TP-LINK TL-R480T Ethernet LAN Wired Router - Black

Product Information

It isn’t the cheapest router around, but the Asus RT-AX82U is more than competitive. It’s a brilliant all-rounder at a very tempting price. Before investing in a new router, think about how it will work with your internet connection. A few models have built-in ADSL2+ or VDSL2 modems, allowing them to connect directly to DSL or fibre broadband services. Most however just offer a WAN port, and expect you to provide your own modem. Units: 2 | Dimensions: 144 x 64mm | Coverage: Up to 420 m2 | Frequency: 2.4 and 5 GHz | Ports: 2 x Gigabit Ethernet | Wireless speeds: 300 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 867 Mbps (5 GHz) | Bluetooth: Yes | Zigbee: Yes | MU-MIMO: Yes If you want a Wi-Fi 6E powered mesh system that is easy to set up and manage, the Eero Pro 6E is worth a look. As every high-end mesh system should, it supports 160MHz channel bandwidth for optimal throughput speeds. A USB port or two would be nice, and it's unfortunate that parental controls require an optional subscription, but if easy setup and strong performance are your main concerns, the Eero Pro 6E will fit the bill.

This means that you'll need to locate at least one of the devices near your existing router. The second and third will need to be in range of that main device, but will then produce a new, strong, signal in their immediate area. However D-Link is a proper networking company, so there is also a web interface that will allow you to adjust the settings on the mesh network without using a phone. This is good news and does make configuration and monitoring the network a little bit easier. The most common operating system on such embedded devices is Linux. Less frequently, VxWorks is used. The devices are configured over a web user interface served by a light web server software running on the device. It is possible for a computer running a desktop operating system with appropriate software to act as a wireless router. This is commonly referred to as a SoftAP. Speeds are good. Not the fastest we tested but a generally solid performer which is impressive given the compact nature of these mesh nodes. They're a little bit larger than the D-Link Covr but beat that device easily on speed, in our tests.The Eero Max 7 is a whole-home mesh Wi-Fi system that uses Wi-Fi 7 technology and high-speed ports to deliver exceptional throughput speeds. Wi-Fi 7 is still a draft wireless standard, and few devices other than routers support it. Still, if you'd like to future-proof your network, the Eero Max 7 is the way to do it. The system we reviewed, which has three nodes, managed more than 2Gbps throughput speeds in testing. The Max 7 also offers extensive support for home automation protocols like Zigbee, Matter, and Thread. Who It's For Ethernet ports are far from obsolete. Many “smart” home devices come with low-power hubs that need to be wired into your router, and if you plan on adding a NAS drive to your network at any point, that’s also going to occupy a port. We’d suggest you look for a model that has at least four ports – although if need be, you can buy a low-cost Ethernet switch to attach more wired devices to your router. Most Wi-Fi mesh systems look nothing like a traditional setup with a router and range extender. The router and nodes use internal antennas and are almost always tastefully designed so you can place them out in the open rather than in a closet or under a desk. (Don't expect to find a lot of flashing LED indicators—these systems are designed to blend in with your home's décor.) They usually have at least one LAN port for connecting to devices like TVs and gaming consoles, but USB connectivity is a rare feature at this point. (Credit: Netgear) A wireless router, also known as a Wi-Fi hub, is a small, plastic electronic device supplied by your internet service provider that allows you to connect to the internet. It connects to your home broadband line and sends an internet signal from your home connection to your internet-connected devices. As with the Eero 6+, the Eero Pro 6E delivered fast throughput scores and strong signal strength in our performance tests. Both also offer the ability to control home automation devices and easy setup. But in return for a slightly higher price, the Eero Pro 6E adds multi-gig connectivity and support for Wi-Fi 6E. As more and more compatible client devices become available, this mesh system will let you take advantage of the relatively un-crowded 6GHz radio band without missing a beat. Who It’s For

One of the good things about the Velop is that, during setup, it uses Bluetooth to find the node you're configuring. This makes the process a little easier because you can plug everything in and then just perform the configuration from your phone while sitting near the device. Wireless routers typically feature one or more network interface controllers supporting Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet ports integrated into the main system on a chip (SoC) around which the router is built. An Ethernet switch as described in IEEE 802.1Q may interconnect multiple ports. Some routers implement link aggregation through which two or more ports may be used together improving throughput and redundancy. [1] When you want to make sure your business data stays safe, consider the Meraki Go Router Firewall Plus. It’s made by Cisco, is simple to set up and run, and provides a ton of features such as Cloud connectivity, VPN, IP filtering, and network analytics. Read the full review: Meraki Go Router Firewall Plus Frequently Asked Questions What makes a router secure?Router manufacturers advertise some very fast transfer speeds, but these are theoretical maximums: you’ll never get close to them in real life. The Netgear Orbi RBKE963 is a three-piece mesh system that employs the latest Wi-Fi 6E technology to access the relatively uncrowded 6GHz radio band. This wildly expensive system delivered very fast throughput speeds in our performance tests, and it offers excellent signal range. It’s loaded with high-end components and is easy to configure. Who It’s For The app on the other hand is pretty great. That's a good thing because all the configuration is done through it. There is a web interface, but we found connecting to it was a little bit flakey - but this is down to how the router creates a new network for wireless devices - most people will have no such problems.