Why you need to upgrade your router in 2017

While 2017 in the Chinese calendar is the year of the rooster, many will think of 2017 as the year of the router. Home Wi-Fi has taken a big leap forward with a new generation of “mesh” networking routers. Mesh networking allows users to easily expand wireless coverage throughout the house and yard without the speed degradation of typical router/repeater setups.

Typical routers such as those provided by Verizon or Comcast have a single radio that is used to send and receive wireless data.  These routers provide good coverage, but are typically installed at the point of entry for your cable service (i.e. basement or corner of house) – inevitably there are dead spots within the house. Adding a wireless repeater will extend your coverage area, but at half the network speed. The router uses the same radio to accept incoming and outgoing packets from clients as it does to forward and receive those packets on to the repeater. So effectively you get half the bandwidth, as each packet must go over the air twice – from the client to the repeater, then from the repeater to the wifi router. Add a second repeater and eesh….

Mesh networking uses multiple routers each with multiple radios to optimize coverage without degrading network speed. A properly configured mesh network will eliminate spotty signal areas and extend coverage to even the furthest corners of your space, without sacrificing speed or quality of connection.

Note: Both diagrams are for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect real life throughput.

Mesh routers are more expensive than the typical router, but the price performance benefit is well worth it for those looking to expand their wifi coverage. In the next newsletter, I will delve a little more into wireless networking and product recommendations.