
Are you looking for a router? There are many different kinds
of routers on the market now, which one is suitable for your need?
Before talking about routers, you need to know what networks
are?
Computer networks have private networks and public networks.
The basic concept of a network is sharing resources. For example, two computers
sharing a printer use the network to share resources. This system is called your
private network, or "Intranet."
Over the internet, you have computers that use the internet
to share files or reading news from Google. The web server shared this file
with you using the internet's public network. It is also called
"Extranet."
The router manages the traffic, keeping the local traffic on
your private network separate from the traffic going out to the internet on the
public network. The intranet speed depends on the router's performance and the
devices' support or not, and the internet bandwidth(extranet) is fixed base on
your internet plan from ISP providers
Know your router specs.
There are many routers on the market with different specs. WiFi 5 or WiFi 6, 2.4 GHz and 5GHz, Dual-band or Tri-band, MIMO? What is IEEE802.11 ax/ac/n/g/b/a? Which one is right for your need? Better know them before you make a decision.
2.4GHz and 5 GHz
A 2.4 GHz connection travels farther at
lower speeds, large coverage area, and better at penetrating solid objects. If
you have many applications of using 2.4 GHz as a baby monitor or live in apartments
or multi-level houses with many walls, that 2.4 GHz band is likely to be
congested, damaging speed and signal quality.
5GHz wireless network is the higher
frequency of a wireless signal and shorter range. A 5 GHz network does not
penetrate solid objects such as walls nearly as well as 2.4 GHz signals do. It
is a good choice for devices of high-bandwidth activities online and located
near your router.
Can you use 2.4 GHz and 5GHz at the same
time?
The dual-band and Tri-band routers can simultaneously
receive and transmit on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies simultaneously,
providing two independent and dedicated networks that allow more flexibility
and bandwidth.
2.
WiFi Versions
WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 are WiFi versions for
different generations. The equipment has listed the versions of WiFi using the
name of the IEEE standard that it supports.
IEEE 802.11n means WiFi 4 (WiFi generation
4), IEEE 802.11ac (WiFi 5), IEEE 802.11ax (WiFi 6)
These generations have a high degree of
backward compatibility with previous versions. The newest generations can help
higher-speed, minor lagging, connect more equipment simultaneously, and save
power.
3.
Dual-band and Tri-band
Dual-band routers offer two wireless
networks: one at 2.4GHz and one at 5GHz. The highest-tiered dual-band support
speeds of up to 450Mbps at 2.4GHz and 1300GBps at 5GHz.
Tri-band routers host one 2.4GHz signal and
two separate 5GHz signals. The ASUS RT-AC3200 supports up to 600Mbps on the
2.4GHz band and 1300Mbps on both 5GHz signals. The "AC3200" in the
product name: 1300+1300+600. That 3200 is the signals' combined speed, not the
potential throughput of a connected client to the router.
A dual-band router makes sense
for compatibility reasons, but why do you need one more separate 5 GHz WiFi
signal? Because the WiFi networks suffer congestion. The maximum WiFi speeds
are split and shared among all the devices on your network. A tri-band router
automatically sorts devices into different networks and offers more speed to
share among your devices. Note that it won't speed up a single device, but it
will provide more speed to additional devices you add. It means, if you plan to
set up a Mesh system, a Tri-band router is the solution.
4.
MIMO
MIMO stands for "multiple input,
multiple outputs." which is the wireless communications technologies. A
2×2 MIMO device has two antennas for two simultaneous data streams. A 3×3 MIMO
device has three antennas for three data streams, and a 4×4 MIMO device has
four antennas for four data streams: more MIMO, more speed, and better signal.
Some newer wireless routers support
MU-MIMO, which stands for "multi-user multiple-input, multiple-output."
A router with 4×4 MU-MIMO has four antennas it can communicate on at once. If
you had several 4×4 MIMO devices connected to that router, they would all
maintain a connection of four data streams simultaneously.
But, if your devices have 2X2 MIMO, even your
router support 4x4 MIMO, you can only get 2x2 MIMO Wi-FI speed. It will only
use two data streams.
Things need to concert for choosing a router
1.
Do you need to set up an intranet system?
2.
For home office or you have a lot of devices
that need to connect to the internet?
3.
Living in a big house or multi-level home?
Thinking about setting up Mesh?
4.
The internet speed that your ISP provider
supports?
5.
Do your own devices support the newer features?
6. For gaming? Speed matter
Need help?
TSA Tech is an IT solution provider and having a lot of experience
to help. Talk to us at 09 3755222 or email [email protected]
Leave a Comment