
Ready for a Router Upgrade? Don't Buy Until You Read This Wi-Fi Guide
Whether you've finally decided to stop renting your router from your ISP or you want to upgrade to a mesh router system, having some Wi-Fi basics under your belt is helpful when splurging on a good Wi-Fi router. In this primer, we'll cover the basics of Wi-Fi technology and how it relates to your router, how ISPs may limit your router's capabilities and everything else that goes into finding good equipment. Once you can make sense of some fundamentals, you'll have no problem finding the right router for your internet setup.
You can check out our complete router shopping guide for more thorough router shopping tips and recommendations on our favorite routers, mesh networks and Wi-Fi extenders.
So, what is Wi-Fi?
Let's start at the very beginning. Your router connects multiple computer networks together using Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi, or "wireless fidelity," refers to the family of wireless network protocols that allow your router to exchange data through radio waves.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers developed and released the first version of Wi-Fi in 1997 and classifies Wi-Fi within the 802 family of standards for local area networks. The IEEE's full code for Wi-Fi is 802.11, pronounced "eight-oh-two-dot-eleven" and that ".11" distinguishes Wi-Fi from other standards in the family, including Ethernet (802.3), Bluetooth (802.15.1) and Zigbee (802.15.4).
Locating local internet providers
Over the years, the IEEE has done quite a bit to certify new improvements to Wi-Fi and standardize them for widespread use. That's where those confusing letters that come after "802.11" come into play: Each of them denotes specific generations of Wi-Fi. For instance, the first widely used version of Wi-Fi was released in 1999 and called 802.11b; shortly after that came 802.11a, then 802.11g in 2003 and 802.11n in 2009. Wi-Fi 6, or 802.11ax, is the current-gen version of Wi-Fi that most devices use today.
If your eyes glazed over a bit just now, I've got some good news for you. The Wi-Fi Alliance, the nonprofit trade organization that holds the Wi-Fi trademark, finally realized that Wi-Fi labels had gotten too confusing for consumers.
When 802.11ax launched in 2019, the group decided to market the standard as "Wi-Fi 6" and retroactively refer to previous Wi-Fi generations similarly. The new standard makes it much easier to differentiate Wi-Fi labels:
802.11be : Wi-Fi 7
: Wi-Fi 7 802.11ax : Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E
: Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E 802.11ac : Wi-Fi 5
: Wi-Fi 5 802.11n : Wi-Fi 4
: Wi-Fi 4 802.11g: Wi-Fi 3
Wi-Fi 7 is the latest version... but you probably don't need it yet
So what is Wi-Fi 7 and should you be worried about making sure your router uses it? In a nutshell, Wi-Fi 7 is faster and better at connecting lots of devices and users, with access to several wider frequency bands at once. Whereas Wi-Fi 6 and 6E also allowed access to multiple bands, devices were limited to one band at a time. Wi-Fi 7 reduces latency, increases network capacity and supports faster speeds.
The only catch is that to take advantage of Wi-Fi 7, you'll need a Wi-Fi 7 router and a Wi-Fi 7-capable device. Wi-Fi 7 is backward compatible, so you can use your current devices with a Wi-Fi 7 router just fine -- but you won't get the full experience. New routers supporting the standard are already starting to pop up on store shelves, but they're expensive. Though more and more devices are equipped with Wi-Fi 7 capabilities, including Apple's iPhone 16, they're still relatively rare -- for now.
Consider your speed: Household speeds vs. router speeds
Now that you know how some of the Wi-Fi technology on your router works, it's time to pay attention to speeds.
The best place to start is figuring out how much speed your household actually needs. You can do this by first figuring out how much speed you're currently getting, with a simple speed test -- Orb and Ookla are some of our favorites. (Disclaimer: Ookla is owned by Ziff Davis, the same company that owns CNET.) Next, take stock of the devices and type of internet usage in your house. If you have a lot of gamers, streamers, remote workers or students in the house (not to mention the number of smart devices), you should consider a 1-gig or multigig tier.
When upgrading your router, consider the minimum speed recommendation for your household and make sure you're getting a router that can support those speeds -- but watch out for misleading marketing tactics.
Retailers are notorious for reporting the combined top speeds of your router's bands, misleading people into thinking they're buying equipment that supports 3,000 megabits per second when, in reality, that router most likely supports a fraction of that speed.
Also keep in mind that the internet speed advertised by an internet provider is the maximum speed of any device in your home. If you're buying a router with multigig capabilities but you don't have a multigig plan, you won't get those speeds unless you upgrade with your internet provider.
A note on Wi-Fi speeds vs. Ethernet speeds
It's important to note that your internet connection will almost always be faster with Ethernet than it is with Wi-Fi.
This is what it looks like when you connect a device to a router using Wi-Fi.
PhotoBecause Ethernet is a direct, wired connection, there's little-to-no obstruction between your router and your device. Wi-Fi, on the other hand, is a wireless connection to your router that relies on frequency bands instead of a cable.
In some cases, retailers will advertise speeds you can only get with a wired connection, making the typical speed for a Wi-Fi connection much slower than that advertised price.
What does that number in the router name mean?
Along with each manufacturer's internal naming schemes, most of today's routers will typically also come with designations like "AC1900" or "AC3150." The point is to give you a quick, comparative sense of which version of Wi-Fi each router supports ("AC" for Wi-Fi 5, "AX" for Wi-Fi 6 and so on), along with a rough sense of its speed capabilities.
I say "rough" because those numbers after the "AC" or "AX" part indicate the sum total of the maximum theoretical transfer rates across each of the router's bands. That's not useless information as you're comparing routers, but it's a bit misleading: The sum total will almost always be significantly higher than the fastest speeds you'll experience as a user.
"AC" tells you that this is a Wi-Fi 5 router, while "2600" refers to the combined theoretical max speeds of each of the router's bands. Your actual speed per device will be a lot lower.
Ry Crist/CNET
For instance, the D-Link DIR-867 is listed as an AC1750 router. It's a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 router with theoretical maximum transfer rates of 1,300Mbps on the 5GHz band and 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. Add those two numbers together and you get 1,750, hence the name AC1750.
The problem is that you can't actually add those bands together-- you can only connect to one at a time unless you're using a Wi-Fi 7 router with a Wi-Fi 7-capable device. That means the fastest speed you could theoretically get from the DIR-867 is 1,300Mbps, not 1,750Mbps. And I say "theoretically" because those top speeds are measured by the manufacturer in optimized lab conditions, not in real-world environments. When we tested the thing out, we measured max speeds of 163Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 802Mbps on the 5GHz band. Solid results for a budget-friendly router, but nowhere close to 1,750Mbps, even if you add them together.
Things get even more inflated once you start looking at tri-band routers that add in an extra 5GHz connection. For example, Asus now sells a tri-band Wi-Fi 6 gaming router in its ROG Rapture lineup with the designation "AX11000." The "AX" tells you it's a Wi-Fi 6 router, and the "11000" indicates the combined top speeds of each band -- 1,148Mbps at 2.4GHz, and 4,804Mbps on each of the two 5GHz bands.
That's a lot of concurrent bandwidth, but don't start thinking your computer, phone or gaming console will connect at anything close to 11,000Mbps. The fastest figure you'd ever possibly see from a single device is 4,804Mbps, and today's ISP connections are nowhere near that fast yet. In fact, the average internet speed in the US currently sits at 564Mbps, according to the latest data from OpenVault.
A mesh router network, like the one pictured here from TP-Link, can significantly improve connectivity around the house.What else should I look for when I shop for a new router?
You'll see all sorts of Wi-Fi jargon as you shop for a new router. Here's a rundown of the terms you'll see the most, and what they actually mean for your home.
Mesh: A mesh Wi-Fi network uses multiple access points to provide better coverage throughout large homes. Similar to Wi-Fi extenders, a mesh Wi-Fi system extends coverage throughout the house but with a smaller zone of coverage. Start with one that wires to your modem like a traditional router, then add satellite units around the house that act like repeaters for the signal. If you have a pesky back bedroom that struggles to stay connected, then move mesh routers up to the top of your list.
A mesh Wi-Fi network uses multiple access points to provide better coverage throughout large homes. Similar to Wi-Fi extenders, a mesh Wi-Fi system extends coverage throughout the house but with a smaller zone of coverage. Start with one that wires to your modem like a traditional router, then add satellite units around the house that act like repeaters for the signal. If you have a pesky back bedroom that struggles to stay connected, then move mesh routers up to the top of your list. MU-MIMO: Short for "multiuser, multiple-input, multiple-output" (and pronounced "multiuser-meem-oh"), MU-MIMO lets your router divide its signal between multiple streams. That, in turn, lets the router send data to multiple devices at once. MU-MIMO is optimal for households or spaces with a lot of devices and heavy internet use, as it optimizes your network. If the receiving device supports it, MU-MIMO also lets the router use multiple streams at once to send data to the device, which makes for faster transfers. Wi-Fi 6 routers can support up to eight streams (8x8), while Wi-Fi 7 routers can support up to 16.
Short for "multiuser, multiple-input, multiple-output" (and pronounced "multiuser-meem-oh"), MU-MIMO lets your router divide its signal between multiple streams. That, in turn, lets the router send data to multiple devices at once. MU-MIMO is optimal for households or spaces with a lot of devices and heavy internet use, as it optimizes your network. If the receiving device supports it, MU-MIMO also lets the router use multiple streams at once to send data to the device, which makes for faster transfers. Wi-Fi 6 routers can support up to eight streams (8x8), while Wi-Fi 7 routers can support up to 16. Band steering: Different brands have different names for the feature, but a growing number of routers will automatically move devices between frequency bands as their positions change within the range of the router. So, if you're using Wi-Fi to make a video call on your phone, and you're sitting in the living room near the router, it might automatically assign you to the 5GHz band, which is the speediest at close range. If you move into another part of the house during the call, the router might automatically "steer" your connection onto the 2.4GHz band, which offers a steadier connection at a distance.
Different brands have different names for the feature, but a growing number of routers will automatically move devices between frequency bands as their positions change within the range of the router. So, if you're using Wi-Fi to make a video call on your phone, and you're sitting in the living room near the router, it might automatically assign you to the 5GHz band, which is the speediest at close range. If you move into another part of the house during the call, the router might automatically "steer" your connection onto the 2.4GHz band, which offers a steadier connection at a distance. Beamforming: A basic router will broadcast its signal more or less equally in all directions, but with beamforming, the router can focus its signal in the specific directions of the devices that are trying to connect to it. That can help it reduce interference and maintain a better range.
A basic router will broadcast its signal more or less equally in all directions, but with beamforming, the router can focus its signal in the specific directions of the devices that are trying to connect to it. That can help it reduce interference and maintain a better range. Quality of service: Often abbreviated to QoS, quality of service is a feature that lets the router prioritize certain types of traffic above others. It's a common feature for gaming routers.
Beyond basics like those, router manufacturers are turning more and more to extras like simplified, app-based setup, integrations with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant, VPN support, better parental controls, and optional cybersecurity monitoring. All are worth considering if you think you'd put them to use in your home.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Better Artificial Intelligence Stock: BigBear.ai vs. Nvidia
Key Points has become an AI investor darling over the past few years. Nvidia is the leading artificial intelligence semiconductor company. There's no substitute for high revenue growth and profitability -- and Nvidia has both. 10 stocks we like better than Nvidia › Many investors are focused on artificial intelligence stocks these days, which can be a smart play as AI transforms many industries. But it's starting to seem like any AI stock is a winner in the market right now, which means some investors may not be doing their due diligence when evaluating companies. With that in mind, two AI companies with surging share prices right now are Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and (NYSE: BBAI), and it may be worth taking a closer look at both to see which one looks like the better AI stock to buy right now. What's happening with Nvidia Nvidia gets top billing in this matchup because the company has experienced monster growth over the past few years as companies clamor for its artificial intelligence semiconductors. An estimated 70% to 95% of data centers utilize Nvidia's AI processors, and there seems to be no slowing down for the company's growth. For example, Nvidia's total sales soared 114% in fiscal 2025 to $130.5 billion, and its earnings skyrocketed 147% to $2.94 per share. This growth has been fueled by the company's data center segment, which experienced a 142% revenue surge to $115 billion last year. The impressive earnings and revenue growth have resulted in Nvidia's stock surging 57% over the past year. That's pushed the company's valuation higher, and Nvidia's shares currently have a price-to-earnings multiple of about 56. That's not cheap, but it's still lower than the average P/E ratio of 64 in the semiconductor industry right now. What's more, Nvidia could continue to benefit from AI investments for many more years to come. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang believes AI will fuel $2 trillion in data center spending over the next several years. While Nvidia's growth isn't guaranteed, many tech giants have already committed to spending hundreds of billions of dollars to expand their AI data centers over the next few years. That's creating an ongoing opportunity for Nvidia to continue increasing its sales. What's happening with is an AI data analytics company that helps companies and the U.S. government sort through their data to make decisions. AI analytics is a burgeoning AI trend, and it has propelled the stock of similar companies, like Palantir, into the stratosphere. stock, for its part, has jumped 323% over the past year. But despite its impressive gains, there are some significant concerns I have with including its lack of strong revenue growth. sales increased just 5% in Q1 to $34.8 million, and management's outlook for the full year is for $160 million to $180 million -- an increase of just 7.5% at the midpoint. These are fairly unimpressive sales figures for a small AI company that's trying to tap into an expanding artificial intelligence analytics market. One of the company's problems is that 52% of its revenue comes from just four customers. That's a high concentration of sales from just a handful of customers, and it means that if one or two leave, could be in trouble. And then there's the company's lack of earnings. reported a loss of $1.10 per share last year and continued that trend with a loss of $0.25 per share in Q1. While many small start-ups often aren't profitable, it's problematic that the company's lack of earnings comes in addition to unimpressive sales growth. Meanwhile, stock has a price-to-sales ratio of 11, which is substantially higher than the average P/S multiple of 3 for the S&P 500 and means that investors are paying a premium for it right now. Verdict: Nvidia is the hands-down winner Nvidia's stock isn't cheap, and there are always risks with investing in AI stocks that have already experienced astronomical growth. But the company is a hands-down better investment than because it's massively profitable, continually expanding its revenue, and outpaces its rivals in the AI semiconductor market. Meanwhile, stock is overvalued, its revenue growth is unimpressive, and the company isn't profitable. This makes Nvidia the no-brainer in this matchup and one of the best AI stocks to buy and hold for the long term. Should you buy stock in Nvidia right now? Before you buy stock in Nvidia, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Nvidia wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $624,823!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,064,820!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,019% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025 Chris Neiger has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Better Artificial Intelligence Stock: vs. Nvidia was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Trump Lawyer Says Trump Could Set Sights on Musk's Billions: 'It Bothers Him That He Is the Richest Man'
President Donald Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen has predicted that Trump might set his sights on the fortune of tech magnate Elon Musk following their recent spat. What Happened: Cohen thinks Trump's jealousy of Musk's position as the wealthiest man in the world could drive him to target Musk's wealth. Musk, who is the CEO of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), had earlier contributed $250 million to Trump's 2024 campaign and was chosen to spearhead a cost-reduction initiative under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Earlier speaking with MSNBC, Cohen said, "I said from the very start that this bromance was going to come to an end. I'm going to go one step even further, again, and I'm going to say Trump will ultimately go after Elon's money next because it bothers him that he is the richest man in the world." Cohen, now a prominent critic of Trump, speculates that Trump could utilize DOGE to probe how Musk and his businesses 'exploited the United States of America' and try to 'reclaim' government subsidies given to Tesla. Also Read: Ex-Trump Lawyer Sent This Message To Elon Musk After Feud With Donald Trump Erupted However, White House communications director Steven Cheung dismissed Cohen's forecasts, describing him as a 'deeply disturbed' person spreading 'falsehoods and deception'. Why It Matters: The conjecture by Cohen, if it materializes, could lead to a significant shift in the dynamics between Trump and Musk. The latter's wealth, largely attributed to his leadership at Tesla, has been a subject of public interest. Musk's contribution to Trump's campaign and his role in DOGE further intertwine their professional relationship. Any action by Trump targeting Musk's fortune could potentially impact Tesla's operations and its standing in the market. However, these are mere predictions at this point, and it remains to be seen how the situation unfolds. Read Next Ex-Trump Family Attorney Raises Alarms Over Trump's Actions as President: 'I Have Never Been As Concerned' Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Ex-Trump Lawyer Says Trump Could Set Sights on Musk's Billions: 'It Bothers Him That He Is the Richest Man' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Could Buying a Tesla Still Save Car Owners Money in 2025?
Tesla may have been responsible for ushering in the era of widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption, but it certainly hasn't been resting on its laurels. The company has taken some hits over the year with vehicle sales on the decline. If you factor in the controversial public figure that is the company's CEO, Elon Musk, then you know investing in a Tesla has become a hot button issue. Find Out: For You: Still, Tesla remains a leading name in the EV space, renowned for its performance and strong warranty options. For those interested in making the switch to electric, there's a lot to consider when it comes to whether or not a Tesla can save you money. EV Tax Credits vs. One 'Big Beautiful Bill' Act President Donald Trump signed an executive order to eliminate the federal EV mandate at the beginning of 2025, though some EV tax credits remained in place. However, they now have an expiration date for vehicles purchased after September 30, 2025. This change is due to the recent passage of Trump's tax reform, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), which accelerates the end date of this incentive. If you are still privy to the tax credit, here are some key takeaways: For the first half of the credit ($3,750), a new EV needs to meet certain restrictions regarding the vehicle's critical battery minerals. A certain percentage of the minerals need to have been sourced from the U.S. or any country with which the U.S. holds a free trade agreement. The second half of the credit kicks in if a certain percentage of battery components were manufactured or assembled in those same countries. Finally, to be eligible for any credit, any new EV or plug-in hybrid must see final assembly take place in North America. Concerning the Tesla Cybertuck, those who purchase a new model (single- and dual-motor models) can expect the full $7,500 federal tax credit until it expires. All trim packages of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are eligible for the full tax credit as well, as is the all-wheel-drive Tesla Model X. Read More: Tesla's Referral Program Can Help Save Money Per CleanTechnica, those interested in driving away from a Tesla showroom with a brand-new EV could save a bundle by taking advantage of the company's referral program. By utilizing a referral code, buyers can shave $500 off a Tesla Model Y — excluding the Launch Series — or $1,000 off the purchase of a Cybertruck, Model S or Model X. Those interested in the Model 3 can save $2,500 in this fashion. As a bonus, the referrer also receives a $500 credit to spend with the automaker. Save Money on Total Gas or Fuel As TopSpeed detailed, drivers who purchase a 2025 Tesla Model Y long-range rear-wheel drive could save nearly $5,000 on gas over five years. You can also see savings in other models. If you compare the Tesla Model S to the relatively fuel-efficient Toyota Camry, you may find cost savings that a Tesla driver could see. For example, if a Camry were driven 15,000 miles a year with an average gas price of $3.39 per gallon, a driver would spend $1,589 in gas. With a Tesla Model S, a driver would spend only $555 due to the lower electric charge cost of $0.037 per mile. Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article. More From GOBankingRates Here's the Minimum Salary Required To Be Considered Upper Class in 2025 This article originally appeared on Could Buying a Tesla Still Save Car Owners Money in 2025? Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data