don't have to make many compromises to save money. Of these, what we consider the best budget router is the TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 AX1800, as it offers top-notch Wi-Fi 6 speed and stability while also providing reliable range — all for an affordable price.

Best overall: TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 AX1800

The best affordable router out on the market right now is the TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 AX1800. This is because it's one of the few budget-friendly routers that uses Wi-Fi 6, which is the latest Wi-Fi standard in the industry that provides a slew of impressive benefits. Compared to last-generation Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6 provides top-notch speed, network stability, network capacity, and the cutting-edge security standard of WPA3. In addition to access to Wi-Fi 6, the TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 also has four far-reaching antennas as well, giving it enough range to provide internet to even large homes. It's compatible with multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO), which is essentially a fancy way of saying that multiple users can send and receive signals from the router simultaneously with a lower chance of speed reduction.

Runner-up: TP-Link AC1750

The TP-Link AC1750 is the best runner-up option to the TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 AX1800. It doesn't use Wi-Fi 6 and therefore doesn't have any of the same advantages, but it offers some of the best speeds possible with a Wi-Fi 5 router, and while the stability and security of Wi-Fi 5 isn't as great as Wi-Fi 6, it's still good in its own right. The router also only has three antennas instead of four, but it will provide enough range to cover most of a large home and more than enough range for medium and small ones. Like the TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 AX1800, it works with MU-MIMO.

Best mid-range: NETGEAR R6230 AC1200

The NETGEAR R6230 AC1200 is a bit of a step down from the TP-Link AC1750 in terms of speed, and the dual antennas mean that the range is reduced a bit as well. However, it matches the TP-Link AC1750 in every other area of performance. If you don't care about having the best possible Wi-Fi 5 speed, this will be an excellent choice for you since it offers an opportunity to save some money while still getting quality performance overall.

Best budget: TP-Link AC1200

If you're looking to get the bare minimum you need in a reliable router so that you can save as much money as you can, look no further than the TP-Link AC1200. It's very similar to the NETGEAR R6230 AC1200, and while the range is a bit worse due to the connection being less stable towards the edge of the router's coverage, everything else about it is just as good as our favorite mid-range option. It also works with MU-MIMO, although like the NETGEAR R6230 AC1200, there are only two antennas.

Bottom line

An excellent router is critical to having great internet, and if you don't have one, you need to invest in one as soon as you can. However, contrary to popular belief, you don't need to break the bank to get a router that will serve you well. Many fantastic routers are very affordable, and you can obtain them for an excellent price.

Of these routers, our favorite choice is the TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 since it offers excellent Wi-Fi 6 speed, stability, and security, as well as a vast range, all for a price that most people can work with. With this router, you can get access to top-of-the-line internet without needing to worry about your budget.

If none of the routers in this roundup is a good fit for you, don't miss our list of the best Wi-Fi routers for other excellent options.

On Windows 11, whenever you configure a new Wi-Fi network profile by default, the system will enable the option to connect automatically when the network is in range. Although this convenient feature makes connecting to the internet faster, it's not one that you need on every wireless network.

If you don't need to connect to specific networks automatically, Windows 11 includes multiple ways to disable automatic connections to wireless access points.

In this how-to guide, we will automatically walk you through the steps to prevent your laptop from connecting to the wireless access points automatically.

How to stop automatic Wi-Fi connection from adapter configuration

Although you can change the settings after adding a wireless network profile, you can also disable automatic connections during the network configuration process.

Connect to a wireless network

To configure a Wi-Fi profile to never connect automatically, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & internet.
3. Click the Wi-Fi page on the right side.

4. Click the "Show available networks" option.

5. Select the access point to connect.
6. Clear the Connect automatically option.

7. Click the Connect button.
8. Confirm the wireless network password.
9. Click the Next button.

Prevision wireless network

To prevent automatic network connections while adding a new Wi-Fi profile manually, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & internet.
3. Click the Wi-Fi page on the right side.

4. Click the "Manage known networks" setting.

5. Click the Add network button.

6. Configure the Wi-Fi information, such as network name and security type.
7. Clear the Connect automatically option.

8. Click the Save button.

Once you complete these steps, Windows 11 won't connect to the wireless network when it's in range.

How to stop automatic Wi-Fi connection from Settings

To stop Windows 11 from connecting to a Wi-Fi network automatically, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & internet.
3. Click the Wi-Fi page on the right side.

4. Click the wireless properties setting.

5. Clear the "Connect automatically when in range" option under the "wireless properties" section.

Once you complete these steps, the laptop will no longer try to connect to the Wi-Fi network while it's in range.

How to stop automatic Wi-Fi connection from Control Panel

To prevent Windows 11 from connecting to the wireless access point through Control Panel, use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on Network and Internet.
3. Click the Network and Sharing Center on the right side.

4. Click the "Change adapter settings" option on the left pane.

5. Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter and select the Status option.

6. Click the Wireless Properties button.

7. Click the Connection tab.
8. Clear the "Connect automatically when this network is in range" option.

9. Click the OK button.
10. Click the Close button.

After you complete these steps, like using the Settings app, Windows 11 won't connect to a wireless network.

How to stop automatic Wi-Fi connection from Command Prompt

To stop a wireless connection from accessing an access point while in range with Command Prompt, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to determine the name of the wireless network to modify and press Enter: netsh wlan show profiles

4. Confirm the name of the network profile.
5. Type the following command to disable automatic connection to the wireless network and press Enter: netsh wlan set profileparameter name="wireless_name" connectionmode=manual

In the command, change "wireless_name" for the actual name of your network as shown in step 3.

After you complete these steps, automatic connection to the wireless network you specified won't occur.

More resources

For more in-depth insights, troubleshooting tips, and the latest updates on Windows 11 and 10, be sure to explore these resources:

• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know

If you care about speed and reliability on your home network, Ethernet has long been the answer. And if you're stuck working from home, the upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 can bring the capabilities we're used to seeing in wired networks to your entire home. Also known as 802.11ax Wi-Fi, Wi-fi 6 brings not only speed improvements but increased bandwidth and traffic management features to improve wireless connections compared to Wi-Fi 5 or 802.11ac. If you are ready to make this jump to new tech, the Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 provides the best overall experience. This router has plenty of speed, excellent coverage, and a price that's quite competitive.

Best Overall: Netgear Nighthawk RAX50

The Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 is an extremely practical high-speed Wi-Fi 6 router with a dual-band setup capable of AX5400 speeds. 600Mbps is provided by the 2.4GHz band while the majority of the speed is delivered thanks to a wide 160MHz 5GHz capable of pushing out 4800Mbps. The majority of users won't be able to make good use of a more expensive tri-and router making the Nighthawk RAX50 a great value.

Four Ethernet ports are available so you can hook up all of your wired devices without needing an extra switch. You also get a USB 3.0 port around the back flanked by two of the four total external antennas. WPA 3 security helps keep your local connections secure, and the optional Netgear Armor service adds in even more security features, including anti-virus protection from Bitdefender.

As with any Wi-Fi 6 router, you can still get your 802.11ac and older Wi-Fi devices connected with great speeds with room for improved connectivity as you upgrade your equipment.

Best Value: TP-Link Archer AX1500

TP-Link's Archer AX1500 delivers Wi-Fi connectivity and reliable speeds for a great price. While AX1500 isn't going to hold up for a fiber gigabit connection, for many people, it's plenty. There's more to Wi-Fi 6 than the pure speed with the Archer AX1500 bringing improvements like OFDMA and MU-MIMO. Speeds max out at 1201Mbps at 5GHz and 300Mbps at 2.4GHz.

Four gigabit Ethernet ports on the back are flanked by four external antennas. The router's housing is 10.2 inches across and 5.3 inches deep, so this router isn't precisely compact when compared to some other routers of the same speed. If you're looking to add Wi-Fi 6 as cheaply as possible, the AX1500 is an excellent option.

Best starter mesh: Netgear Nighthawk MK62

Quite a lot of people don't have gigabit Ethernet connections and won't be setting up an SSD-based storage server. These people can still benefit from the increased capacity and consistency that is available with Wi-Fi 6 with great coverage thanks to a mesh system. The Netgear Nighthawk MK62 comes in a small housing and can deliver speeds up to AX1800.

You only get a single Ethernet port on either node making this system better for people that have gone mostly wireless with their home network. If you are looking for the convenience of a mesh with the added features of Wi-Fi 6, the MK62 can be a great option with enough speed for most people that doesn't break the bank.

Best fast mesh: Asus ZenWiFi XT8

Asus was one of the first companies to make a mesh capable Wi-Fi 6 system. It continues that legacy with the purpose-designed ZenWiFi XT8. It comes in a compact housing around six inches wide and tall and just shy of three inches deep and is available in white or charcoal color. It also works with other Asus routers that support its AiMesh software, which is most of them but will be best with other Wi-Fi 6 capable routers.

The ZenWiFi XT8 also doesn't give up much in speed with a fast AX6600 tri-band connection and 3 Ethernet ports per unit. It can also accept a 2.5Gbps input making it a great way to add Wi-Fi to a fast wired connection. With two nodes, you can cover up to 5,500 square feet with the ability to easily expand it later.

Best Gaming: Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000

For the most part, computer accessories wearing a gaming badge are just cheaper accessories with a few lights glued on. With the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX11000, you get a bit more than that. While RGB lighting is a bit cliché, the lighting on this router works with Asus' Aura RGB, which means it can synchronize with your Aura RGB gear to build Twitch-ready shrine to gaming.

Beyond the aesthetics, you get a fast 2.5Gbps WAN port, which can come in handy with a storage server or even just to be ready for faster network cards in the future. Built-in software can keep your gaming connection optimized to prioritize low ping times, even when there are multiple other active connections.

The ROG Rapture GT-AX11000 has an expressive design with eight large antennas that will stand out. If you like the gaming aesthetic, this router can be an excellent fit for your home.

Bottom line

Wi-Fi 5 speeds really are enough for what most people need to accomplish on their internet connection. The Wi-Fi 6 upgrade is mostly for future products and uses that haven't fully been realized yet. As 4K streaming and remote connections become more common, the need for a faster and more reliable connection will follow. Wi-Fi 6 will also be able to deal with the dozens of devices we need to get online in our smart homes.

With the Netgear Nighthawk RAX50, you get more than enough speed for standard usage, including multiple 4K streams and gaming. With the wealth of new options available, if you're ready to upgrade your wireless router, it's time to go with Wi-Fi 6.

Why use AP mode?

Many routers supplied by internet service providers can be perfectly capable in most cases. However, poor Wi-Fi signal strength and a limited number of ethernet ports can be frustrating and limit their reach. Some choose to upgrade to a third-party router with more powerful wireless antennas, like the recent TP-Link AX6000 hitting shelves with the latest, cutting-edge wireless technology standard.

Still, even the best Wi-Fi can struggle to penetrate through the thickest walls of a house or an office, so relying on a single router can prove impractical if you need to connect devices from a great distance. Using additional routers in AP mode can extend your network and offer reliable connections at the furthest reach.

What is router mode?

Your average home router will be in router mode by default. Devices enter a local network and are assigned a unique identifying address, whether wireless or connected with a cable. Often what we think of as a router is actually a combination of an internet modem, Wi-Fi access point, routing table, and an ethernet switch for wired devices. This combination enables the router to check incoming and outgoing data packets to decide where to send them.

If you use a router for Wi-Fi devices, the signal will fade the further you move away, leading to inconsistent performance and eventually disconnections. Finding the right place at home for the router can help improve your Wi-Fi conditions but can be limited to its cable length. Even the most robust Wi-Fi antennas eventually decline when faced with thick walls or electrical interference from microwaves and other home appliances.

What is AP mode?

An access point is a device used for connecting devices to an existing local network. Common in offices and businesses, there can be many APs in the same building providing internet access. Routers can be set to an AP mode and used the same way, with the main router still handling device addresses and internet traffic.

Not all routers have a dedicated AP mode, but that's not to say they can't act like one. Disabling routing services and assigning a unique IP address will produce the same results. Typically a home router has an address of 192.168.1.1, so an AP couldn't use the same. Changing the address to anything that isn't already in use will prevent conflicting traffic and allow devices to communicate.

With AP(s) set up using the same name and password as the router, devices will be able to connect to any of them without needing to re-authenticate their credentials. The closest AP or router with the strongest signal will automatically be selected when moving around large spaces. Moving freely without ever losing connection to the internet is paramount to a successful business or a comfortable home.

Upgrading your Wi-Fi

Router mode is designed with most consumers in mind, and is your router default setting. Every function is available; devices can connect and interact with minimal effort outside of entering a password. If you find your internet speed is as expected and have no issues with wireless devices disconnecting, then router mode is for you.

AP mode isn't much different than products like Wi-Fi extenders. These extend the range of your Wi-Fi signal but at the cost of lower speeds and increased traffic congestion since it requires more bandwidth to operate a repeater than an AP. If you find yourself with a spare router and are struggling with poor Wi-Fi, an AP is certainly something worth considering.

For router or AP, placement is key

Routers connect to APs with ethernet cables and then broadcast the same wireless signal. It's not ideal to have messy wires around a home or business, so hardware like HomePlug adapters is practical. Using mains power to transmit data from one power socket to another, an AP could be anywhere within reach of a socket. Consider using Wi-Fi signal strength apps when deciding where to place an AP, finding an area where the signal begins to drop.

With more devices than ever requiring an internet connection, keeping your network running is a high priority. A single, powerful router can easily cover an average home with careful positioning and setup, away from interferencing sources such as microwaves and enclosed spaces. Operating modes hide in the settings, but that doesn't make them overly technical or scary. Putting a spare router to work in AP mode can improve your connectivity without requiring much technological know-how, and most people will see only benefits.

Windows 11 makes it easy to connect laptops, tablets, and desktop computers to a wireless network to access the internet and other local network resources. However, it's only easy if you know the tools and process to connect.

If you are setting up a connection in a new network or want to learn a more efficient way to connect multiple computers, Windows 11 has different tools to connect without cables, using the Taskbar, Settings, Control Panel, and Command Prompt. Also, starting with the release of version 24H2, it's also possible to connect using a QR Code.

In this how-to guide, I'll walk you through how to connect your computer to a Wi-Fi network on Windows 11.

How to connect to Wi-Fi network from Taskbar

To connect to a Wi-Fi network through the Windows 11 Taskbar, use these steps:

1. Click the Network icon in the bottom-right corner to open Quick Settings.

• Quick tip: You can also use the "Windows key + A" keyboard shortcut to open the settings flyout. On Windows 11, there are several other shortcuts, you can learn more in this guide.

2. Click the button next to the wireless icon.

3. Select the wireless connection.
4. (Optional) Check the Connect automatically option.
5. Click the Connect button.

6. Confirm the network security key (password).
7. Click the Next button.
8. Confirm whether the device should be discoverable in the network.

Once you complete the steps, the laptop will connect to the network using the wireless connection.

Reconnect automatically

In addition, Windows 11 also offers an option to reconnect the device automatically after manually disconnecting the adapter.

To set the Wi-Fi adapter to reconnect automatically on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Click the wireless icon in the system tray.
2. Click the button next to the wireless icon.

3. Turn off the Wi-Fi toggle switch in the top-right corner.
4. Use the drop-down menu and select when to reconnect automatically:

• Manually.
• In one hour.
• In four hours.
• In one day.

After you complete the steps, Windows 11 won't reconnect until the time you selected. When using this functionality, the computer will only connect automatically to the networks you have connected to in the past.

How to connect to Wi-Fi network from Settings

You can also set up wireless connections manually using the Settings app. This way, when the network is in range or hiding its SSID (Service Set Identifier), the laptop or desktop computer can connect automatically.

To add a wireless connection manually, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & internet.
3. Click on Wi-Fi.
4. Click the "Manage known networks" page on the right side.

5. Click the Add network button.

6. Confirm the name of the network.
7. Use the drop-down menu to select the Security type – For example, WPA2-Personal AES.
8. Confirm the network security key (password).
9. Check the Connect automatically option.
10. Check the "Connect even if this network is not broadcasting" option (if applicable).

11. Click the Save button.

Once you complete the steps, the device will connect automatically when the wireless network is in range and whether it's hidden or visible.

How to connect to Wi-Fi network from QR Code

Starting with the release of Windows 11 version 24H2 (2024 Update), Microsoft is adding a new option that allows you to generate a QR Code that you can use with other devices to connect to a wireless network using the camera app.

To connect to a wireless network scanning a QR Code, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & internet.
3. Click the Wi-Fi page on the right side.

4. Click the wireless connection properties option.

5. Click the Show button in the "Wi-Fi network password" setting.

6. Using another computer, open the camera app.

• Quick tip: You can use another computer, tablet, laptop, or even your phone.

7. Scan the generated code using the camera.
8. Click on the button that appears on the camera app.

How to connect to Wi-Fi network from Control Panel

To connect to a wireless network with Control Panel on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on Network and Internet.
3. Click on Network and Sharing Center.

4. Under the "Change your networking settings" section, click the "Set up a new connection or network" option.

5. Select the "Manually connect to a wireless network" option.

6. Click the Next button.
7. Confirm the network name.
8. Use the drop-down menu to select the Security type — for example, WPA2-Personal.
9. Confirm the network security key (password).
10. Check the "Start this connection automatically" option.
11. (Optional) Check the "Connect even if the network is not broadcasting" option.

12. Click the Next button.
13. Click the Close button.

Once you complete the steps, the computer will automatically connect to the Wi-Fi network.

How to connect to Wi-Fi network from Command Prompt

You can also use the netsh command-line tool in Command Prompt to connect to a Wi-Fi network on Windows 11.

To connect to a Wi-Fi network with commands, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to view the available network profiles and press Enter: netsh wlan show profile
4. Confirm the wireless profile.

5. Type the following command to connect to the wireless network on Windows 11 and press Enter: netsh wlan connect ssid=YOUR-WIFI-SSID name=PROFILE-NAME

In the command, update the name (SSID) of the network and profile name with your network information. For example, this command connects to the "tsunami" network using the "tsunami" profile: netsh wlan connect ssid=tsunami name=tsunami.

• Quick tip: On a computer with multiple adapters, you also have to specify the adapter name in the command. For example: netsh wlan connect ssid=YOUR-WIFI-SSID name=PROFILE-NAME interface=Wi-Fi.

After you complete the steps, the laptop will connect to the Wi-Fi network.

Create network connection

The netsh command tool also allows you to manage Wi-Fi adapters and networks. The only issue is that you can only manage existing profiles. You cannot create new network profiles with this tool.

If you have to use Command Prompt to connect one or multiple computers to the same wireless network, you can export the profile created automatically during the first connection. Then you can import it using netsh to connect using commands.

Export Wi-Fi profile

To export a Wi-Fi profile with commands on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to view the available network profiles and press Enter: netsh wlan show profile
4. Type the following command to export a profile and press Enter: netsh wlan export profile PROFILE-NAME key=clear folder=PATH\TO\EXPORT\FOLDER

For example, this command exports the tsunami profile to the "Documents" folder: netsh wlan export profile tsunami key=clear folder=C:\Users\m\Documents

Once you complete the steps, you can import the same XML file to connect other computers to the wireless network.

Import Wi-Fi profile

To import a Wi-Fi profile on Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to determine the name of the network adapter and press Enter: netsh wlan show interfaces
4. Confirm the name of the adapter that will connect to the network.
5. Type the following command to import the wireless profile and press Enter: netsh wlan add profile filename="PATH\TO\PROFILE.XML" Interface="YOUR-WIFI-ADAPTER-NAME" user=current

In the command, you must specify the location of the XML file and network interface name. For example, this command imports the XML profile located in the "Documents" folder to the Wi-Fi adapter: netsh wlan add profile filename="C:\Users\m\Documents\wi-fi-tsunami.xml" Interface="WI-FI" user=current.

6. Type the following command to connect to the wireless network and press Enter: netsh wlan connect ssid=YOUR-WIFI-SSID name=PROFILE-NAME

In the command, you must specify the SSID and profile name that corresponds to your network. For example, this command connects to an access point using the "tsunami" SSID and "tsunami" profile name: netsh wlan connect ssid=tsunami name=tsunami.

• Quick tip: If you have multiple wireless interfaces, you must also specify which adapter you want to use in the command. For example, netsh wlan connect ssid=YOUR-WIFI-SSID name=PROFILE-NAME interface=Wi-Fi.

After you complete the steps, the computer should connect to the wireless network automatically.

More resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know

How to connect to Wi-Fi network using Taskbar

To connect to a Wi-Fi network through the taskbar on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Click the Network icon in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar.

• Quick note: Alternatively, you can open Action Center (Windows key + A), and then click the Network button in the "Quick actions" section to access the network flyout. If you don't see the button, click the up arrow button on the left.

2. Select the wireless network to connect.
3. (Optional) Check the Connect automatically option.
4. Click the Connect button.

• Quick tip: If you do not see any wireless access point in the list, click the Wi-Fi button to turn on the adapter.

5. Confirm the network security key (password).

6. Click the Next button.
7. Confirm whether the device should be discoverable in the network by other PCs.

Once you complete the steps, the laptop will connect to the network using the Wi-Fi connection.

Reconnect automatically

In addition, Windows 10 also offers an option to reconnect the device automatically after disconnecting the adapter manually.

To set the Wi-Fi adapter to reconnect automatically, use these steps:

1. Click the network icon in the system tray.
2. Click the Wi-Fi button to turn off wireless connectivity.

3. Use the drop-down menu and select when to re-connect automatically:

• Manually.
• In one hour.
• In four hours.
• In one day.

After you complete the steps, Windows 10 won't try to connect to a wireless connection until the time you selected. When using this functionality, the device will only connect automatically to previously known networks.

How to connect to Wi-Fi network using Settings

Using "Network & Security" settings, you can also add wireless connections manually, and then when the network is in range, the laptop will connect automatically.

To prevision a Wi-Fi connection on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Network & Security.
3. Click on Wi-Fi.
4. Click the Manage known networks option.

5. Click the Add a new network button.

6. Confirm the name of the network.
7. Use the drop-down menu to select the Security type — for example, WPA2-Personal AES.
8. Confirm the network security key (password).

9. Check the Connect automatically option.
10. Check the Connect even if this network is not broadcasting option (if required).
11. Click the Save button.

Once you complete the steps, the device will connect automatically when the wireless network is in range.

How to connect to Wi-Fi network using Control Panel

To connect to a Wi-Fi network with Control Panel, use these steps:

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Click on Network and Internet.
3. Click on Network and Sharing Center.
4. Under the "Change your networking settings" section, click the Set up a new connection or network option.

5. Select the Manually connect to a wireless network option.

6. Click the Next button.
7. Confirm the network name.
8. Use the drop-down menu to select the Security type — for example, WPA2-Personal.
9. Confirm the network security key (password).
10. Check the Start this connection automatically option.
11. (Optional) Check the Connect even if the network is not broadcasting option.

12. Click the Next button.
13. Click the Close button.

Once you complete the steps, the computer will automatically connect to the Wi-Fi network.

How to connect to Wi-Fi network using Command Prompt

How to connect to Wi-Fi network using Command Prompt

Alternatively, you can also use the netsh command-line tool in Command Prompt to connect to a Wi-Fi network.

To connect to a Wi-Fi access point with commands, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to view the available network profiles and press Enter: netsh wlan show profile

4. Confirm the Wi-Fi network profile with your preferred settings.
5. Type the following command to connect to the wireless network on Windows 10 and press Enter: netsh wlan connect ssid=YOUR-WIFI-SSID name=PROFILE-NAME

In the command, remember to specify the name (SSID) of the network and profile name with your network settings. For example, this command connects to the "tsunami" network using the "tsunami" profile: netsh wlan connect ssid=tsunami name=tsunami.

• Quick tip: On devices with more than one wireless adapter, you must also specify which adapter you want to use in the command. For example: netsh wlan connect ssid=YOUR-WIFI-SSID name=PROFILE-NAME interface=Wi-Fi.

After you complete the steps, the device will connect to the wireless network.

New network connection

The netsh tool also lets you manage Wi-Fi adapters and networks. The only caveat is that you can only manage previously known networks since you cannot create new network profiles with this tool.

When you need to use Command Prompt to connect one or multiple computers to the same wireless network, you can export the network profile created automatically during the first connection. Then you can import it using the netsh tool to connect using the command-line tool.

Export Wi-Fi profile

To export a Wi-Fi profile with commands, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to view the available network profiles and press Enter: netsh wlan show profile

4. Type the following command to export a profile and press Enter: netsh wlan export profile PROFILE-NAME key=clear folder=PATH\TO\EXPORT\FOLDER

For example, this command exports the tsunami profile to the "Documents" folder: netsh wlan export profile tsunami key=clear folder=C:\Users\m\Documents.

Once you complete the steps, you can import the same XML file to connect other devices to the same network.

Import Wi-Fi profile

To import a Wi-Fi profile on Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Start.
2. Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
3. Type the following command to determine the name of the network adapter and press Enter: netsh wlan show interfaces

4. Confirm the name of the adapter that will connect to the network.
5. Type the following command to import the network profile and press Enter: netsh wlan add profile filename="PATH\TO\PROFILE.XML" Interface="YOUR-WIFI-ADAPTER-NAME" user=current

In the command, make sure to specify the location of the XML file and network interface name. For example, this command imports the xml profile located in the "Documents" folder to the Wi-Fi adapter: netsh wlan add profile filename="C:\Users\m\Documents\wi-fi-tsunami.xml" Interface="WI-FI" user=current.

6. Type the following command to connect to the wireless network and press Enter: netsh wlan connect ssid=YOUR-WIFI-SSID name=PROFILE-NAME

In the command, specify the SSID and profile name that corresponds to your network. For example, this command connects to an access point using the "tsunami" SSID and "tsunami" profile name: netsh wlan connect ssid=tsunami name=tsunami.

• Quick tip: If you have multiple wireless interfaces, you must also specify in the command which adapter you want to use. For example, netsh wlan connect ssid=YOUR-WIFI-SSID name=PROFILE-NAME interface=Wi-Fi.

After you complete the steps, the computer should connect to the wireless network automatically.

More Windows resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10 and Windows 11, visit the following resources:

• Windows 10 on Windows Central — All you need to know
• Windows 11 on Windows Central — All you need to know

The AmpliFi HD and the Netgear Orbi mesh network systems share a lot in common. Both have Wi-Fi 5 versions (with optional Wi-Fi 6 successors) that offer fast speeds covering a wide area through their respective nodes. Besides price, though, the two differ in some key ways that could be important to you. The AmpliFi HD leans on the easy-to-use side while maintaining a subtle look, while the Netgear Orbi has a lot more options but has a fairly obtuse appearance. So, which one should you buy?

AmpliFi HD vs. Netgear Orbi: Connection speeds

Anyone who invests in either the AmpliFi HD or the Netgear Orbi is doing it for consistent speeds across a wide area. Mesh networks promise stronger coverage across a home or building than a typical Wi-Fi router. Thankfully, both mesh network systems run pretty close to the same speeds, with some slight but no less important differences for power users.

Because both systems run on the 802.11 ac Wi-Fi 5 standard, speeds might look lower than the newest, Wi-Fi 6 routers, but they'll be fine for most people. Both are rated above 1Gbps internet speeds, with the Netgear Orbi squeezing out around 400Mbps more.

Unfortunately, these numbers get fuzzy when you're running the connection through nodes. It'll really depend on what kind of nodes you use, be it wired or wirelessly connected to the base router. That said, the Netgear Orbi beats out the AmpliFi HD in raw throughput regardless.

AmpliFi HD vs. Netgear Orbi: Dual-band and tri-band

Connection speed when it comes to mesh networks like the AmpliFi HD and the Netgear Orbi is dependent on the types of nodes you use. The base routers can only offer so much. Eventually, you need to connect either another router or one of the official wired or wireless nodes to them to spread your signal out further.

The Amplifi HD only has a wireless node option if you don't want to purchase a second base router. And on top of that, the Amplifi HD is locked to a dual-band connection, meaning it must use one of its wireless bands to talk to the other nodes, further reducing the connection speed.

The Netgear Orbi has both wired and wireless node options and uses a third band for speaking to its nodes. Despite both having similarly rated connection speeds, the Netgear Orbi outshines the AmpliFi HD simply because it has the overhead to manage faster speeds for those looking to get the most out of their network.

AmpliFi HD vs. Netgear Orbi: Ease of use

The AmpliFi HD is simply a much easier-to-use mesh network than the Netgear Orbi. Its mobile app allows you to set up, restart, and manage the router which outshines Netgear's poor app and complicated website. You can do things like monitor signal strength and bandwidth usage. For people looking for a clear, approachable way to set up a mesh network system, the AmpliFi HD is the way to go.

On the other side of things, the Netgear Orbi interface can offer power users more options, like QoS, parental controls, and use a VPN. If these are things you absolutely need in your mesh network, the Netgear Orbi is a strong choice.

AmpliFi HD vs. Netgear Orbi: Which should you buy?

Picking between the AmpliFi HD and the Netgear Orbi mesh networks is a hard decision. Both routers offer fast performance and wide coverage areas, but the price becomes an important factor when it comes down to it. The Netgear Orbi carrying a slightly lower price for a slightly more tedious user experience puts it on top.

The AmpliFi HD has you pay for looks, ease of use, and a much better mobile app, but it's not worth it for most people. If you want a mesh network that works and is prepared for whatever you want to throw at it in the future with its set of user options and expandability, the Netgear Orbi is the choice.

What is mesh Wi-Fi?

Mesh Wi-Fi sounds like magic. When it works, it feels like it. It's a speedy internet connection that fills every room in your home or building. But to really understand it, you need to wipe away the sparkles and dig into what makes mesh Wi-Fi significantly different from the Wi-Fi routers we've had around for decades.

To understand mesh Wi-Fi, you need to have a basic understanding of routers and extenders. Routers take an internet connection from your modem or gateway and spit it back out either wired or wirelessly to your devices, like a phone or a tablet. Routers have antennas that spread the wireless signal around them. At the very edges of that signal, the connection quality drops, and the overall speed drops too.

To solve this, you can get an extender. Extenders can connect wired or wirelessly to your router or gateway, and they carry that signal further away from the router under a separate network name. Extenders are a nice, cheaper alternative to mesh kits if you're not interested in getting into a new ecosystem of devices.

Getting the right coverage

For many people in small spaces, a router is enough. If you have a bigger space, an extender can help out specific areas that your router's Wi-Fi signal can't reach. However, because homes and buildings can vary on layout and materials, the quality of that coverage can be spotty. Your devices might not be great at swapping between different networks as you move around.

Mesh Wi-Fi aims to solve these key problems. It's like covering your home in an invisible spider web except way less creepy. The web is all the connections between the hubs, or nodes, of a mesh network. Each node pushes out a Wi-Fi signal under the same network name, removing any need to swap between signals as you move around.

Because each node talks to each other instead of traveling directly back to the router like links in a chain, the Wi-Fi signal avoids as much degradation. So, you get faster speeds, and your devices don't have to do any work to stay connected to the best signal. You can think of mesh Wi-Fi systems as smart extenders, widening your wireless coverage in the most efficient way possible.

Why would you need mesh Wi-Fi?

Mesh Wi-Fi excels in environments where too many things impeding on a wireless signal (metal, brick, concrete, etc.) or the space is too big for a router or an extender to realistically cover. When there are Wi-Fi dead spots, you can cover those with only two or three nodes in a mesh network.

You don't have to run any ethernet cables, and if you need more, you can buy another node. The setup process for most mesh Wi-Fi systems is quickly taken care of with an app on your phone. Mesh Wi-Fi is all about ease, and it makes tinkering with the placement of extenders look like a waste of time.

Is mesh Wi-Fi worth it?

Whether or not mesh Wi-Fi is worth it depends a lot on your expectations. Mesh Wi-Fi is overkill in small apartments or for those who don't really need a connection throughout the entire building. Modern routers do a lot without much fuss. But if you have a large space with many people or need to add a signal to targeted locations, mesh Wi-Fi starts to compete as an option with extenders because they're much easier to expand in the future.

Some mesh Wi-Fi kits allow for both wired and wireless connection to the gateway or router, which can determine the kinds of speeds you'll get. If you have connection speeds higher than 1Gbps and want to keep something close to that via Wi-Fi, you need to look at specific products with two 5GHz bands or are labeled tri-band. However, for anyone with internet speeds around 400Mbps or lower, there are tons of options to start building a mesh network.

Price can be an issue with mesh networks, though. Popular options like Amazon's Eero and Google's Nest WiFi can start at $100 and increase to upwards of $500 depending on how many nodes you need. On the other hand, extenders can be as cheap as $50 and don't stray too far up from there.

Wi-Fi 6 offers the highest potential for speed, connectivity, and coverage. The Netgear Orbi AX6000 and Eero 6 Pro are relatively new entrants in the market for consumers. Where the AX6000 focuses on raw performance, the Pro 6 centers on extras like smart home powers and security. Let's see how they measure up and which may work best for you.

Netgear Orbi AX6000 or Eero Pro 6: How much coverage do you need?

Mesh networks are generally the best way to cover your entire apartment or house with a Wi-Fi signal. Consumer mesh network kits typically consist of a base and one or two satellites. The base connects directly to the modem, and the satellite helps extend coverage. Netgear and Eero go about their mesh systems in much the same way, but there are distinct differences that set them apart. Let's look at the specs.

The basic Netgear Orbi AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 package includes a base and one satellite, while the Eero Pro 6 Wi-Fi 6 system includes a base and two satellites. Both Netgear and Eero offer single satellites for sale, so you can extend your coverage, depending on your home's size. The AX6000's two-piece system covers about 5,000 square feet, and the Pro 6's three-piece package covers about 6,000 square feet. That may not sound like much of a difference, but if you want a solid connection in your basement, or perhaps out in your yard, that extra bit helps.

Perhaps most importantly, both these systems will cover the vast majority of homes. The average U.S. house is about 1,600 square feet. The 5,000-6,000 square feet of coverage from the Netgear and Eero should reach every corner of your home with no problem. While coverage is important, it isn't the only factor.

Netgear Orbi AX6000 or Eero Pro 6: Which is faster?

Some people prefer speed to coverage, and that's totally fine, but there's a limitation you should know about. When it comes to raw performance, the Netgear wins handily. It is capable of speeds up to 6Gbps, while the Eero can reach only 1Gbps. Of course, you have to have the corresponding connection speed from your service provider, but most people don't.

While Verizon and other internet service providers offer gigabit service, the average consumer home internet speed is a pokey 50Mbps. In other words, the experience you see on your devices won't differ much whether they're connected to the Netgear or the Eero. You'll be able to stream just as much Netflix or Disney+ content without hiccups.

The Netgear offers more capacity or the ability to connect more things. To start, it has double the ports. That's a huge deal. In addition to an input on the base, each satellite includes four ethernet ports. That means you can connect devices such as a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X directly to the satellite for top wired performance. This leaves your wireless capacity more widely available to laptops, tablets, and smart home devices. The Eero, by way of comparison, offers only two ports on the satellite for direct connections.

Netgear Orbi AX6000 or Eero Pro 6: What about smarts and set up?

Speaking of smart homes, both the AX6000 and Pro 6 pack some smarts. Where the AX6000 supports Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa smart commands, the Pro 6 supports Amazon Alexa and ZigBee-based smart home products, such as lights and switches.

Apps are essential. Both Netgear and Eero know that ease of use is paramount. Apps for Android and iOS are available in the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store, respectively, and can be used to set up and manage the mesh systems.

Netgear Orbi AX6000 or Eero Pro 6:Which should you buy?

You can't go wrong with either the Netgear Orbi AX6000 Wi-Fi 6 or the Eero Pro 6 Wi-Fi 6 mesh systems. The most significant differentiator between the two is pricing. The Netgear starts at $649 for a base and one satellite. A base with two satellites costs a sobering $949. That's a lot for consumer-grade Wi-Fi. The Eero starts at a slightly more affordable $599 for the basic package. Additional satellites cost $89. Whether you're looking for speed, security, flexibility, or raw square footage, both the AX6000 and Pro 6 have you covered.

Wireless speed is all about spectrum and making the most of what's available. For years, we have been stuck using Wi-Fi in 40MHz chunks at 2.4GHz and 80MHz chunks at 5GHz with 160MHz available in some cases. On April 23 2020, though, the FCC adopted rules to make 1,200MHz of spectrum available at 6GHz that can be used in the next generation of Wi-Fi. This new spectrum could be key to keeping Wi-Fi fast and reliable even as we ask more of it all the time.

• Is this just Wi-Fi 6?
• How much faster is it?
• Do I need a new device for Wi-Fi 6E support?
• Do I really need Wi-Fi 6E?
• Should I wait for Wi-Fi 6E?

What is Wi-Fi 6E? Is this just Wi-Fi 6?

Wi-Fi 6E is Wi-Fi extended to the 6GHz band. Simply put, Wi-Fi 6E is the same thing as Wi-Fi 6 with access to the greater bandwidth available at 6GHz. With the 1,200MHz of space available on the 6GHz bands, there is a lot more room for Wi-Fi without overlap. This means that even if you live in an area with a lot of Wi-Fi connections, there is still enough bandwidth to keep your connection fast and consistent — with no interference.

Currently, Wi-Fi 6 operates on the same bands that were available to Wi-Fi 5 devices. This includes one band at 2.4GHz and two at 5GHz. While the lower frequency 2.4GHz signal can travel farther without degrading, it has less available bandwidth, maxing out at 40MHz per channel. Even so, in the United States, there are only 11 available channels, so most people with neighbors will end up sharing. 5GHz bands help quite a bit, with many more channels available typically at 80MHz.

For a long time, this was sufficient even in an apartment building but as we continue to add more and more wireless devices to our homes, even these 5GHz bands will start to hit their limits soon. Wi-Fi 6E is adding more channels and they're wider than ever at 160MHz. This is going to allow people to get as close as possible to the theoretical max speed of Wi-Fi 6.

How much faster is it?

The Verge explains that the maximum speed of Wi-Fi 6 is 9.6Gbs even with 6GHz. 6GHz is going to allow Wi-Fi 6 to get closer to its potential speed thanks to larger chunks of spectrum available much the same as mmWave 5G can deliver very high speeds.

This speed boost puts Wi-Fi performance quite close to even the fastest Ethernet connections. Of course, devices will still need to be able to take advantage of that speed, and servers will need to be able to deliver it, but at one point, Wi-Fi was 54Mbps and it seemed to be more than enough.

It's worth thinking about how we can even improve internet speeds with local caching that can deliver certain elements over your local network. Windows and Xbox updates, for example, can be transmitted from one device to another on the local network. Even so, making sure Wi-Fi isn't a bottleneck opens up a ton of possibilities at home as well as in businesses.

Do I need new equipment?

It seems like Wi-Fi 6 just became affordable for most people and suddenly there's a new version. If you want to use Wi-Fi 6E, you're going to need a router that supports it. There aren't any available yet and there won't be for quite a while. Until very recently, there was no need to support Wi-Fi 6E, and even now, Wi-Fi 6 on the older bands will be more than enough for the vast majority of people.

Wi-Fi 6E is looking very far forward and won't see widespread consumer adoption for years. There are still quite a few new routers coming out that only support Wi-Fi 5 and only top-end phones and computers are supporting Wi-Fi 6 despite it being available since early 2019.

Broadcom has already announced a Wi-Fi 6E mobile chip, with Intel saying it will have chips ready for January 2021. At the earliest, Wi-Fi 6E could start showing up in products at the end of 2020 but will more than likely come in 2021. If you bought a new phone or computer in the past year, you'll probably be OK waiting for the first wave of Wi-Fi 6E compatible devices.

Do I need Wi-Fi 6E?

Today Wi-Fi 6E seems like overkill. Who could possibly need multiple gigabit speed over a wireless connection? One group that immediately comes to mind is video creators. Many professional video productions are using resolutions higher than 5K for video with massive video sizes. With compression, these professionals can make efficient use of current network speeds but being able to edit or transfer terabytes of footage without running cables across your workspace will be great for these people.

The best part of all of this is that you can achieve these speeds even in a crowded area. You won't have to think about your connection failing or hitting lag spikes due to congestion. Even as more people move to wireless networking and ask more of their connections, the spectrum available at 6GHz will enable users to make the most of these speeds.

Should I wait for Wi-Fi 6E?

At best, we might see Wi-Fi 6E devices at the end of the year, and even then, upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E will be quite expensive. It's a safe bet that the vast majority of people will be quite well served by a fast Wi-Fi 6 router for long enough for prices to come down on Wi-Fi 6E routers. The nice thing is that you don't have to go all-in at once. Wi-Fi 6E devices and routers will be backward compatible and able to make the most of the current network.

For the vast majority of home users, Wi-Fi 6 is more than enough and is still a great upgrade to a slow network. If you're already running up against the limits of Wi-Fi 6 whether its due to congestion or the desire for higher wireless speeds, Wi-Fi 6E is going to be a great way to get even more out of your network.

Mesh Wi-Fi kits have been picking up in popularity, and many people with large spaces to cover have turned to multi-node systems in order to create a seamless blanket of wireless connectivity. For those who aren't completely sold on mesh — or who don't want to take on the increased cost of a mesh system — TP-Link has created OneMesh, a relatively low-cost solution that sits somewhere between a router with range extender and a legitimate mesh system. I tried out the TP-Link RE300, one of just two range extenders with OneMesh capabilities, to see what it's all about and whether or not it's worth your time and money.

What you'll love about TP-Link's RE300

TP-Link has made it easy to get the RE300 working with your existing Archer A7, C7, or MR600 router. To get everything set up, all you need to do is plug in the RE300 near your router, connect your phone to the temporary network that is created, and open the TP-Link Tether app that is also used with the Archer routers.

From there, select the RE300 from the list of devices, create a password, and select the proper 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios coming from the Archer router. Finally, set names (SSIDs) for the extended radios (they default to _EXT), give it about 30 seconds to configure itself, and from there you're free to unplug the RE300 and find a plug that's closer to the middle of your space. The app includes a feature that will help you find optimal placement, but it's not necessary. Don't have a phone? You can instead use a web browser or the WPS button on your router to complete the setup.

Setup complete, the RE300 operates as a standard range extender that is compatible with any router. Like other range extenders, this creates two new SSIDs — one each for the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio — on top of the two SSIDs already handled by the Archer A7. I tested a couple of distances to see how well the RE300 performs as a simple range extender. Note the baseline speeds achieved first by the Archer A7 without the RE300 connected.

TP-Link Archer A7 (2.4GHz)

TP-Link Archer A7 (5GHz)

Here are the speeds I saw using the RE300 as a standard range extender without OneMesh enabled.

TP-Link RE300 (2.4GHz extended only)

TP-Link RE300 (5GHz extended only)

Just being used as an extender without OneMesh enabled, the RE300 boosts speeds considerably at range on both 2.4 and 5 GHz radios. This is expected and you can get the same results from more affordable devices, like TP-Link's RE220. However, switching between SSIDs manually when you're visiting the far reaches of the main router's range is a pain, which is what OneMesh technology aims to eliminate.

To enable OneMesh you must flip a switch in the app or in your browser. It will only turn on if you're using a compatible Archer router. Once on, the extended network SSIDs disappear and you see only the SSIDs created by your main router. Your wireless devices should now connect automatically to either the RE300 or the Archer router based on which delivers better performance. I ran further speed tests to see how well the OneMesh feature works.

TP-Link RE300 (2.4GHz OneMesh)

TP-Link RE300 (5GHz OneMesh)

There's a slight delay, but my laptop did connect back to the much closer Archer A7 router when I moved into my living room. Likewise, when I moved to the basement, my laptop switched over to a connection with the RE300. In this regard, OneMesh is a success. As you move around your house, your wireless devices will connect to the router or extender that will deliver the best performance.

Finally, I tested with OneMesh and the Archer's Smart Connect feature enabled, which delivers the closest thing to a true mesh experience. There's a single SSID to connect to that encompasses both 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios, and your wireless devices should in theory move between radios, as well between the RE300 and Archer A7 depending on where you'll get the best performance.

TP-Link RE300 (OneMesh with Smart Connect)

Using the RE300 with OneMesh and Smart Connect enabled together doesn't result in the same experience you'd get from a true mesh network setup. I didn't see my laptop flip over to the 5GHz radio once, even when close to the main router. Likewise, there didn't seem to be any change in signal strength that would come from my laptop being switched from a connection to the RE300 back to the Archer A7 when I was much closer to the latter device. If you're looking for the full mesh lifestyle, it's still best to invest in a true mesh network.

In terms of build quality, the RE300 is well put together but just a bit on the bulky side. Its white plastic body might cause a bit of congestion for other stuff being plugged in, but at least it looks good doing it. It's vented around the edges and has four white LEDs along the front bottom edge to let you know its status in terms of power, signal, and band output. On the side is a reset button and WPS button. My only question is why it's not black to match the compatible Archer routers.

What you'll dislike about TP-Link's RE300

Aside from the disparities between a true mesh setup that I explained above, there are a few other downsides to make note of. The most immediate issue is router compatibility. TP-Link has a list of routers that will eventually be compatible with OneMesh, but for now you're stuck with three Archer routers. The A7 and C7 are both extremely popular, but if you don't own an Archer, the RE300 can't use OneMesh and thus isn't worth the higher cost compared to other plain extenders.

An important feature of mesh systems is dedicated backhaul, whether wired or wireless. High-end mesh systems will often include options for both, thanks to three radios and LAN ports built into each node. The RE300 has just two radios so there's no dedicated wireless backhaul, and you can't manually pick which of the two radios is used for backhaul. This means that one of two bands form the RE300 is going to be used for wireless backhaul, which will cut its throughput by half.

It also lacks any LAN ports for wired backhaul, simultaneously removing the ability to connect wired devices to the extender in lieu of running an Ethernet cable across your house. With the RE300 acting as a simple range extender you can enable a High Speed mode that dedicates one band to backhaul only, but this option is removed once OneMesh is turned on.

Finally, while you can connect multiple OneMesh range extenders back to a compatible router (or to each other, though this seriously degrades performance), there's no indication that you can use two routers in the same OneMesh setup. If you decide to buy a new OneMesh-compatible router in the future, it seems the old one will have to sit to the side instead of contributing to the network..

Should you buy the TP-Link RE300?

If you're the owner of an Archer A7, C7, or MR600 and don't want to invest in a true mesh Wi-Fi system, the TP-Link RE300 can act as an affordable stopgap solution. It definitely boosts the range of your main router and will kick your wireless devices back and forth between router and extender based on best performance, but it won't deliver the same seamless experience with single SSID found with the more expensive mesh alternatives.

If you don't own one of those three routers, it's really not worth the higher cost compared to a standard range extender. As TP-Link expands OneMesh compatibility it will no doubt appeal to more people, but for now if you want a high-speed mesh network in your home, check out our roundup of the best systems available now.

Mesh networking can be really expensive, but it doesn't have to be. You can grab a 2-pack of the Tenda Nova MW6 whole home mesh networking system for only $54.59 on sale at Amazon today. That brings this product to a new all-time low price there. This set normally sells for $70 these days and was priced at $80 and up in the beginning of the year. You can save a bit further by choosing No-Rush Shipping at checkout, which would drop its cost to $53.79.

The dual-band AC1200 Nova MW6 is already an affordable alternative to the likes of Linksys Velop or the Netgear Orbi systems, but today's discount makes it an even more attractive entry point to mesh networking. It can envelop your home in fast and reliable Wi-Fi with easy, plug and play set up. To you, it will appear as one network using your current internet provider but behind the scenes its multiple nodes can extend coverage beyond what one static router can. And with Wave 2 MU-MIMO technology, the system can intelligently allocate bandwidth to different devices and ensure that your connection is never interrupted. The 2-pack is capable of blanketing up to 3,000 square feet in Wi-Fi coverage.

If you were to set the tri-band and dual-band Velop nodes next to each other, you wouldn't likely be able to see much of a difference other than that the latter's nodes are a bit shorter. They still come with two Ethernet ports each, setup is virtually the same (which is about as painless as it gets thanks to a streamlined app), the quad-core processor (CPU) inside operates at the same 716MHz frequency, and nodes are completely interchangeable within a network. You can also combine dual-band and tri-band nodes for a seriously sweet wireless setup.

Both systems offer MU-MIMO capabilities for better data delivery, and both systems can handle the spectrum of 802.11a/b/g/n/ac devices. It's easy to set one of these nodes down somewhere and let it blend into the background, though each does require an external power source. Once set up, both the tri-band and dual-band models should operate on their own without hassle, at least until you need to change a setting or reorganize the network layout.

Linksys Velop dual-band vs. tri-band tech specs

Linksys Velop ideal usage

The tri-band Velop is classed as an AC6600 device, but that's if you add up all three nodes. The theoretical speed per node is AC2200, thanks to two 5GHz bands at 867Mbps each and one 2.4GHz band at 400Mbps.

Why have two 5GHz bands? More people these days need higher speeds for their devices to stream, download, and game, so one 5GHz band can get clogged up quickly if you're in a home with a lot of other people, especially if you're relying on wireless backhaul — which effectively eats up about half of your bandwidth — to relay data back to the main router.

The dual-band Velop is classed as an AC3900 device, but that's again only if you add up all three nodes. Theoretical speed per node is instead AC1300, with one 5GHz band at 867Mbps and one 2.4GHz band at 400Mbps. If you're living alone or with one or two other people who are regular internet users, a dual-band Velop is no doubt all you're going to need, especially if you can take advantage of wired backhaul to keep the 5GHz radio clear.

You don't want to only consider who's using the Velop on this side; you also have to consider the speed of the internet you're paying for from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Linksys claims that the tri-band Velop is best suited for plans that deliver up to 300Mbps ― dual 5GHz bands deliver the higher speed to more data-hungry devices at once ― whereas the dual-band Velop is best suited for plans delivering up to 100Mbps.

You don't want to overspend, so if your internet is slow right out of the wall, the dual-band system probably makes more sense. If you think one day you'll be upgrading your ISP plan to something much speedier, you might consider the tri-band Velop. However, there's another factor to add to the equation: coverage.

Linksys Velop coverage

Due to the tri-band Velop having twice as many antennas that can utilize beamforming technology to deliver a better signal farther away, you should realistically be able to cover an area somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 square feet with three nodes. If you're living in a large home with five or more bedrooms, the tri-band Velop might make more sense no matter your basic internet speed.

On the other hand, the dual-band Velop with three active nodes is better suited to covering somewhere between 4,000 and 4,500 square feet, which is still respectable. If you have a small apartment or condo, the dual-band system is no doubt ideal, though it can also definitely prove its worth in a standard home.

Keep in mind that both systems can also be had in single and two-packs. This cuts down on the price, but it also cuts down on the range of coverage. If you, for example, have a lot of people in one room constantly clogging up a single 5GHz band, the two-pack tri-band Velop would probably make sense, delivering higher speeds to more devices without having to cover such a large area. Extra Velop nodes can be added at any time, so, as another example, if you're living in a small apartment, you can pick up a single dual-band node now and expand your setup later.

Linksys Velop price

Finally, one of the biggest deciding factors between these two products will be the price. For a three-node, tri-band Velop setup, you're looking at spending about $400. That's a lot of dough to spend on Wi-Fi, especially compared to the three-node, dual-band Velop's price of about $233.

If you want to start with just one node and work your way up, a single dual-band Velop costs about $110, whereas a single tri-band Velop node costs about $197. Considering you can use the dual- and tri-band nodes together in the same network, you can always start out with budget in mind and expand as the needs arise.

The dual-band Velop is a great pick for most homes

If you're living in an average-sized home with about three or four people connecting devices, the dual-band Velop should be able to handle the traffic needs with ease. Wireless backhaul will affect 5GHz radio speeds, but you can connect with Ethernet for wired backhaul for better performance. It's also significantly cheaper than the tri-band option, and you can start with one node and work your way up as needed.

The tri-band Velop is better for large homes

If you have a large space full of people that needs to be blanketed in reliable Wi-Fi, the tri-band Velop is no doubt worth the extra cost. Thanks to two 5GHz radios, wireless backhaul won't significantly affect performance, yet you can still connect with Ethernet for wired backhaul, leaving both 5GHz radios for devices. Like the dual-band option, you can start with one node and add hardware as needed.

Nokia today expanded its range of Wi-Fi products with the addition of the Nokia Beacon 1 mesh system. With prices starting at $130, the Beacon 1 is an affordable alternative to last year's Beacon 3 and shares many of the same features.

Like its predecessor, Beacon 1 supports 802.11ac and can be used to extend your Wi-Fi coverage to more areas of your home, eliminating dead spots. The dual-band system also features the same easy setup procedure that involves scanning a QR code in the accompanying mobile app with subsequent Beacons being plug and play.

The system is limited to AC1200 speeds — unlike the Beacon 3 which supports AC3000 — but there are built-in features to optimize the available bandwidth such as 'Intelligent Channel Selection' that allows beacons to detect both Wi-Fi and non-WiFi interference and choose the best Wi-Fi channel and band automatically. The Beacon 1 system can cover approximately 1,500 square feet per beacon and the mobile app will provide a Wi-Fi heat map of your home to help you find the optimal placement for each one. It also features a bridge mode that works with your existing router/modem combo as the gateway while the beacons provide the smarter Wi-Fi coverage.

Mesh networking systems are becoming more prevalent and the competition is already fierce in this market with the likes of Amazon-owned Eero, Netgear Orbi, and more already in homes of many consumers. Nokia appears to be using cost as a differentiator, stating that "Beacon 1 is an entry-level, whole-home mesh WiFi system for consumers looking for the best performance at the best price".

Nokia Beacon 1 is available to order now at Amazon. The 1-pack retails at $130 with the 3-pack on offer for $300.

Both of these routers provide a strong mesh network with an easy setup process. While the AmpliFi HD Mesh Router does have a slightly faster top speed for its Wi-Fi, Google Wifi has the ability to connect mesh points with a traditional wired connection to keep wireless speeds high even as points get further from the main router.

The form factor of Google Wifi also gives you more freedom in placement so you can be sure it is in the optimal location. The offering from AmpliFi is still a very strong router but the versatility of Google's design provides a stronger overall package.

Wired vs. wireless

When you look at the bullet points, it's clear AmpliFi wanted to make sure that its router competed in the speed department. The HD Mesh Router has a wider array of connections out of the box but its MeshPoint extenders lack an Ethernet connection and will rely solely on that fast Wi-Fi to carry its signal.

AmpliFi loses its wired superiority when it comes to its MeshPoint add-on, which only uses Wi-Fi as its internet source. They do make the most of wireless, however, with full antenna articulation and a signal meter.

When it comes to using wired devices with your router, things get even more complicated. AmpliFi included a 4-port wired switch and a USB port for storage in a more traditional layout that makes the HD Mesh Router seem like a slick version of a router we already know.

The Google mesh points, in contrast, all feature an Ethernet port so you have the option of running a wire to maintain speed. This could be useful if you're trying to extend your network into an area that may have a lousy signal from your other wireless points, such as a detached garage made of brick or metal siding. It's also a great option to have if you want to maintain a stable connection.

Only one Ethernet port is available on the primary Google Wifi point for expansion. If you need more, a wired network switch can be added to give you as many wired connections as you need. Using a switch you could run Ethernet to every point on your mesh to keep your Wi-Fi at top performance regardless of which point your device is connected to. The extra Ethernet port available on each mesh point can be used in a pinch but you lose the benefits of a wired connection with this option. High-quality standalone network switches are also widely and cheaply available.

Overall, Google Wifi remains the preferred product here. While it may not be the most complete product out of the box, its versatility makes it adaptable to nearly any setup a person might need in their home.

How easy is it to set up?

Both routers have the option of setting the network up with an app on your tablet or phone. No need to type in an IP address to connect — just download and follow the instructions. Physically, both devices just need an Ethernet connection from the modem and the power outlet. Setting up each mesh point beyond that is a simple matter of following directions in the app. Both apps are feature rich but Google's design feels a little more complete and user-friendly despite showing less detailed information.

How does performance hold up?

At this point it might seem like the AmpliFi is falling behind but there is one very important place their HD Mesh Router setup excels: The AmpliFi HD Mesh Router and its MeshPoint extenders all support super-fast AC1750 connection speeds. Google Wifi only supports AC1200.

One reason Google might have left so much meat on the bone here is that the vast majority of people will never come close to maxing out a 1200Mbps connection. If power and speed mean everything to you then AmpliFi is the name for you to remember.

However, at the end of the day, we feel that Google Wifi more than makes up for its slower speeds in other categories and have no hesitation in recommending this router.

It's not quite the best of both worlds

When you piece together a component system like a custom PC or a late 80s brushed steel Hi-Fi stereo system, it can feel like everything works if it will fit and the only sacrifices you make come from your wallet. Your home network isn't going to play so well with other components. The problem isn't a lack of standards so much as an overabundance of them.

It is possible to use the NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900, a traditional wireless router, with Google Wifi, a mesh network, but they will fight each other a bit if they aren't set up in a specific way. The most common setup for using both is to disable the NETGEAR's wireless and use it as an ethernet switch. This, however, doesn't make a ton of sense given the abundance and affordability of fast standalone wired network switches.

Instead of useless redundancy, play to your strengths

Consider for a moment which devices you want to get online. If you have transitioned into an all wireless setup then the Google Wifi alone will serve you well. If you want the reliability and immediacy of a wired connection on some of your devices, you may want to add a wired network switch. It is well understood by the gaming community that the vast majority of missed shots are due to internet lag after all, so it might be worth it to keep your gaming machines wired. So, what does your ideal network have in it now?

Once your modem turns rugged, uncivilized outdoor signals into an internet connection in your home, you connect your modem directly to the primary (hopefully the most central) Google Wifi point. Utilizing an extra ethernet port located on the bottom of the Primary Wifi point, connect to the uplink of your switch. Consider something like the NETGEAR Nighthawk S8000 switch. With this eight port switch, you can connect several wired devices to your Google Wifi and even have capacity to run ethernet directly to your Mesh Wifi points for improved speed on your wireless mesh network as indicated by Google's supported setups.

Setting up a network isn't the easiest thing in the world, but if you consider your needs, the vastness of available networking tech will allow you to create a network that fits your needs and your home.

More connected devices mean a hit to performance

Even though you can likely connect hundreds of devices wirelessly to your router, you won't want to. Not only will there be a ton of signal interference, the router hardware (like the processor and RAM) and services are likely not equipped to handle that many simultaneous connections, so speeds will suffer greatly.

For example, say your router is classed as AC2300, like the NETGEAR R7000P. This includes a 2.4GHz radio with throughput up to 600 Mbps and a 5GHz radio with throughput up to 1,625 Mbps. These speeds are theoretical and are dependent on other factors, but we can do some simple math to see the performance issue.

The R7000P Nighthawk with 10 devices connected simultaneously to its 5GHz radio could theoretically hit speeds of about 160 Mbps per device (1,625 divided by 10). As for the 2.4GHz radio at 600 Mbps, 10 devices connected simultaneously would drop theoretical speeds down to about 60 Mbps per device.

Using 10 devices simultaneously on both radios at once, for most people, is probably a rare occurrence, and the R7000P Nighthawk is still a great multipurpose router that includes a band steering feature to move devices between the radios for optimal performance. We've also rounded up a bunch of other awesome routers that can handle larger groups of people at longer range.

Don't forget to take into account the speeds being offered by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). A big router with plenty of throughput is going to be wasted if you're only paying for a 25 Mbps plan.

What about mesh networking?

Mesh networking kits have been gaining popularity, thanks to the offer of expansive Wi-Fi coverage from nodes placed around your home or office. They're great for blanketing large spaces in a reliable signal, but they suffer from the same basic limitations based on hardware and throughput.

You're still dealing with 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios with a maximum theoretical throughput, and in many cases, you'll spend more on a high-powered mesh system that's better suited for a high number of devices than you would on a single high-powered router. However, if you have a large space to cover and are sick of dead spots in your home, something like Ubuquiti's AmpliFi HD should alleviate a lot of problems and still have the capacity to handle more devices than are usually found in a regular household. You'll generally pay more, but for a lot of people, the cost is well worth a reliable network.

Choose a router with strong performance and band steering

The R7000P Nighthawk dual-band router offers strong performance across its 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios, making it a good choice for those with an above-average number of devices to connect. Additional band steering automatically moves your devices to the radio that offers optimal performance, Quality of Service (QoS) control keeps data-hungry devices buffered, and MU-MIMO delivers uninterrupted data to your modern devices. As long as you don't have an enormous space better cut out for a mesh network and don't need a router specialized for gaming, you shouldn't have any problems with the R7000P.

Opt for a mesh networking system for large spaces

If the issue with your network also involves hitting every back corner (and even your backyard) with a Wi-Fi signal, a mesh Wi-Fi setup is likely in the cards. Ubiquiti's AmpliFi HD is a strong choice, with powerful AC1750 performance, superb range, automatic band steering, and easy setup and management. Start with a single router and expand your network, or go for the whole setup from the start with a main router and two MeshPoints.

Using Orbi with ReadyShare Network printing

If you connect a printer to your Orbi router's USB port, you can wirelessly access that printer from any PC, Mac or iOS device on your network. This is extremely useful, especially if you don't have a Wi-Fi enabled printer. ReadyShare printing allows you to print from your phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop wherever you are in your home. Halfway out the door when you realize you've forgotten to print a ticket? No problem! Just do it from your phone. ReadyShare printing does, however, have the unfortunate limitation of not being available on Android devices.

Aside from printing, Netgear's ReadyShare encompasses several other utilities that the Orbi doesn't support. These include data storage, file access, and media sharing across your network. With these, you can backup all your devices to the same hard drive, download a video to your ReadyShare drive then stream it on your smart TV, or view your saved photos from any connected device. The absence of these features with Orbi is strange because many of Netgear's other routers are fully compatible with all ReadyShare functions, and Orbi users have been asking for more of these features for the past two years.

Using Orbi with an external hard drive

Connecting a USB hard drive or thumb drive to Orbi is a little finicky. The USB 2.0 port is officially only meant for ReadyShare printing, so the system often doesn't recognize when other devices are plugged in. Limited success using an external hard drive with Orbi has been reported on the Netgear community forums. One user confirmed success using a Western Digital hard drive with Orbi in August 2018, which is highlighted below. Other successful hard drive connections have been sporadic and sometimes tied to a specific firmware version. In most cases, plugging a hard drive into Orbi's USB port just doesn't work. But if you're determined to try, FAT32-formatted drives seem to work the best.

Wi-Fi is undergoing a significant shift this year as the new Wi-Fi 6 standard, a.k.a., "802.11ax," with up to 2.4 Gbps throughput, is set to launch.

Rivet Networks – the team behind the popular Killer series of Wi-Fi cards – is working with Intel to merge its prioritization engine to the latest AX hardware. The Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 card is a 2x2, Wi-Fi 6 module that supports 160 MHz channels and Bluetooth 5.0.

Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 features and enhancements

Dell's Alienware series of gaming laptops and desktop PCs will be the first to launch the new card, beginning in the coming weeks. Interestingly, the card itself won't cost much more than current generation Wi-Fi cards, making rapid adoption by other PC manufacturers likely.

According to Rivet, the new Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 card can deliver:

• Up to three times more throughput than the previous generation 80MHz 2x2 AC devices.
• Up to 40 percent more throughput than the previous generation 160MHz 2x2 AC devices.
• Up to four times more network capacity in dense environments than the previous generation.

On the software side ...

Of course, a Killer Wi-Fi card isn't just about the hardware but also the software suite that intelligently monitors and prioritizes data – especially for online gaming – to reduce any network congestion, especially when multiple devices are on the same network.

The Killer AX1650 uses Advanced Stream Detect 2.0 Technology to detect thousands of games, applications, and websites. It then leverages Lag and Latency Reduction Technology to prioritize the most important packets for a fast, smooth online entertainment experience. Gamers can expect up to three times better in-game latency performance when using the AX1650 during peak network usage periods.

GameFast Technology automatically pauses processes that are not needed when gaming, freeing up to 10 percent of CPU cycles and 20 percent of memory. Gamers who use GameFast will experience faster, more responsive gameplay with the additional system resources available to focus on the game.

Powered by the Killer Intelligence Engine, the Killer AX1650 automatically analyzes the network and makes adjustments to improve the overall online experience. For items that cannot be fixed automatically, the Killer Intelligence Engine makes recommendations to the user on how to best optimize their home network for ideal performance.

When combined with a Killer Ethernet product, the AX1650 features DoubleShot Pro Technology, which enables the use of both Killer Ethernet and the AX1650 at the same time. DoubleShot Pro works automatically to ensure the highest priority traffic will always be put on the fastest and most reliable link. Users can also leverage the Killer Control Center 2.0 to determine which applications and websites go over wireless and which use Ethernet.

Additionally, the Killer Control Center 2.0 lets users control, modify, and limit which apps are accessing the internet, while being able to optimize for their network, set bandwidth limits and more. There's also the new Wireless xTend technology that delivers powerful MESH network capabilities, letting gamers extending their home network.

While the user will still need a Wi-Fi 6-enabled router to leverage the full capabilities of the new 802.11ax standard, more hardware vendors are supporting the emerging tech. Because of the potential faster speeds – especially on networks with heavy device congestion – even battery life should improve because it is now quicker to access the data.

Best Wi-Fi Routers in 2019

Look for Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 to begin shipping in Alienware computers in the coming weeks, with more vendors jumping on board after that. Both soldered and free-standing versions of the chips will be available to vendors, and we should see more high-end laptops and PCs with support for Wi-Fi 6 in the coming months.

If you need a new router now that supports Killer wireless cards and can't wait, check out the Linksys WRT32X detailed below.

On the market for mesh Wi-Fi that gives you plenty of options and features? The Linksys Velop system offers what you're looking for with few sacrifices. The AmpliFi HD is a decent system if you're starting from scratch or don't want to spend a lot of money comparatively, but for an all-around better package, you should go with the Velop.

Wi-Fi features with prices to match

With an ever-increasing number of smart devices around the house, from speakers to TVs to appliances, the popularity of mesh Wi-Fi systems is steadily growing. When it comes to blanketing your home, paying a little more can give you some well-received benefits. That's what you can find with the Linksys Velop over the AmpliFi HD system.

Linksys offers several things in its mesh system, but not all of them will matter to everyone. Although AmpliFi includes one WAN to connect from the modem and four LAN ports for other devices in its HD Router, the wall-plug mesh points don't have any ports, making a wired backhaul non-existent. The Linksys Velop are not wall-plug mesh points, giving it room for two WAN/LAN ports on each device and making an Ethernet backhaul and wired connections throughout your home possible.

Most routers nowadays host Dual-Band Wi-Fi, but more Tri-Band routers are showing up. Between Linksys and AmpliFi, only the Velop includes Tri-Band, with two 5GHz bands reaching 867Mbps each and a single 2.4GHz band reaching 400Mbps. Although it's slightly slower than AmpliFi's 5GHz/2.4GHz bands, with speeds up to 1300Mbps/450Mbps, respectively, the extra band on the Velop means your devices won't congest your networks as much, especially if you have a high-speed data plan and several 5Ghz-compatible devices.

However, when it comes to coverage, the Velop can't match what AmpliFi offers. Each Velop covers 2,000 square feet, giving you 6,000 square feet of coverage when you configure all three. AmpliFi's HD Router gives you the same 6,000 square feet of coverage all by itself. Adding both wall-plug mesh points pushes the coverage to 10,000 square feet. People with larger homes or spaces to cover would save money going with the AmpliFi.

Overall, the Linksys Velop has more to offer its owners when it comes to a mesh Wi-Fi system and the functionalities that come with it. It even has Amazon Alexa built in, making things like enabling guest access possible by voice with your Alexa-enabled devices. You even have the option of choosing white or black Velops to blend in to (or stand out of) the space they occupy.

The AmpliFi is not a bad system, and it might be worth it if you have more space to cover and less money to work with. However, to get all the best features in one package, you're going to want to go with the Velop.

More coverage means less points required

The Netgear Orbi routers and satellites look and work similar to each other. They each create a sphere of Wi-Fi that goes beyond the floor and room they're sitting in, keeping a strong, steady connection to your devices and within the mesh system. One Orbi router and Orbi satellite can cover up to 5,000 square feet (about 465 square meters). Should you need more space covered, you can connect up to three satellites to your router and cover nearly 10,000 square feet (or around 929 square meters).

Orbi also offers different systems for different situations, including wall plug satellites and outdoor satellites, which connect just as easily as the desktop satellites. The best satellites for you depend on the size of your home – different satellites offer different ranges.

If you have a small area that isn't quite covered by your router, a wall plug satellite is a quick and easy fix. These smaller points connect to your walls without taking up a lot of space and can extend coverage by up to 1,500 square feet. To add coverage to an area that isn't covered by a wall plug satellite, you can go for the Orbi Wi-Fi Satellite (RBS40). These are the common points that can come bundled with the router and each cover up to 2,000 square feet. If you need further reach than what's possible with the RBS40, the Orbi RBS50 and Orbi RBS50Y (for outdoor use) can reach up to 2,500 square feet each, more than other Orbi satellites.

No two homes are the same

Not every house needs a mesh Wi-Fi system, and not every house is fully covered inside and out with just a router and satellite. Both the Orbi router and Orbi satellite offer four Ethernet ports each in case you need a wired connection through your home.

If you're interested in creating a wired backhaul connection within your system instead of the wireless backhaul which connects automatically, you can do so using star topology or daisy chain topology. You must have Orbi Router RBR50 and Orbi Satellites RBS50 with the latest firmware to create the Ethernet backhaul. For daisy chain topology, you must also check Enable Daisy-Chain Topology in your settings if it isn't already turned on. However, the dedicated band used for backhaul won't be freed when using Ethernet backhaul but is still something some people may be interested in.

Using LAN cabling is the ideal solution for hooking up devices to your routers and access points. When this simply isn't possible, Synology makes it so you can use a Wi-Fi dongle with the DS119j NAS. I'm going to show you how to achieve this with but a few steps to follow.

Important: Synology has since removed the option for Wi-Fi networking in DSM. We're looking into this, but for now you may want to pass on picking up an adapter until we're able to get them working once again with the NAS.

Products Used In This Guide

• Amazon: Synology DS119 ($100)
• Amazon: TP-Link TL-WN722N ($15)

How to connect your NAS to Wi-Fi

1. Firstly, check your dongle is supported.
2. Plug your Wi-Fi dongle into an available USB port.

3. If using a supported dongle, head to Control Panel > Wireless > Network Map Configuration.
4. Choose Join Wireless Network.
5. Follow the on-screen wizard, filling in your LAN password.

Your NAS should now be connected to the wireless network. Interestingly, if you want to be a little more advanced, the Synology DS119j can even act as an access point for devices to connect to it directly with specific and supported Wi-Fi dongles.

Our top equipment picks

Synology's latest affordable NAS is the DS119j, sporting just a single drive bay. While I'd usually recommend a two-bay NAS at the very least for RAID configurations and data redundancy, if you're only using the NAS as an additional backup location, the DS119j is ideal.

Netgear Orbi RBK50 vs Orbi RBK33 tech specs

While most of these specs appear to be similar, there are a couple of notable features you should check out.

Performance

While the Orbi RBK50 offers AC3000, the RBK33 offers AC200. As you can see above, the AC200 offers 1,046 fewer Mbps at 867Mbps for the first band, but the other two remain the same. This means you'll get slightly less backhaul performance, but the other bands will remain the exact same.

On top of this, the plugin satellites with the RBK33 have significantly less memory at 256MB Flash and RAM then what's offered in the RBK50. While the routers themselves have the same memory, the satellites in the RBK50 offer 4GB Flash and 512MB RAM. So with the RBK50, you get that additional room.

The only other difference that's important to note is that the RBK50 satellites will require shelf space and, while it doesn't take up much space, it might be unappealing if you like your routers invisible. In this case, the RBK33 would be a better option for you. With that one, you can just plug the device into your wall and forget it exists.

Features

The Orbi RBK50 router has a built-in USB 2.0 that you can use for ReadyShare or compatible external hard drives. With ReadyShare you can print directly from your phone, laptop, or computer as long as they're all connected through the same Wi-Fi network. Unfortunately, the Orbi RBK33 doesn't have a compatible USB port on the router or either of the satellites that come in the package. This only leaves you out of ReadyShare and more memory expansions, but if you're not one to use too much memory in your routers anyway you'll be just fine (most people only use the router space to store image files or computer backups).

One of the amazing things about both of these routers is the Parental Control options they both have. This is run through Disney Smart Parental Controls, which allows you to manage content and Wi-Fi times on any device connected to your network. Not only that, but all of your internet is managed by one Wi-Fi Network for your entire home, under one name.

Orbi RBK50 vs Linksys Velop tech specs

To most of us, specs are very important factors when it comes to buying routers. If you care more about what the router is capable of, and less about how easy it is to use, it's time to take a look under the hood.

Performance

As you can see from our spec chart above, Orbi is trumping the Linksys when it comes to performance with three radios, 1,000 extra feet of square footage, and USB ports. The one and only radio in the Linksys covers 802.11b/g/n, which matches the first radio in the Orbi, but, the second and third radio in the Orbi covers 802.11a/n/ac, which helps it handle a larger amount of data. The square footage might be upsetting to some, but if you're working out of a dorm or an apartment, then you're not missing out on much.

It's the same deal with the USB ports as well: if you don't need them, then you're not missing out. The USB port on the Orbi is only officially compatible with ReadyShare printing, which is the ability to print directly from your phone, laptop, or computer as long as they're all connected through the same Wi-Fi network. There are users who've reported how there were specific types of external hard drives that were working with their Orbi USB port, but that isn't officially supported. Linksys, on the other hand, doesn't have a USB port at all. If plugging in your printer or having a little bit more memory doesn't bother you, you're not at a loss — just plug your external hard drive into your computer.

Features

One thing Orbi is great for is the expansions. There's an Orbi expansion, called the Orbi Voice, which is a speaker satellite that you can find on Amazon for $300. You can also skip the standard package and go right for the router and Orbi Voice for $429 (which is $200 cheaper than purchasing it as an add-on for more than double the price since it's only $100 more than the standard package). There is an indoor expansion for $250 that comes with a satellite offering up to 2,500 extra square feet of coverage. Then there's an outdoor expansion for $290 that comes with a satellite that's safe to install outdoors, also adding up to another 2,500 square feet of coverage.

One thing that Linksys does, that Orbi doesn't, are the auto-fix abilities they have on their routers. This is the ability to automatically select the best channel for your device and eliminate congestion with the push of a button. This eliminates your need to turn off the router and turn it back on whenever you experience a problem — like you would with other routers.

Other than that, both the Orbi and the Linksys routers are pretty similar. They're sleek and stylish, and between their sizes and their shapes, you should have no problem incorporating these devices in your home's style.

Netgear Orbi RBK50 for upgrading not just your internet, but your home

Orbi has the expansion ability to not only improve your Wi-Fi but make your home compatible with more Smart devices. There are endless opportunities when it comes to upgrades, so you'll never be missing out.

Linksys Velop for easier internet

Whether you're running out of a dorm room or an apartment, Linksys covers the space you need with great connection speeds. Set it up once, forget it exists, and then enjoy your internet!

Netgear Orbi RBK50 vs Orbi RBK50V tech specs

Abilities are one thing, but the specs are where the real decisions usually are. Here's a look at what's under the hood.

Performance

Before we get too deep into comparing the features, I want to note that your Orbi RBK50V package comes with the RBK50 router. This means the only thing you're sacrificing is the satellite that comes with the RBK50 package, and instead, you're getting the speaker satellite known as the Voice. Compared to the original satellite, the Voice will give you 500 less square feet of Wi-Fi coverage as well as an AC2200 standard instead of the AC3000. As you can see above, the AC200 offers 1,046 fewer Mbps at 867Mbps for the first band, but the other two still remain exactly the same. This means you'll get slightly less backhaul performance, but the other bands will deliver the same performance.

Other than the notable difference in specs between the two types of satellites you could get with the RBK50 router, there are a few physical differences you'll see as well. For example, the standard satellite comes with four LAN ports for you to use, while the Orbi Voice only has two LAN for you. However, since they both carry the same router, you'll still have the compatibility of a USB port, regardless of which one you decide is right for you. Not just that, but they both offer the same amount of memory as well.

Features

What this decision comes down to are the satellite feature differences between the two packages. Since you'll be getting the same router regardless, you want to compare what they're capable of doing to see if it fits your tastes. The Orbi RBK50 Voice package comes with one RBK50 router and one Voice. The Voice is a speaker system that also has mics inside to be able to take voice commands that are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. This means you could tell the Orbi Voice to turn off the lights in your kitchen, for instance, and it will.

Really, the only difference between these two packages is the square footage they're able to cover. While you can get the Orbi Voice is $110 more than the standard package, you'll actually be saving money in the long run, since the Voice itself is actually offered as an expansion for $300. That means for $200 less (when you consider the package is only $100 more), you could get the Voice package and only miss out on 500 square feet of coverage. However, you gain all of the abilities of the Voice, mentioned above, plus the ability to play your favorite music with a steady connection speed. So if you're willing to sacrifice that coverage, you get more features.

Orbi RBK50 vs. Google Wifi tech specs

These two routers have some pretty notable differences, so let's take a look at what's inside before we go into why one might be better for you than the other.

Performance

After looking at the spec charts you can see that both routers support beamforming. This is important when it comes to getting a stronger signal directly to your device, as opposed to a wild radius where you lose signal the further away you get from the router or satellite. Both are also adaptable to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz connections, so you don't have to worry about your older devices not connecting to either of these routers. However, while they both support 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, the Orbi router has three radios while the Google Wifi only has the one. Since they both have quad-core processors there isn't too much of a difference there, but the radios are important when it comes to boosting the signal on the device.

Now, let's take a closer look at the Google Wifi. The price option is significantly cheaper, looking at about $256 for a 3-pack and $100 for a single pack. Each unit covers 1,500 square feet, so if you're working from a smaller apartment than the Google Wifi is the perfect choice for you. This way you still have the great connection, which is very similar between the devices anyway, but you don't have to put out so much money to cover square footage you don't need to anyway.

Then there's the Orbi RBK50. This 2-pack, found for $330 on Amazon, covers up to 5,000 square feet in your home. That's not all. Unlike the Google Wifi, the Orbi has a USB port for you to use with supported external hard drives or ReadyShare Printing. With ReadyShare you can print directly from your phone, laptop, or computer as long as they're all connected through the same Wi-Fi. Other than that, there are expansions for your Orbi devices (that you can read about below) and there are no expansions for the Google Wifi.

Features

Both of these routers are extremely family-friendly as both support parental controls. With the Orbi RBK50, you have parental controls through Disney Smart, which allows you to control your family's access to the internet by device, app, or website. Then, with the Google Wifi, you have parental controls through the same app that controls the rest of the router's features — it'll even allow you to pause Wi-Fi on specific devices! If you are having any issues with your Google Wifi there is even a 24/7 phone support from Google and a 1-year warranty should problems ever arise.

Now let's take a look at the Orbi's expansions. If you're looking to make your home a little smarter, or already have smart devices, than the Orbi router is well worth your investment. There is an Orbi expansion, called the Orbi Voice, which is a speaker satellite that you can find on Amazon for $300. Or, you can skip the standard package and go right for the router and Orbi Voice for $429 (which is $200 cheaper than purchasing it as an add-on for more than double the price since it's only $100 more than the standard package).

Google Assistant is supported on both of these devices, but the Orbi Voice is the only one that is also compatible with Amazon's Alexa. These give you the ability to take voice controls for other smart devices in your home (like lights). In this regard, the Voice is still much more amazing as it improves its own signal for streaming music by maintaining its own connection and also acting as another satellite for your home. This means while you're jamming out to your favorite tunes in your living room you can tell the Voice to turn off the kitchen lights and still have an extended connection to the phone you're using.

Google Wifi for your average home

This router is perfect if you want a better Wi-Fi connection and you're not too concerned about having your home filled with smart products. It's an amazing device for almost $100 less than the competition here, so it's a go-to for people with less space.

Netgear Orbi RBK50 for upgrading not just your internet, but your home

With all of the amazing features of Orbi, from their amazing connections to the USB port abilities, this router is really going for being an all-in-one. Since it's compatible with your Smart products, if you've got the Orbi Voice, it sets you up for perfectly for seamless integration.

Wi-Fi is something we all use each and every day, but with crazy names such as 802.11n and 802.11ac, it can be difficult to remember which standard is better than another. When the next generation of Wi-Fi arrives (802.11ax), it'll go by a much simpler name — Wi-Fi 6.

The Wi-Fi Alliance announced this change on Wednesday, October 3, saying:

Looking back at older generations of Wi-Fi, their new naming goes as follows:

• 802.11b is now Wi-Fi 1
• 802.11a is now Wi-Fi 2
• 802.11g is now Wi-Fi 3
• 802.11n is now Wi-Fi 4
• 802.11ac is now Wi-Fi 5

The first Wi-Fi 6 devices are expected to arrive at some point next year and offer increased speed and better handling of multiple connections at once compared to Wi-Fi 5.

What do you think of the new naming scheme?

Router vs. Mesh Networking: What's best for your home Wi-Fi network?

Looking at the two options of the Orbi Home routers and satellites you might say they look pretty similar (and they definitely do). The real work is behind the plastic of the device, so let's see what's under the hood.

NETGEAR Orbi RBK50 vs. NETGEAR Orbi RBK40 tech specs

Performance

Both of these options have the memory space for 4GB flash and 512MB of RAM so you don't have to worry about the stability of your internet connection with either of these routers, especially since they both support beamforming. If you look further into it, the RBK50 has a backhaul antenna that supports up to 1.7Gbps while the RBK40 supports only up to 867 Mbps. This is important when it comes to your bandwidth and will allow the RBK50 to transmit data at significantly higher speeds. Chances are if you're just getting a new router for your home, you won't need the added support unless you have a lot of company over or you do a bit of online gaming.

But that's not the only reason that Orbi RBK50 is about $80 more in price. The RBK50 offers an extra 1,000 square feet of coverage for your household. While the RBK40 only offers up to a total of 4,000 square feet, the RBK50 offers up to 5,000 square feet. So if you're working within a smaller house, or apartment, the RBK40 will do you just fine. For those of you with larger houses or multiple levels, I would spring for the RBK50 instead.

Features

All Orbi expansions are compatible with both of these routers. There is an indoor expansion to bring you another 2,500 square feet of coverage, as well as an outdoor expansion that is safe to hook up in your backyard that also offers up to 2,500 feet of extra coverage. If you want to watch some Netflix while relaxing in the pool, don't worry, Orbi's got your back.

There is also a speaker option called Orbi Voice. This speaker works basically the same way a Roku does, boosting and pulling its own signal to make sure you have the best connection for the music you want to hear. The Orbi Voice even has Alexa and Google Assistant built in. It acts as an add-on satellite for your device, so not only is it boosting the signal of itself, but it's making your WiFi better too.

Any of the Orbi devices, whether its the routers, satellites, Voice, or expansions are incredibly great looking. Their sleek design makes it very easy to blend in with any environment while also providing you with amazing coverage. So spread them out across your home and upgrade your internet and style.

Orbi RBK50 is for the best performance

If you're on the move to upgrade the WiFi and make your Home a little smarter the RBK50 might just be the one for you. Between Alexa and Google Assistant giving you voice control options, this is the best router of the two for a connection that will make sure everyone in your house is happy.

Orbi RBK40 is for the best price

Bottom line, if the lure of a larger square footage doesn't entice you than you'll be just fine getting yourself the RBK40 to save yourself a few bucks. You still get the parental control options and the connection is still great.

Different package deals are saving you money at Amazon

The standard 2-pack of the NETGEAR Orbi Mesh WiFi System (RBK50V) sells for $319 at Amazon. While that might be the same price as competitors, one thing that Amazon is doing is offering the indoor expansion for $250 that comes with a satellite offering up to 2,500 extra square feet of coverage. Then there's an outdoor expansion for $290 that comes with a satellite that's safe to install outdoors, also adding up to another 2,500 square feet of coverage. Best Buy doesn't offer any of these expansions, so Amazon is currently your go-to choice for Orbi products.

Also, if you're looking to get the Orbi Voice package, Amazon is selling them for $430. While that's the same price offered at Best Buy, Amazon has an option to buy a second Orbi Voice as an add-on for $300. The speaker doubles as a satellite, giving you up to an extra 2,000 square feet of coverage wherever it is installed. It's compatible with the package mentioned above, meaning you don't need to spend the extra hundred bucks for the Voice Package. Just get the solo speaker and enhance your experience.

Get the better deal with protection plans

Amazon's protection plan is less than half of the price of Best Buy's and will cover you for mechanical and electrical failures, free shipping on all repairs (with no deductibles or hidden fees), and faulty product. They'll either replace or repair your product to ensure you can go right back to enjoying your Orbi Home. So while they're saving you money on the product, you're also saving money on protecting that product. Win, win situation here.

These routers will both deliver great range and the same AC1750 throughput, but only the Archer A7 works with Amazon Alexa.

TP-Link Archer C7 vs. TP-Link Archer A7 tech specs

Performance

These two routers have essentially the same hardware inside (with a small change to processor), RAM, and Flash memory, altogether delivering theoretical AC1750 throughput over the 2.4 GHz (450 Mbps) and 5 GHz (1,300 Mbps) radios. Either router is capable of handling a standard household full of wireless devices — TP-Link claims the A7 can deal with 50 or more devices at once, though I wouldn't push it anywhere near that — and range should theoretically hit about 2,500 square feet, though that number too is only an estimate. The layout of your home, the thickness of walls, and plenty of other factors will knock that number down, but it will provide enough coverage for a medium to large home or office.

If you'd like to connect external storage to your router for multimedia sharing, the Archer C7 has two USB-A 2.0 ports on the back. The Archer A7 is likewise using USB-A 2.0, so speeds will be the same, but it only has one port, meaning you can only connect one drive at a time. As for wired Ethernet connections, both routers have four LAN and one WAN ports.

Features

With either of these routers, you're getting parental controls, guest networks, WPA and WPA2 encryption, and the ability to flash with custom firmware, like OpenWRT. Both are easy to set up, and both have an available app for management thereafter.

What the Archer C7 doesn't have is the ability to work with Amazon's assistant. The Archer A7 is an Amazon-exclusive product and lets you control some of its features with Alexa. You can do things like tell Alexa to set up a guest network, connect a new device, perform a speed test, and perform certain Quality of Service (QoS) tasks, like prioritize gaming data among other things.

Conclusion

Those of you getting started on or continuing to build a connected home centered around Alexa will no doubt find great value in the Archer A7. It is missing one of the two USB-A 2.0 ports found on the back of the Archer C7, but other than that it's essentially the same router. It's also usually a few dollars cheaper than the Archer C7.

If you have no need for Amazon Alexa and want to stick with two USB-A 2.0 ports on the back, the Archer C7 remains a viable option.

What's the difference between used, refurbished, and new models?

Though you'll first see for offer on Amazon's Archer C7 page for a new, unopened, and unused model of the router for about $76, you can also choose to buy a used or refurbished model for a good amount less (as low as $40 for used and as low as $50 for refurbished).

Used items are usually sold by third-party vendors without fulfillment by Amazon, so results can vary. Used items do have a notifier of the condition the product is in, and what's in the package. In this case, you'll usually see router and power cable included.

If you don't trust a used model, you can go with refurbished and still save a good chunk of change. Refurbished items are often fulfilled by Amazon, meaning they're packed and shipped at a warehouse and are eligible for free shipping. Refurbished items are usually brought up to factory standards and will often come with a warranty period in case of issues.

For the TP-Link Archer C7, refurbished and new models are fulfilled or sold directly from Amazon, meaning Prime delivery for subscribers, warranty, and customer service.

Do standard warranties and support apply?

Even though you're not buying a new router directly from TP-Link, you still get a manufacturer two-year warranty and around-the-clock technical support should you run into any issues during setup or use. You can also add extra two-year or four-year Amazon protection plans for a couple more dollars if you feel like you need extra coverage.

As for used and refurbished models, you're on your own when it comes to the former, but you get a 90-day warranty from Amazon for the latter.

What about shipping?

Orders fulfilled by Amazon that cost more than $25 are eligible for free shipping, though without a Prime subscription it usually take about five to eight business days to arrive.

If you're an Amazon Prime subscriber, you can take advantage of free two-day shipping on way more items despite money spent, including refurbished and new models of the Archer C7 router.

Expert setup is available if needed

For as low as an extra $49 (it will often be more depending on where you live), you can have an expert come and hook up your router. The service includes installation, setup, instruction, and a full assessment of your Wi-Fi network.

The process takes about an hour, you can choose an exact time for the setup to take place, and you'll get your money back if the expert leaves you with any problems.

A router with good value

The TP-Link Archer C7 AC1750 Wi-Fi router is one of our favorite routers, especially in regards to its low price. To ensure you get that best deal, go to Amazon.

As our mobile world progresses with new phones, smart home gadgets, and more, it's becoming even more critical that our online presence is as safe and secure as can be. To ensure things stay that way, the Wi-Fi Alliance is now certifying products that support the new WPA3 standard.

WPA3 is officially replacing WPA2, and considering that WPA2 was first released in 2004, the time for this is long overdue. Although not much is changing from a consumer point-of-view, WPA3 is chock-full of new features and tools to ensure your wireless internet connection is more secure than ever before.

One of the highlights found with WPA3 is that it makes it much more difficult for hackers to tap into your network using offline password-guessing attacks. WPA2 allows deviants to capture data from your router and then repeatedly guess your password over and over on their computer so they can gain access to your Wi-Fi setup, but with WPA3, one incorrect hacking attempt will render this data useless.

Nothing will change with the way you enter your Wi-Fi password on your phone, but the manner in which hackers usually try and break into your network is much more difficult with WPA3.

Other benefits with the new standard include added privacy over your data when connected to a public Wi-Fi network, making it impossible for hackers to recover your data even if they break an encrypted transmission from your network, and more.

As for when all of this is rolling out, it's going to take some time for WPA3 to be as widely adopted as WPA2 is right now.

You'll need to buy Wi-Fi routers, phones, and more that support WPA3 out of the box, but if you're lucky, the manufacturers of your current gadgets will update them so you don't have to go out and buy all-new tech to benefit from WPA3.

The Wi-Fi Alliance expects WPA3 to be more widely available later in the year, and when the new 802.11ax Wi-Fi standard comes out in 2019, it should ramp up even more.

You'll still be able to connect to WPA2 networks using gadgets that support WPA3, and similar to the old standard, the Wi-Fi Alliance says it'll regularly update WPA3 over the years to ensure it stays as safe as possible no matter what gets thrown at it.

Wi-Fi Alliance announces EasyMesh, Qualcomm promises support for WPA3

Mesh Wi-Fi systems have exploded in popularity over the last few years, with some of the standouts including the likes of Google Wifi and Eero. Plume debuted in late 2016 as yet another entry into this niche, and today the company announced that it's completely redoing its business model to be centered around a yearly subscription.

See at Plume

Dubbed as Plume Adaptive WiFi, the service costs $60 each year (or $200 for a lifetime membership) and grants you access to things like parental controls, speed tests, and things Plume refers to as "security products" and "active management." It's still unclear what that "active management is", but according to The Verge, Plume's CEO described it as something like this:

However, perhaps the biggest change is that you'll now be required to have a Plume Adaptive WiFi subscription to actually purchase any of Plume's products. The prices of these are heavily discounted (a three-pack of Plume Pods now cost $39 instead of the regular $179), and while prices will still rise as you add more to your cart, you're going to save a substantial amount of cash compared to retail prices of Plume's competitors.

Also, if you sign up for the service, buy a few Plume Pods, but decide not to renew, your routers won't be completely bricked. They'll continue to work, albeit not as well compared to a paying subscriber. It's unclear what sort of differences we're talking about, but it's likely that Plume will do what it can to keep you handing over those $60 each year.

In addition to the new subscription model, Plume also announced the Superpod — a more powerful version of its Plume Pod that's capable of tri-band networks. There's currently no word on how much Plume Adaptive Wi-Fi members will have to pay for it, but orders will begin soon on June 15.

Whether or not you're an existing Plume customer, what do you think about the transition to a subscription model? This is the first time we've seen it enter the router space, but it likely won't be the last.

VPNFilter malware has infected a million routers — here's what you need to know

Mesh Wi-Fi systems are becoming more popular each day, thanks to their offer of seamless high-speed wireless internet spread out over a large area. There are a few popular choices, one of which is the Linksys Velop. It's been available for awhile now in a tri-band configuration, but Linksys has recently released a dual-band version that's much better suited for households with less people and less area to cover. It's also significantly cheaper, opening up mesh Wi-Fi to more people.

Living in a two-bedroom condo (about 1,100 square feet) with one other person, the dual-band Velop seems perfectly suited for me. I tested it out to determine whether or not it's a smart buy on its own and compared to its tri-band sibling.

About this review

Linksys provided Windows Central with a review unit of the dual-band AC3900 Velop mesh Wi-Fi system. It starts at about $130 for a single node, and about $300 for a three-node bundle, suitable for about 4,500 square feet of coverage. We also previously reviewed the tri-band Linksys Velop, which is better suited for homes up to about 6,000 square feet.

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Linksys Velop dual-band mesh Wi-Fi hardware and specs

Linksys Velop dual-band mesh Wi-Fi design

Much like the tri-band Velop, the package comes with three small white nodes. There is still some of the dot venting on the top, but otherwise the case is solid. They're a bit shorter and a bit more squat than the tri-band options ― about the same size as a worthwhile cup of coffee ― and luckily the power adapter is much smaller here. As long as you can find an outlet, you should be able to fit a node somewhere nearby.

An LED on the top of each node is really the only indicator of whether or not it's working ― there are a bunch of different color-states to keep you in the loop ― and on the back next to the power jack are two Ethernet ports. These can either be used for wired backhaul, or they can be used for wired connections to nearby devices.

Finally, on the bottom of the node is an On and Off switch and a hard Reset button that will take everything back to the start in the case of a Wi-Fi emergency. In my case, it would be nice to have a dark color option to match the rest of my decor, but the nodes are small enough that they can go unnoticed, especially if you eschew the Linksys height recommendation and keep the nodes on the floor.

Linksys Velop dual-band mesh Wi-Fi setup

Linksys knows that for mesh Wi-Fi systems to take off they need to be as easy (or easier) to set up than a standard single router, which in most cases is set up anyway by a technician from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). In the case of the Velop, you plug in a node to power and to your modem, and from there setup is handled through an Android or iOS app.

Though you can later manage your network from a web browser, it's explicitly stated in the documentation that one of these apps is required for the initial setup. I did a bit of digging and came across a Linksys forum post from 2017 that explains how one user got his tri-band Velop set up without the app, though the process seems much more difficult than asking to borrow a friend's phone for 10 minutes.

In my case, I used an Android phone to run the app. My phone and the first Velop node used Bluetooth to communicate, allowing me to choose a network name and password. From there, it was just a matter of plugging in the other nodes to power and telling the app that I was ready to add another to the network. The worst part about the setup is the mandatory Linksys account creation, which involves verifying email addresses by visiting links, etc. It's not a huge deal, but it took about as much time as getting the rest of the network online.

For my 1,100 square foot condo, it's easy to set up the secondary and tertiary nodes within a suitable distance to each other, though I'm sure others will have to do some testing if they're in a home that's closer to the maximum recommended 4,500 square feet. It's all about keeping a strong connection between nodes, so spacing is important.

Linksys Velop dual-band mesh Wi-Fi performance

I'm used to the coverage of my ISP-provided dual-band Hitron AC1750 router and modem combo, which does blanket my place in the 2.4GHz band but has a hard time reaching a perfect 5GHz signal all the way into my office where it's needed most. For that reason I have Ethernet cables snaking about; not the best solution. I set up the first Velop node next to the old router and the next node in my office, about eight feet from my desk and about 25 feet from the first node, with a thick wall between.

With the second node in the office turned off, I ran some tests to see how well the first node works on its own. Ping was consistently 12ms or 13ms across all tests I ran using my LG gram 15Z980, and upload speeds were always right around the 16Mbps mark, which is where my ISP plan has its cap. Download speeds on the 5GHz band were the same or superior to the Hitron router at about 10 feet (about 161Mbps). Testing again (about 35 feet away and with a thick wall between) while sitting in my office, 5GHz speeds dropped significantly, down to about 32Mbps.

As for the 2.4GHz band, the Hitron router managed about 82Mbps at 10 feet and about 46Mbps at 35 feet with a thick wall between. The Velop managed about 55.69Mbps at 10 feet and about 14.22Mbps at 35 feet with a wall between. Clearly, the antennas aren't as strong as my old router, but that's why there are multiple Velop nodes.

With the second Velop node in my office powered on, I ran the same tests again with and without an Ethernet cable connected between the two nodes for wired backhaul. With the cable connected, I saw a down speed of about 163Mbps on the 5GHz band and 53Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. No loss of bandwidth here, which seems to be a clear sign that wired backhaul works.

I unplugged the Ethernet cable, disabling wired backhaul, and saw different results, as expected. The 5GHz band managed only about 80Mbps, half the speed as when using wired backhaul. At least one Ethernet cable will keep its spot on the outer edges of my condo, linking the two nodes together; performance just isn't the same without it.

Though I likely won't keep it in place (it's a bit of overkill for my modest space), I set up a third node in my kitchen, which is about as far away as you can get from the first two nodes. I wanted to test how much of a degradation there is on a node that's hopping through another before returning to the first node attached to the router. Without wired backhaul, I got the same 80Mbps down speed on the 5GHz band, which shows that it really shouldn't matter which node you're connected to as you move around your home.

Linksys Velop dual-band mesh Wi-Fi app and management

Once I'd set up the Velop using the Android app I switched over to the web browser. You sign in with the account you created during setup ― after having to click through an annoying page that tells you that you really should be using the app ― and from there you have free reign over settings, with a handy hub on the front page that you can customize with widgets.

Most of the settings found in web UI are also found in the app, though I did discover that you can split the bands to separate SSIDs only in a browser. In either case, you can quickly enable a guest network, you can set up to three devices to have priority over all others, you can change password, set port forwarding, change DNS settings, and handle most other basic tweaks that you'd expect from a router. I'm a network noob, so these options should be enough. If you're a network whiz, however, you might be frustrated with what it has to offer.

I'd heard rumors about parental controls not actually working, but I tested them out myself and there didn't seem to be any issues. Websites I added to the restricted list weren't accessible, and internet was cut off outside of scheduled times. Overall I found the app and browser UI to be straightforward and easy to use, even if this is your first time setting up a home network.

Linksys Velop dual-band mesh Wi-Fi review: Conclusion

While the three nodes are likely overkill for my approximately 1,100 square foot condo, I don't think one Velop would cut it despite the claim that each node is good for up to about 1,500 square feet. The signal degrades quickly ― quicker than my ISP-supplied router ― but using two or more Velop nodes solves that problem. Two bands should likewise suffice; there's just two of us living here and I haven't noticed any issues despite having a ton of devices connected that download and stream video at the same time. Again, Linksys recommends the dual-band system for ISP plans up to 100Mbps, but it maxes out my 150Mbps plan.

Considering you can save about $200 by going with a triple-node dual-band setup over the tri-band alternative, most people who don't live in an enormous mansion with each room filled should be able to get by with the cheaper option. That extra 5GHz band would no doubt prove worthwhile if Ethernet backhaul isn't an option, but for me, it's not really necessary.

Other than that, the dual-band Velop does pretty much everything the tri-band model does. Setup is simple as long as you have an Android or iOS device at hand, management is likewise relatively painless, and the seamless single network across your home goes unnoticed as it switches your devices between nodes and bands as required. Considering dual-band and tri-band Velop nodes are interchangeable on the same network, you can always start with this cheaper version and work your way up as the need arises.

Linksys Velop dual-band vs. tri-band: Which should you buy?

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Pros:

• Supports Ethernet backhaul.
• Can use with tri-band Velop units.
• Easy to set up and manage.
• Hundreds cheaper than tri-band version.
• Great performance at the right range.

Cons:

• Linksys account and Android/iOS app are required.
• Speeds suffer without Ethernet backhaul or dedicated backhaul band.
• A single node probably isn't worth it.

Mesh Wi-Fi systems are the hottest trend in the home internet segment and you might currently be considering upgrading your old router setup to a mesh network. I know I was.

A year ago I moved into a spacious three-story character home with copper piping throughout the walls and floors for the radiators. With the router foolishly located in the basement, the Wi-Fi really struggled to properly service the upper floors where the bedrooms and my home office are located. After dealing with frustrating intermittent connection issues for months, it was due time to test how a mesh Wi-Fi network might improve the situation.

Enter the Linksys Velop Whole Home Wi-Fi system. I received a 2-pack of Velop nodes for reviewing purposes and have been using it for about a week.

Priced at $350 for the two node pack and as high as $500 for the three-pack, this is the most expensive mesh network option out there. Coming from a trusted networking brand like Linksys, could it deliver "Wi-Fi that sets you free" like its packaging proudly proclaims? Let's dive in.

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The design: Noticeable nodes

The design of the Linksys Velop nodes is far from subtle. The would tower over competitors like the Google Wi-Fi pucks or sleek Eero nodes, and yet I don't find them to be too bulky to deal with. Both nodes would eventually find homes hiding behind TV screens, so their taller stature doesn't really factor into my day-to-day use at all.

Cable management accounts for at least two inches of the Velop node's height, as there's ample room provided for connecting the power adapter and ethernet cables necessary for set up. It's a smaller detail, but I really loved the flexible-yet-firm rubber nubs built into the base that helps keep things organized.

Each node includes two Ethernet ports, an on/off switch and a reset button, and it doesn't matter which node you use to connect to your modem. Plus, you can optionally use the ethernet ports on the second node for a hard-wired connection for consoles or desktop computers. Once set up, Linksys says each node offers 2,000 square feet of Wi-Fi coverage. Therefore, the two-pack offers up to 4,000 square feet of combined coverage if implemented properly — more than enough range to not only cover the whole house but most of the backyard, too.

According to Linksys, the Velop system is designed to ensure you get peak Wi-Fi performance throughout your home. Unlike other Wi-Fi extenders that offer might add range at the expense of signal strength, you should be able to do network-heavy activities like stream 4K content wherever you want in your house as if you're sitting next to the wireless modem.

My only real complaint is somewhat petty but the power supply is massive. It's as big as any other brick in my set up and plugging it into my power bars was a challenge.

Installation: Setup is a breeze

Fortunately, finding an outlet for each node was the most difficult part of the setup process. All you need to get the Velop network set up is a hardwired connection to your existing modem and the Linksys app on your phone.

After plugging in the first node to the modem and creating an account within the Linksys app, you just follow along with the steps on the app and watch the changing lights on the top of the node. This is really refreshing because, after printers, nothing frustrates me more than dealing with network settings.

Like I mentioned above, our wireless modem is located in the basement, so I had initially set up the node right next to the modem in the basement — but then I remembered that some previous owner had snaked ethernet cable up to the living room. Since the Velop node allows you to use the second ethernet port as a hub for connecting wired devices, it was easy to relocate the node to the living room where it supplied a strong signal to the whole main floor while also still allowing for a hardwired connection to our media center PC.

Once the mesh network was established, setting up the second node was even easier. The only caveat is that it needs to be in range if another connected node. Fortunately, my home office on the second floor was well within range. Adding a second node was as easy as plugging it in and tapping "Add Node" in the app. It was instantly added to the network and best of all it now offered me the option of connecting my NVIDIA Shield TV to the network via ethernet.

Overall, I probably spent more time figuring out where I wanted to place each node than it did to actually get them set up through the app. Considering how expensive this system is, it had better be easy.

The app: Features aplenty

I kind of figured that I'd only use the Linksys app for setup and then stash it away in a folder and forget about it. But the Linksys app has proven to be a really convenient tool for managing my home network.

It's got the standard features you'd expect like a dashboard for looking at your network at a glance and how many devices are currently connected, and also includes parental controls for managing internet access on connected devices and blocking specific websites. You also have the option of activating device prioritization which I guess is one of the perks of being your household network admin.

It also includes a built-in tool for checking your network speeds, powered by Ookla's popular Speedtest service, which is really handy. And the app also contains access to all the advanced settings you'd desire if you're the type to go in and tinker with your network settings. Firmware will update automatically as required and you can flip the switch to turn on a separate network for guests so that you're not giving access to your entire network to anyone who visits your house.

Speaking of that guest network, Linksys has also included Alexa compatibility for all its Smart Wi-Fi products, including Velop. That means that you'll be able to conveniently turn on your guest Wi-Fi as needed using just your voice which is really handy when guests arrive and ask for your Wi-Fi password.

However, you're also able to ask for the Wi-Fi password for your whole network also using Alexa which, as many Alexa users have pointed out, is a pretty big security issue if you're trying to keep that password secret and secure. Plus, Alexa can't always read out every special character, so if your Wi-Fi password is super complex Alexa might not even be able to read it out properly.

Network testing: Night and day improvements

In the last year, we've added five smart speakers and a bevy of other connected devices to our network, which was a lot for the one wireless modem to handle. Soon I was regularly dealing with stuttering Skype calls, dropped video Hangouts, and (worse of all) buffering Netflix content.

I could instantly tell the internet had improved as soon as I connected all my devices to the new Velop mesh network, but I ran a few tests from my home office on my Pixel XL using the SpeedTest app.

The results were pretty dramatic.

I shouldn't have expected anything less than this, but damn. On the left is a test of my old Wi-Fi setup from my home office, and the right is the speed test I ran after setting up the Linksys Velop network. That's a massive jump and the exact performance advertised by Linksys. It's also extended the Wi-Fi range into our backyard, and if I lived 2,000 miles south from Canada and there wasn't a foot of snow and ice on our back deck right now I'd probably be writing this review outside just to see how far the range extends.

The verdict: Exactly what I needed

This was my first time setting up and using a mesh network in my home, so I'm still in that honeymoon phase where my internet no longer sucks and everything is rosy in the world. The question ultimately will be if you can justify the higher cost. A 3-pack of Google Wifi will run you around the same as a 2-pack of Linksys Velop nodes, with both claiming to offer similar coverage and consistently fast speeds. Buying the Linksys Velop 3-pack for $500 is absolutely overkill unless you live in a 4,000+ square-foot mansion.

Like our friend Jerry Hildenbrand from Android Central says, the ideal Wi-Fi network is something you should set up once and never think about until it's time to replace. The Linksys Velop Whole Home Wi-Fi absolutely delivered on its claims, allowing me to significantly improve the network in a big old house that's now ready to handle further conversion into the 21st century smart home.

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Gaming is big business, especially on PC, and that means if there's an accessory to be had there's a chance you can find a dedicated gaming version. This applies, too, to the humble Wi-Fi router.

But making a gaming version of something usually increases the price. In the case of the router, you don't necessarily need to plump out more cash for that aggressive looking version with go-faster stripes. Many regular routers have some of the same key features you should look for.

Here are five important features a gamer should consider when buying a Wi-Fi router.

Quality of service

Quality of service (QoS) may go by different names on different boxes, since some of the different manufacturers try to give it a cool-sounding name that looks good in marketing. Whatever it's called, it's important for gaming.

Why? The folks at MakeUseOf describe perfectly what happens when you don't have it:

What you want is a router that will prioritize the right things at the right time. Online gaming is bandwidth-dependent, so you want that to be a top priority, whether it's coming from a PC or a console. Any router with QoS support should be able to prioritize your gaming while the rest of your household goes about its daily use.

More: The basics of QoS

Manually set priority devices

Even some simpler routers, such as the Google Wifi mesh network system, have the ability to give priority to your gaming, even if they don't do it on their own. If the router you have or plan to buy doesn't have QoS support, make sure you can at least manually give a device priority.

In the case of the Google Wifi, you simply go into the app and tell it which device you want to have priority and for how long. It's basic, but it gets the job done.

More: Is Google Wifi worth it?

Gigabit Ethernet ports

The absolute best gaming performance, like any other web activity, will always come when you're connected to the router over Ethernet. No matter how good the Wi-Fi is, it's still not as strong as using a cable.

With internet speeds getting seriously fast (especially if you're lucky enough to get a gigabit connection), you want to preserve that when it goes into your PC or console. So when you're choosing a router, make sure it has gigabit Ethernet ports on the back, and enough of them to cater to the devices you want to hook up.

All about the bands

Many modern routers support multiple bands, but some older or more budget-oriented ones may still be limited to 2.4GHz. Dual-band routers offer 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, sometimes on different "networks." Tri-band routers offer an additional 5GHz band.

The more you have the more you can throw at it. For gaming wirelessly, the 5GHz band is the one to be on, though this has a shorter range so you need to be reasonably close to the router.

802.11ac should also be something to check you have. It's pretty standard on a lot of modern routers, but if you're a gamer, make sure you don't pick up something with 802.11n only.

More: How to choose the best Wi-Fi router

You can always do better than your ISP-supplied router

This is a big one. No matter how good your ISP-supplied router is (or they claim it is), you can always do better. If gaming is important to you, you should nearly always get a new router at the earliest opportunity.

You're simply not going to get the very latest hardware and software features from a router given to you by the company you pay for your internet. Their job is to get you online and give you a reasonable wireless connection in your home. But reasonable doesn't always cut it. So do yourself a huge favor and get something better.

More: Best Wi-Fi router in 2018

Your tips

If you've got something about routers we didn't cover that you feel is important for gamers to consider, be sure to drop it into the comments.

At CES 2018, Rivet Networks has taken the wraps off of its latest wireless adapter targeted at the gaming crowd, the Killer Wireless-AC 1550. Created as part of a collaboration with Intel, the Killer Wireless-AC 1550 is chocked with features that are meant to smooth out online gaming with speedy performance and minimal latency.

The wireless chip takes advantage of Killer's networking tech to prioritize gaming and streaming traffic. Combined with "Intel's most advanced wireless chipset, "the Killer Wireless-AC 1550 can hit theoretical throughput speeds of 1.73 Gbps, Rivet Networks says. It's worth emphasizing that those speeds are theoretical, so you're unlikely to achieve them. However, that should give an indication of what this module is capable of handling.

On top of its intelligent handling of streaming and gaming traffic, the 1550 is also paired with a new Killer Control Center, where you can manage specific apps and websites. From Rivet Networks:

As for availability, Rivet Networks says that the Killer Wireless-AC 1550 will be available first in Dell-Alienware and MSI products starting this month.

Mesh Wi-Fi is something you're probably hearing more and more about, especially since some of the big players in home networking equipment are getting involved. Having a mesh system probably isn't quite what you're used to, and there are definite pros as well as cons to going this route.

Here we quickly break down some of the key points in each category.

What is mesh Wi-Fi?

This snippet from our guide on choosing the right home network for you sums it up well.

Nodes connect together in a mesh rather than a linear pattern. This means that all nodes can talk to all other nodes. With a router and Wi-Fi extender arrangement, each extender talks to the router but not any other extenders.

Mesh Wi-Fi pros

Better coverage

One of the main positives to a mesh Wi-Fi system is better coverage throughout your home. You're no longer relying on a router in one spot broadcasting signal throughout the entire building, but instead, a network of nodes all working together. Placing nodes throughout provides better overall coverage with less signal drop.

No single point of failure

There is no main access point in a mesh network. All nodes are alike, and while you'll still need the one connected to the broadband connection to keep working properly for internet access, the network will remain active regardless. And as they're all alike, if you encounter a problem with one node, it can easily be replaced by another.

A single network

When you're using a repeater in conjunction with a router, you end up with separate network connections, hopping potentially between different access points. Mesh networks maintain a single SSID and connection throughout, intelligently connecting you to the best node.

Modular

A mesh network can be as big or small as you wish. Because each node is just a single module in the overall network, you can always add or take them away as is necessary. There's minimal setup involved in adding a new node, too.

Mesh Wi-Fi cons

Price

Mesh Wi-Fi solutions right now are expensive. You'll probably be able to get a good router and repeater for less than a mesh system.

Scalability

Range from each node is less than you would get from a router or an extender, and as such scaling across a large house will require a number of nodes which then comes back partly to price. Coverage will only be better if you can provide enough nodes to suit your building.

Lacks advanced features

Designed to be extremely consumer-friendly, some of the current mesh systems are somewhat lacking in features that power users might want. These include things like changing the DHCP IP, adding custom DNS or even running both a 2.4GHz and 5GHz band network. They're designed to be simple.

Speed will still suffer at extremities

If you're buying a mesh system expecting it to maintain the same internet speeds across your whole home you'll be disappointed. Wireless signal degrades the further it gets from the point of origin. Even with mesh, the signal starts at one node, with the others having to then pick that up and amplify it as it rebroadcasts. The only way to get the best speeds throughout is to use a wired network.

Bottom line on mesh Wi-Fi

Mesh Wi-Fi is very good. Its biggest pluses are helping you get much better coverage throughout your entire home with a single SSID and the ability to intelligently switch between nodes as required.

But, it's not perfect and is also expensive. Many systems are designed to be very user-friendly, but we're still in the early days of consumer-grade products. Only you can decide whether they're right for you by weighing the good against the bad, and if you're happy to pay a premium.

More: Best mesh Wi-Fi systems

Home networking is more important than ever before. So many of the services we use in our daily lives are now delivered through the internet that getting a good connection through the whole home is vital.

Wi-Fi routers aren't that glamorous, but they're important, and if you don't have a good enough router you'll feel the effects the further away you go from it. And not everyone can run a wired network through their house. That's where Mesh networks could be beneficial. And one of the consumer options available is Google Wifi, which is actually very good.

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What is Mesh networking?

We've a comprehensive guide on choosing between a regular router or a Mesh setup, but this snippet sums it up well:

Not all the "whole home" Wi-Fi kits on the market are a true Mesh system. Google Wifi, is, and it's one of the easiest routers to use I've ever laid my hands on.

This isn't a review of Google Wifi and its hardware, our buddies over at Android Central have taken care of that with a full and extensive review I recommend checking out.

The Android Central Google Wifi review

Google Wifi specs

• AC1200 2x2 Wave 2 expandable mesh Wi-Fi
• MU-MIMO dual-band (2.4GHz / 5GHz)
• 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless support
• 802.15.4 Zigbee TX/RX support
• Bluetooth 4.0 LE support
• 2 Gigabit Ethernet ports WPA2-PSK

Costly but so easy to use

My reasons for investing in a Mesh solution are a combination of moving to a larger house and not wanting to run a wired network throughout. Mesh seemed like a better compromise compared to pulling up carpets and drilling holes in walls. Previously I've run a Netgear Nighthawk X4S, but the idea of running repeaters and having separate network connections around the house just feels messy.

Mesh systems aren't cheap though, but Google Wifi isn't the most expensive at least. It's available in kits of two or three units or a single node on its own. Prices start at $130 for one and go up to $300 for a three pack. It's quite a lot to spend on a router, but then it isn't just a router.

Google Wifi produces a single network throughout the entire home with one connection and one password. You'll never know you're switching between nodes, and you should experience consistent speeds throughout assuming you have enough nodes to cover your home. I've started with three, with one at the bottom of the stairs, one in an upstairs bedroom and one in my office. A fourth will be added later on to the kitchen.

Setting up is ridiculously simple. There is, however, one little flaw: It requires an Android phone or an iPhone, there isn't even a web portal. For the majority of people that won't be a problem. But for some, it will and will render the product useless.

Setting up takes a matter of moments in the app and requires little more than connecting one node to your modem and following a few simple steps.

A great way to interact with a router

While Google Wifi may lack many power-user type features, for the average person this is perfect. Every router I've ever used has had some clunky web interface to do basically anything, and maybe a limited app to use on a smartphone.

I can often find fault with a Google app, but this one is basically faultless. There are "advanced features" like changing the DNS, port forwarding and a couple of other bits, but as much as I like tech and want a good network performance, I hate dealing with routers.

The main settings you may want to tinker with are easy to access and understand, like creating a guest network or setting a priority device. Family settings are a couple of taps away and without your kids knowing you can just turn off their access at bedtime from the phone in your pocket.

It's just very little fuss and so simple to use. I love it.

Solid performance

Google recommends not having more than two rooms between each node, and I did notice that when starting out with just two nodes, one on each floor, the signal was weak in the furthest rooms still. Improved on the ISP supplied router, but not something you'd call good.

Adding a third made a significant difference. In my son's bedroom previously the ISP router would only give download speeds of 2Mbps or less. With two Google Wifi nodes this went up to around 12Mbps and adding a third pushed it to between 27 and 30Mbps.

In my office at the front of the house and with a Node on my desk, I'm seeing download speeds of between 55 and 60Mbps, about double what I'd get previously, with uploads between 18 and 20Mbps. I don't have ridiculous speeds available in my area, with my base performance being 52Mbps download and up to 20Mbps upload. Connected directly to the router I'm not currently getting over 60Mbps, so the Google Wifi seems to be working well.

What's also great about the Google Wifi app is that it will run an internal speed test if you wish and tell you what you're getting directly from the modem. In some rooms, like my office on the first floor, it's as close as makes no difference a match to what I see running a speed test on my PC. The nodes utilize 5 GHz connections, too, so you don't have range, but you get the maximum performance.

The app will also quickly help you check the health of the Mesh network separate to the broadband connection, easily allowing you to identify issues and rectify them.

And adding additional nodes is as easy as plugging them in and scanning the QR code on the bottom in the Google Wifi app. There's no real limit, you can use as many as you need to in order to get the coverage you desire.

The bottom line

When Android Central reviewed the Google Wifi they said this:

Primarily I picked Google Wifi because it cost a bit less than Netgear and Linksys systems where I am in the UK. I haven't used those, but I can easily recommend Google Wifi to someone who wants to improve the connection throughout their whole home. And do it with no fuss.

The nodes are pretty good looking little things so you won't offend anyone dropping them around the house, and literally, all you need is a Google account and a smartphone to be up and running in moments.

The app is so good to use that it's easily the most user-friendly Wi-Fi router I've ever laid my hands on. It's a little pricey, but equally, it's not that much more than a decent router and a good extender and has the bonus of working as a single network.

The question at the top of this article was: Is Google Wifi worth it? The answer is yes. Unless you're the kind of power user who really needs to get involved in network tech and settings, Google Wifi is a remarkably good product for use in the home.

More: Best Mesh Wi-Fi router kits

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A major new vulnerability in the Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) protocol was recently disclosed by researchers, potentially impacting all Wi-Fi connected devices. Microsoft already revealed that it has patched the issue, but now it has provided a bit more context.

In a statement to Windows Central, a Microsoft spokesperson said the company released the security fix on October 10 as part of its regular Patch Tuesday updates. From Microsoft:

That's good news for Windows machines, but the exploit is wide-ranging and impacts Android, iOS, macOS and Linux devices as well (though Linux has been patched). If you're using any other devices, you'll want to make sure you're doing everything you can to mitigate the impact until all of your devices are patched. If you have automatic updates enabled on your Windows machines, you should be covered. If you haven't yet installed the latest round of security updates, you'll want to manually check via Windows Update now.

• How to protect yourself from the KRACK WPA2 hack
• These are the router makers that have patched KRACK WPA2 Wi-Fi flaws

Researchers recently disclosed a major vulnerability in the Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) protocol that most of us use to secure out Wi-Fi networks. "The impact of exploiting these vulnerabilities includes decryption, packet replay, TCP connection hijacking, HTTP content injection, and others," the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) has revealed. Fortunately, tech companies are starting to respond to the exploit's disclosure, and Microsoft says that it has already issued a fix.

In a statement to The Verge, Microsoft says that anyone who applies the update, or has Windows Update set to apply automatic updates, should be protected. From Microsoft:

Microsoft will publish details of the update later today, according to The Verge.

While that's good news for your Windows machine, the exploit also impacts Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux (though Linux has been patched). If you use any devices running those operating systems — and most of us do — then you'll want to make sure you're doing everything you can to protect yourself until the vulnerability is patched. For more, check out our tips on how to protect yourself from the KRACK WPA2 hack. In the meantime, if you don't have automatic updates turned on for your Windows machine, it would be wise to manually check for updates.

Updated October 16, 2017: A Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement to Windows Central that the patch was originally released as part of the company's regular Patch Tuesday updates on October 10. From Microsoft:

• How to protect yourself from the KRACK WPA2 hack
• These are the router makers that have patched KRACK WPA2 Wi-Fi flaws

For years we've all depended on the WPA2 protocol to secure our Wi-Fi networks. That all comes to an end today.

Security researcher Mathy Vanhoef has revealed what he has labeled "KRACK," an exploit that attacks a vulnerability in the handshake of the WPA2 protocol that you most likely use to protect your Wi-Fi at home and that millions of small businesses around the world use, too.

Router makers that have patched KRACK WPA2 Wi-Fi flaws

Speaking at the ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security in Dallas, Vanhoef explained that this exploit may allow packet sniffing, connection hijacking, malware injection, and even decryption of the protocol itself. The vulnerability has been disclosed to the people who need to know these sorts of things early to find a fix and the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) has released this prepared statement:

Microsoft releases statement on KRACK Wi-Fi vulnerability

How to protect yourself from the KRACK WPA2 hack

Here's what you can (and should) do to stay safe:

• Avoid public Wi-Fi at all costs. This includes Google's protected Wi-Fi hotspots until Google says otherwise.
• Only connect to secured services. Web pages that use HTTPS or another secure connection will include HTTPS in the URL. You should contact any company whose services you use and ask if the connection is secured using TLS 1.2, and if so your connection with that service is safe for now.
• If you have a paid VPN service that you trust you should enable the connection full-time until further notice. Resist the temptation to rush and sign-up for any free VPN service until you can find out if they have been vetted and will keep your data secure.
• Use a wired network if your router and computer both have a spot to plug in an Ethernet cable. This exploit only affects 802.11 traffic between a Wi-Fi router and a connected device. Ethernet cables are relatively cheap and an eyesore strung across the carpet is worth it. Look for a Cat6 or Cat5e spec cable and there should be no configuration needed once plugged in.
• If you use a Chromebook or MacBook, this USB Ethernet adapter is plug-and-play.

This hack can't steal your banking information or Google password (or any data on a correctly secured connection that uses end-to-end encryption). While an intruder may be able to capture the data you send and receive, it can't be used or even read by anyone. You can't even read it unless you allow your phone or computer to decrypt and unscramble it first.

An attacker may be able to do things like redirect traffic on a Wi-Fi network or even send bogus data in place of the real thing. This means something harmless like printing a thousand copies of gibberish on a networked printer or something dangerous like sending malware as a reply to a legitimate request for information or a file.

The best way to protect yourself is to not use Wi-Fi at all until you're directed otherwise.

When will KRACK be patched?

Ubiquiti has been said to already have a patch ready to deploy for their equipment, and if this turns out to be true we should see the same from companies like Microsoft, Google and Apple very soon. Other, less security-conscious companies may take longer and many routers will never see a patch. Of course, if this rumor turns out to be false all bets are off.

This is not a case where you should feel immune because your data isn't valuable enough. The majority of attacks using this exploit will be opportunistic. Kids who live in your building, shady characters who drive the neighborhood looking for Wi-Fi access points (APs) and general mischief makers are already scanning Wi-Fi networks around them.

WPA2 has had a long and fruitful life with nary a public exploit until today. Here's hoping the fix, or whatever comes next, can enjoy the same.

Related reading

• Router makers that have patched KRACK WPA2 Wi-Fi flaws
• Microsoft releases statement on KRACK Wi-Fi vulnerability
• Microsoft says it already patched KRACK WPA2 Wi-Fi vulnerability

If you have a weak Wi-Fi signal in your home, but you know you have a decent router, then you may benefit from a Wi-Fi extender (sometimes called a "booster" or a "repeater"). There are, however, quite a few things to consider before buying one and potentially wasting your money.

• How does a Wi-Fi extender work?
• What to consider before you buy a Wi-Fi extender

How does a Wi-Fi extender work?

Wi-Fi extenders help to boost your Wi-Fi signal by acting as a sort of lightning rod, receiving the signal from your router and broadcasting it to the area of your house that could use a signal boost.

Not all extenders work the same. Some involve two devices that plug into your wall outlets and transfer your connection via your home's electrical wiring. One plugs into your wireless router and the other plugs into an internet-ready device, like a smart TV or laptop.

The other type of extenders are generally known as "wireless repeaters." These comprise two wireless routers: one for picking up the signal, which transfers it on to the second router, which then transmits the boosted signal.

If you're looking for a wireless option to signal boosting, then go with a repeater. We recommend the TP-Link RE200 for most folks, since it's easy to set up and works like a dream. If that doesn't catch your fancy, then definitely check out the rest of our favorites.

What to consider before you buy a Wi-Fi extender

Before delving into the world of wireless extenders, there are a few things you should double-check.

Is your wireless router in an optimal spot?

If your router isn't in a place in your home that's most conducive to a solid signal, then an extender isn't going to help you all that much. Try moving your wireless router around your home until you're completely sure that an extender is necessary.

If it's in a corner of your basement, you may find that moving it to the center of your basement helps. Play around with it and see.

Is your wireless router any good?

First of all, your router should offer 802.11ac support, which is the current standard. You can still buy wireless N routers, but you shouldn't; 802.11ac offers more than twice the maximum speed of 802.11n and is backward compatible with older devices, so don't worry about upgrading and just do it if you haven't already.

Use signal-mapping software and test your speeds

There are apps you can use to help determine just how strong your current Wi-Fi signal is and where in your home it may be dipping. WiFi Analyzer is available for free and can help you find the best placement for your router and the best Wi-Fi channel to use.

You'll also benefit from a speed test, which will let you know if you internet is properly functioning (and giving you at least the speed your were promised when you signed up).

Consider your usage

Are there 10 people with smartphones on your Wi-Fi network, plus a smart TV that's streaming Netflix, a laptop searching the web, and an Xbox connected to Xbox Live? That could be your problem. If your internet isn't fast enough to support many users at once, an extender isn't going to help you.

However, if it's just you, your phone, and Netflix, and Netflix keeps stopping to buffer, then your router sucks or you need an extender.

Is it more practical for you to use a wired connection?

If you absolutely depend on a consistent internet connection, then you may want to consider going with a wired setup. It's the only way to guarantee a decent connection and, unless your ISP is having issues, you shouldn't have any either. Also, any device you remove from your wireless network frees up bandwidth for other devices.

Flights within Europe are to be equipped with tech to provide passengers with fast internet connectivity. A joint venture between UK-based Inmarsat and operator Deutsche Telekom could well make flying that much more enjoyable with access to the outside world. The companies have announced a new framework that combines LTE and satellite networks to deliver high-speed internet called the European Aviation Network.

Similar to what Gogo provides in the US, Inmarsat will provide satellite coverage, while Deutsche Telekom will deploy 300 modified LTE sites that have a range of up to 80 kilometers and will be able to handle a plane travelling thousands of feet above. Lufthansa will be the first Europe-based airline to trial the new framework. 2017 will see the carrier's aircraft fitted with equipment to connect to satellite and ground LTE sites to provide reliable in-flight Wi-Fi.

Source: Inmarsat, via: Engadget

In Windows 10 Mobile, one change irked me a bit: tapping the Wi-Fi Quick Action toggled it on or off. Although I understood the rationale, the old way jumped you into Settings > Wi-Fi where you could see the list of networks. If you jump around a lot, this is a very quick tool.

However, it turns out I just didn't get the model Microsoft was going with. Reader of the site Dương T. found out how it all works:

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Toggles

1. Tapping quick action toggles the state on or off e.g. Wi-Fi on or off
2. Press and hold sends you to the Settings menu for that task e.g. search for Bluetooth devices to pair to

This combo is the best of both worlds approach, and I am glad to see Microsoft offering this solution. It's smart.

I should also note it seems to work for some other quick actions like VPN and Connect.

My only concern is, like myself, the discovery of this feature. It is not clear how new users will know to hold and press to take advantage of the option.

Anyway, for now, if you are using Windows 10 Mobile you can enjoy this feature.