Routers

 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?  

Wrapping up my overview of the big names in routers, the final instalment in the series is Netgear. The US-based company has a long history of manufacturing telecommunications gear (it was once a division of Canada’s Nortel Networks) and has an extensive line of wireless routers, Wi-Fi extenders and adapters for the home and small business market. You probably know it best for the Nighthawk series of blistering fast AC routers.

D-Link announced that it will be launching new versions of its Covr mesh Wi-Fi system, with both tri-band and dual-band models coming soon.

Since its early days as Datex Systems (circa 1986) D-Link has specialized in connecting devices. Today, the company is well known for wireless routers designed to optimize home Wi-Fi network performance in a wide range of price points. It also offers Wi-Fi extenders and even kits that utilize a home’s electrical wiring as a network in order to boost Wi-Fi coverage and performance. I’ve put together an overview of D-Link’s wireless routers to help explain why you might want to consider this company’s products if your network isn’t living up to expectations.

The Netgear Nighthawk X6 is the Wi-Fi router you stream gaming or video content, or you are competing with dozens of other devices for Wi-Fi bandwidth.

CES 2016 is less than half over, and D-Link is already basking in the glow of multiple Design and Engineering awards. Here’s a look at what the networking and Smart Home company has in store for this year and what those CES awards are all about.  

“That doesn’t look like any router I’ve ever seen.”   That’s the general consensus I heard about the Almond+ when I showed it around. It’s a device that stands in for three types of things in your smart home: a powerful dual-band router, a long range wifi extender, and a smart home hub.   It arrived from Best Buy wrapped in brown packing paper and accompanied by a Securifi Door/Window Sensor, and a Peanut Smart plug. Also in the box were precisely two packing peanuts; I’m guessing the shipping budget was a bit tight, or those were rogue peanuts on the lam from a future Pixar film. Either way I got to researching the Almond+ and getting it setup. Here’s how it went.

 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.

 Having a smart home is amazing, but the Wi-Fi connection issues that have come along with it have been challenging. As I’ve added more devices I’ve understood the need for a powerful router like the Linksys Max-Stream AC5400. Now that I’ve tested it out, I’ll never be able to use a basic router in my smart home again. Save

 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.