When you should update your router

When your Internet connection becomes inconsistent or fails to meet the speed you’ve contracted, the cause may be an old router that doesn’t have the capacity to support current performance parameters to deliver the best possible experience.

Upgrading your router to a new model not only guarantees faster browsing speeds, but the device will provide wider coverage in your home and will not overheat when you connect multiple devices to it.

If you don’t know when you should replace your router, here we will tell you what variables you should consider.

Signs that you need to update your router

There are several surefire signs you should look for to know if you need to buy a new router to have a good Internet connection at home.

– Does not support the speed of your Internet plan: Older routers don’t support current standards, so they can’t deliver the speed you want. For example, a basic Wi-Fi 5 router will only go up to 100Mbps, meaning if you’re on a 500Mbps plan, you’ll be severely limited.

So, if you see that your connection does not offer the expected speed, it is time to make the change. The ideal option to support 500 Mbps or more is to purchase Wi-Fi 6, 6E or Wi-Fi 7 routers.

– Lack of advanced features: Now routers have their own application, where you can manage everything you want, such as changing the password, modifying the network name, updating the firmware, checking the devices that are connected, etc.

They also allow for multiple inputs and outputs (MIMO), allow multiple devices to receive data at the same time (MU-MIMO), and have better security protocols, such as WPA3. If your router does not have app support and its security is still WPA2, it is time to replace it.

– Connection drops: An older router will start to fail when you stress it too much. For example, if you do multiple downloads at the same time on multiple computers, it will reboot because it cannot handle the workload, as it does not have the capacity to handle so many data packets simultaneously.

So, if your router keeps resetting itself when you download content or play online games, you’ll need to buy a new one to keep up with modern internet browsing demands.

– Poor coverage: As time goes by, the router loses range and signal strength, so it is not unusual to see that an area of ​​your house that previously had Internet is now offline. Also, the further away you are from the router, the speed will become much slower.

In a case like this, it will not help to relocate the router in your home, since it will not be able to offer an optimal signal. The best solution is to purchase a device that has the indicated range to have a solid signal in every area of ​​your house.

– Overheating: As you add devices to your router’s signal, your router will be subjected to a heavier workload because of increased data traffic. If your router’s cooling mechanisms are not in good shape, it will start to reboot, experience sudden blackouts, and drop your connection.

Upgrading to a new router will allow you to connect more devices without stressing the device, plus the connection speed will remain intact, you won’t have to deal with slowdowns or drops.

– No updates: Firmware updates make it possible for your device to be less vulnerable to security risks and will also add features to better manage data traffic. When your router loses support from the manufacturer, it will not keep up with security packages, making your network prone to hacking.

Additionally, you may encounter various types of bugs that affect the router’s performance. If you want the best performance possible, it is vital that your router receives constant updates.

– More than five years of use: Technology changes annually, therefore, routers from time to time come with improvements that optimize Internet browsing in terms of speed, coverage, equipment support and security.

For this reason, it is recommended to update your router every five years, this way you will avoid having an old device at home that will not offer you the best possible user experience when using a Wi-Fi network.

Click to rate this entry!
(Votes: 0 Average: 0)
Share!

Leave a Comment