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Tag: wireless tech

  • Our Favorite Wi-Fi Router Is $20 Off

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    Are you constantly resetting your dated router, or feeling like your streaming isn’t as snappy as it used to be? You might consider upgrading your router, and our favorite Wi-Fi router, the Asus RT-BE58U, is currently marked down by $20 on Amazon. For just $130, you could upgrade your whole house to Wi-Fi 7, and get all the benefits that come with it.

    Photograph: Simon Hill

    Importantly, the Asus RT-BE58U support Wi-Fi 7, the latest and greatest in in-home wireless internet. If you want to learn more about the benefits of the new standard, make sure to check out our full explainer that breaks down all of the technical details. The practical benefits are speeds up to four times faster than Wi-Fi 6, lower latency, and better handling for more connections to the router. While these devices were expensive at launch, as prices have come down and device support has risen, they’ve become worth the extra price.

    The Asus mobile app gives you a surprising amount of control over your Wi-Fi settings without having to dig into the even more detailed admin panel. With excellent feature support, you can configure your network-wide VPN, or create separate networks for smart home devices and guests. If you want added security or parental controls, Asus offers those with no additional monthly fee.

    We were impressed with the RT-BE58U’s range right out of the box, with our reviewer Simon Hill saying it covered his two-story, 1,600-square-foot home without any extra help, although he noted that sometimes devices would switch to the slower 2.4-GHz band at the edges of the range. If you think you’ll need extra coverage for your larger-than-average house, you can use Asus’ AiMesh feature to easily add extra routers or range extenders to your setup.

    Of course, it still has all the wired connections you’d expect from a modern router, with three gigabit LAN ports, 2.5- and 1-gigabit WAN ports, one of which is also a LAN port, and USB WAN for 4G LTE and 5G mobile tethering. As long as you don’t have an expansive home, the Asus RT-BE58U should cover almost all of it with fast, reliable internet, and it’s easy to set up and configure to your needs, but you can always check out our full roundup of the best Wi-Fi routers if you aren’t sure.

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    Brad Bourque

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  • The 10 Best Mesh Wi-Fi Routers

    The 10 Best Mesh Wi-Fi Routers

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    The mobile app is straightforward, but it often takes a few seconds to load. Settings are also limited; there’s no mixed mode for WPA2 and WPA3 security like on the TP-Link above, you can’t split bands, and there’s no option to prioritize traffic for specific activities or devices. This is also a pricey system with the need for a subscription on top if you want the parental controls and added security (though you don’t need it).

    Having said all that, the Orbi AX4200 does deliver fast, reliable Wi-Fi over a large distance, and I didn’t have a single connectivity issue or dropout while testing it. For faster performance, you might also consider the Netgear Orbi RBK863 (7/10, WIRED Review), or go all out with the Netgear Orbi RBKE963.

    Support for Wi-Fi 6E, which operates on the 6-GHz band, is growing more common, and with Wi-Fi 7 arriving, 6E routers and mesh systems like this one are falling in price. A 2-pack of this tri-band mesh system is relatively affordable. These cylindrical routers sport the vaselike Deco family design, blending into rooms. The setup is quick and easy, and the main router automatically detected the second one when I powered it on. Each has three gigabit ports. (Sadly, there are no multi-gig or USB ports.)

    Performance was consistently good throughout my home, with some of the fastest speeds I have recorded close to the routers, but the range is relatively limited. My top pick, the XT8, outperformed the XE75 in most scenarios. By default, the 6-GHz band is reserved for wireless backhaul, but you can open it up for devices. I joined with my Pixel 6 Pro, and after multiple speed tests at close range (up to 8 feet away), I generally got download speeds around 50 Mbps faster than on the 5-GHz band, but this dropped sharply with distance. The range of 6 GHz is significantly shorter, and just one room over, the signal strength was visibly weaker than 5 GHz. If you use the 6 GHz for wireless backhaul, you can’t have the routers too far apart or with too many obstacles or you will have dead zones.

    Disappointingly, the free tier of HomeShield offers only limited security, and Security+ costs $5 a month or $36 a year for web and intrusion protection with notifications and reports, while Total Security costs $70 a year and adds antivirus for devices, VPN service, and a password manager. Advanced Parental Controls require a second subscription costing $3 a month or $18 a year for time limits, downtime scheduling, rewards, app time limits, safe search, insights, and reports. Quality of Service allows you to prioritize specific devices and set bandwidth allowances. There is also a mixed-mode security option for WPA2 and WPA3. You can also split the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands and create guest networks.

    The Deco app and web interface are functional with limited options and feel a little clunky to navigate. The app failed to identify many of the devices on my network. I was also disappointed in the lack of an option to run a speed test on the router to see what my ISP delivers. Ultimately, the inclusion of that 6-GHz band won’t make a difference for many people, but this is an affordable way to dip your toe in 6E waters. If you are prepared to spend a bit more, the Deco XE200 ($800 for a 2-pack), listed in other routers we have tested below, is an excellent performer and one of the best Wi-Fi 6E mesh systems you can get. The MSRP is high, but keep an eye out for price drops.

    If you are an early adopter desperate to sample the delights of Wi-Fi 7 and don’t mind paying for the privilege, the TP-Link Deco BE85 (7/10, WIRED Review) is likely on your radar. There are few Wi-Fi 7 devices available today. The BE85 is fully backward compatible with previous Wi-Fi versions, but only devices that support Wi-Fi 7, like the OnePlus 11 5G, can take full advantage of this system.

    TP-Link has stuck with the vase-like design that marks its Deco range, but these are by far the largest mesh routers it has released, and each has a stylized 7 on the front, lest you forget this is a Wi-Fi 7 system. Each router boasts four auto-sensing WAN/LAN Ethernet ports, two 10-Gbps ports (one is an SFP combo), two 2.5-Gbps ports, and a USB 3.0 port. Setup is quick and easy with the Deco app on your phone.

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    Simon Hill

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