Routers

 Calling the Linksys EA9500 router huge would be an understatement. Boasting 8 antennas, 8 ethernet ports and weighing about 4 pounds, this may be the biggest router on the market. Linksys claims it can stream up to 20 4K Videos simultaneously and with its Multi-Use MI-MUMO technology and prioritization features, it might just be the most comprehensive option out there. It was tasked to help me with my PC Gaming. How did it do? Read on to find out.

 If a router could be designated as a tank, the Linksys AC5400 might be it. While already large in physical stature, it’s the power under the hood that makes this unit as robust as it is, even if a good deal of what’s in there can’t be utilized by most devices yet. In many ways, this is a router that is built more for the next year or two than it is for the here and now, and if that appeals to you, the AC5400 is worth a look.

 In part five of The Smart Home Series, I take a spin with Securifi’s Almond+ Wireless AC Router and Smart Hub combination. After setting this unit up in my house, I quickly realized the power it has to provide increased Wi-Fi speeds, as well as serve as a home automation hub to manage gadgets like the Peanut Wireless Smart Plug.

 If you’re like me, you’ve probably grown to hate your router, loathe your range extender and wonder why you have so many Home Automation hubs doing unrelated jobs. The Almond+ takes care of all of those, capable of acting as a router or range extender and a Home Automation business rule hub for connected Z-Wave and Hue compatible devices. The best part it’s all done through the hardware or an app and only takes a few minutes. Check it out.

 Choosing a router sometimes isn’t easy, and one of the main reasons why is assessing how one might be better than another. Another reason is how the one you choose will improve or enhance your home network. The Linksys EA7500 is a smart router that doesn’t look as flashy as others on the market, but is still outfitted with high-end performance and some future-proofing in mind.

 The newest feature for the OnHub Wireless Routers isn’t a Google feature at all. So what is it, where did it come from, and why does it make your connected digital home more useful than ever before?  

 Comparing a router to a muscle car probably wouldn’t seem like an apt analogy, but in the Nighthawk X8, Netgear has built a unit that is designed to roar with power. Outfitted with a variety of features and unique hardware connections, this is a router aimed at users who know their home networking situation and want to raise it to another level.

With the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard now over two years old, we are starting to see routers that push the technology to unbelievable levels. The AC1200 routers that were once so impressive seem pedestrian compared to the extreme performance of AC5300 routers. But who needs this kind of Wi-Fi speed? I tried out two of the fastest Wi-Fi routers on the planet—the ASUS RT-AC5300 and Netgear Nighthawk X8—to find out.

Want a gift that can noticeably improve everything from online gaming to browsing the web or even watching streaming video? A single device makes the experience of using virtually any gadget in today’s connected homes faster and more reliable. Choose a new 802.11ac Wi-Fi router and you can give the gift that everyone wants: the gift of better Wi-Fi.