Modem vs router vs access point how to#

How to choose the best router Wrapping things upĬhoosing between a standard router setup and a mesh network kit really comes down to three things: your budget, your existing hardware, and how comfortable you are with configuring a custom network. If, however, you're more on the side of 'I want to tinker with my network every day,' you might be disappointed with the mesh network (you also likely already know what type of router you need and why). If you're on the side of 'set it up once and forget about for a couple of years,' a mesh network will do you fine.

I like to tweak all my network settingsĬommercial mesh networking systems do undoubtedly come with fewer advanced settings than your standard routers, but that's seen as a selling point for many people. If you can snag a mesh network kit for somewhere between $200 and $300 (in the case of the Netgear Orbi or Google Wifi), you're likely in the same price range as a standard router setup for a large home or office. Sure, there are plenty of cheap standard routers out there that can prove suitable for smaller apartments or condos, but for large spaces, you have to add in the price of extra access points or extenders. You might not get the same wireless speed that you'd get with a $500 gaming router, but for most people, the speeds offered with mesh systems is more than enough. If you're thinking about paying for an entirely new router and you have a large area to cover, it's probably worth upgrading to a mesh network.

While many companies will include a router in the plan you pay for, it still might not be up to your standards. Why shop for a specific router? (Image credit: Windows Central)Ĭhanging plans with your ISP in order to get faster internet than you had before won't do much good if the router you're using can't keep up.

Modem vs router vs access point