ON TEST…
> ASUS ZenWiFi X
> Devolo Magic 2 WiFi ne
> eero Pro
> Google Nest Wi
> Linksys Atlas
> Netgear Orbi RBK752
ON TEST…
Things to consider…
> ASUS ZenWiFi X
1 WIRELESS CHANNELS
> Devolo Magic 2 WiFi ne
Does the system provide a dedicated ‘backhaul’ channel? This is used to relay the signal from the router to its satellites, and prevents your main wireless channels from being saturated.
> eero Pro
Ever struggled to get decent Wi-Fi E coverage throughout your home? If you have dead spots in key areas, or your network is overwhelmed with too many devices trying to stream at once, you need a mesh network. This utilises two or more devices – routers and satellites – to blanket your home in a strong, stable wireless system. Traditionally prices have been prohibitively expensive, but as the technology matures and new options come to market, investing in a mesh network has become increasingly affordable.
2 LAN PORTS
> Google Nest Wi
In this round-up we’ve taken a selection of systems spanning various budgets and technologies, from older Wi-Fi 5 (or 802.11ac in ‘old speak’) to newer Wi-Fi 6 and 6E technologies that can deliver blistering speeds at greater ranges than before. We’ve deliberately focused on systems that comprise two devices; a core router and one satellite, designed to boost the signal to a specific dead spot in a regular-sized home.
Gigabit (1Gbps) connections are really the bare minimum – ideally, the router will supply one or more 2.5Gbps ports too.