wireless network Buying Guide

What Are The Benefits Of A
Wi-Fi Network?

“Long gone are the days when your device needed to be plugged into the network to connect you to the internet. Now you can have a smooth internet connection at all times, at the touch of a button,” says David Linehan. “A reliable Wi-Fi network means you’re not limited to working in your home office, but are free to take what you’re doing upstairs, into the backyard, or even work from bed.”

A wireless network also makes it possible to connect your smart lights and smart TV. Plus, you can use your home internet data cap on your mobile phone – rather than your mobile data plan – when you’re at home, helping you to save on phone bills.

Wi-Fi Router Vs Mesh System:
Which Is Best?

A traditional router uses a powerful signal to permeate Wi-Fi through your home. If you get a top-of-the-line router and live in a home with a basic interior layout, a single router might be all you need. However, older or less powerful routers struggle to get a signal strong enough to cover a whole modern family home, particularly if there’s metal or stone in the walls, or significant interference from other wireless signals. Traditional Wi-Fi extenders used to be the way to remedy this, but with each extender comes speed and signal degradation.

Mesh wifi networks use several “nodes” (between two and six) to spread Wi-Fi more evenly through your home. Unlike the traditional Wi-Fi router and Wi-Fi extender system that has a “parent-and-child” system of spreading wireless signals, the nodes work together to keep the connection as even as possible.

If you have a small to mid-sized standard home, free of stone, metal, and wireless interference, then a traditional router will suit you well. But, if you have a larger home, or live in an apartment, then a mesh system is probably going to serve you better.

How Do I Set Up A Wi-Fi Network?

The process of setting up your wifi network will depend on which kind of network you get. But, generally, you plug the main Wi-Fi device (be it a router or mesh node) into your modem using an ethernet cable. Then, you either log into the Wi-Fi device on a computer, or connect via a mobile app to set a network name and password. Sometimes these apps will even allow you to designate priority to certain devices. For example, you might want to make sure your work laptop has priority over the kids’ game console, or vice versa.

Also consider doing a Wi-Fi speed test to ensure you’re getting the Wi-Fi speeds you expect. If you’re not tech savvy, that’s OK. We can do it for you with The Good Guys Home Services.

Wi-Fi Bands And Speed: What You
Need To Know

There are two main Wi-Fi bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Older and more simple devices, like robot vacuum cleaners and smart light bulbs, rely on 2.4GHz, which allows data to travel further on a stronger signal, but isn’t as fast (roughly a maximum of between 300Mbps and 600Mbps, depending on how new the device is). Newer devices, like smartphones and laptops, can use 5GHz. The 5GHz band tends to be less crowded and will support up to 1300Mbps, but the signal doesn’t travel as far.

Most routers and mesh systems will be dual-band or tri-band to support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz and give you more speed if your broadband plan allows for that. Having the two to three bands also means your devices won’t be fighting each other as much for bandwidth, which means fewer dropouts and less buffering during gaming, streaming and video calls.

Wi-Fi Standards: What You Need To
Know

If you’ve been setting up wireless networks for a while, you might be familiar with 802.11g, now known as Wi-Fi 3. These days, we’re up to 802.11ax, also known as Wi-Fi 6. With each generation comes improvements in sending faster signals over longer distances. Wi-Fi 6 is considered the gold standard for the modern home and work-from-home office because it’s so robust. It’s also the standard used by newer devices.

“Wi-Fi 6 is an essential feature to look for when shopping for Wi-Fi devices if you want to future-proof your purchase,” says David Linehan. “Don’t be worried about your older devices when getting the new standard – it’s also backwards compatible, so everything that works on Wi-Fi 4 and 5 will still work on Wi-Fi 6.”

Wi-Fi Network Security: What You
Need To Know

While it can be tempting to buy the cheapest, no-name brand of Wi-Fi router to save money, leaving your network without a password can be like inviting thieves into your home. Good Wi-Fi security is as essential to the modern home as having a lock on the front door.

“Purchasing a device from a reputable brand, and changing the network name and password during set-up is extremely important to keep your data safe,” says Alice Clarke. “All your devices connect to your network, and your data likely contains your bank details, receipts of your online purchases, and perhaps even access to the feed of your connected baby monitor.”

When setting the password, make sure it is easy for you to remember; is hard for someone else to guess; and contains lower- and upper-case letters, as well as numbers. Also ensure you turn on automatic updates, so your Wi-Fi devices get the latest security updates as soon as they’re available.

How Much Does A Wi-Fi Network
Cost?

An entry-level Wi-Fi 6 router will set you back the same price as a decent gaming keyboard, while a single mesh node costs roughly the same as a mid-level pair of over-ear headphones. A fancier, more fully featured Wi-Fi 6 router – with more customisation and traffic control options – will cost double the entry-level model, while a full whole-home mesh Wi-Fi system with three nodes will set you back about the same as a good printer.

If you want the best of the best, a three-node mesh system costs the same as a flagship smartphone and can give you up to 2.5Gbps download speeds – great for hardcore gamers and those working with large files.

Are you ready to take your Wi-Fi to the next level? Make the most of your laptop, tablet or phone with some helpful advice from the experts at The Good Guys. See us in-store or online for the best range of wireless network devices and the best prices.