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The best wireless router (for most people)
By Jim Salter This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here. After spending over 100 hours testing 18 routers, we think the Netgear R7000P is the best wireless router for most people. It's fast and reliable at both short and long ranges, it balances the demands of connected devices automatically to avoid congestion, and it works well right out of the box, with no arcane tweaking required.
LG is fixing its 5K monitor so it'll work near your WiFi router
It's not a good sign when your pricey new 5K monitor is affected by proximity to your wireless router. After reports of the monitor becoming unstable, if not unusable, when in close company -- under two meters away -- to WiFi routers. It's a difficult issue to resolve if your router is already close to your internet pipeline. LG now tells Engadget that signal interference is to blame, when said routers are placed near to the rear of the display.
The Gryphon router manages to be both stylish and feature-rich
As a group of former raunchy young people, we grownups know all too well the sorts of shenanigans a youngster can get up to on the internet. There's no shortage of companies that want nothing more to protect those wee tykes from themselves, but Gryphon is special. The company has built a full-featured (not to mention stylish) wireless router that uses machine learning to help keep would-be intruders at bay. Throw in sophisticated parental controls, dead-simple management from an iOS or Android app and the ability to build a mesh network without having to break out a manual, and you have a seriously thoughtful piece of networking gear.
Netgear's new Nighthawk router doubles as a Plex server
Video streaming is becoming one of the main things we do on the internet, and few things in life are more annoying than having to wait for a clip to finish buffering. To keep up with our growing appetites for speed, Netgear has unveiled the Nighthawk X10 router, which it says is the fastest in the world. It's got a 1.7GHz quad-core processor onboard that the company says is the speediest in a home router, as well as Quad Stream Wave 2 WiFi architecture that helps the device get up to 7.2 Gbps. Plus, it supports the latest 802.11ad standard. But what's really interesting about the Nighthawk X10 is its Plex Media support that lets you turn any USB 3.0 flash drive or hard disk into a server, without requiring a computer.
Netgear Orbi promises to rid your home of WiFi dead zones
One of the most frustrating first world problems today is not being able to connect to your home WiFi network in spots that are farther away from your router. Netgear believes it can get rid of that problem with its latest product: a WiFi system called Orbi. The $400 basic kit comprises of a router and a satellite that the company says will cover up to 4,000 square feet together. Orbi's standout feature, said Netgear, is its tri-band mesh system that dedicates one channel to extending the internet from the router to the satellite while keeping the other two free for your other devices' connections.
ASUS has the world's fastest WiFi router... for now
Hey look, a new router from ASUS and, apparently, it is super, super fast. According to the Taiwanese company, its RT-AC87 is "the world's first" with Wave 2 features, which bring better reliability, major speed boosts and overall performance improvements to the 802.11ac generation of WiFi routers -- one that, by the way, has yet to break through to the mainstream. Thanks to this novel technology, ASUS' RT-AC87 can beam out 5 GHz signals with up to 1.73 Gbps speeds, making it a great option for someone who has a lot of different 802.11ac-equipped devices under a single roof. People that, you know, love watching stuff on Netflix, like to livestream games to the internet or just have too many connected things happening all at once. The RT-AC87 will be available "shortly" for $270, though it'll be limited to North America. For the time being, ASUS can enjoy having the speediest router in town, at least until D-Link, Netgear, Belkin and the rest of them show up to the party.
D-Link ships its AC1200 802.11ac WiFi router / thermos doppelganger
True, D-Link's AC1200 may better resemble the container keeping your coffee hot at work than a traditional WiFi router, but it remains a rare take on networking design that's frankly appreciated. We're glad to report, then, that it's shipping to stores. The device (seen in the middle) is the more affordable of D-Link's two 2013-era 802.11ac routers at its $130 street price, keeping costs in check by peaking at at more modest 867Mbps speed with the new standard and 300Mbps on old-fashioned 802.11n. It still dishes out wireless on either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands, offers wired connections to four gigabit Ethernet devices and shares content from drives attached to its lone USB 3.0 port. When devices like the HTC One and Galaxy S 4 are arriving with 802.11ac built-in, we'd say the AC1200 is a timely solution -- just don't pack it with your office lunch.
ASUS unveils RT-N12HP WiFi router with extra-long antennas: compensating for anything?
If getting long-range WiFi is a perpetual battle, ASUS just started a nuclear war. Its fresh RT-N12HP router carries a pair of (thankfully removable) high-gain, 9dBi antennas and a separate signal amplifier that can jointly boost the range of the router's 802.11n wireless up to 300 percent versus challengers that reach the same 300Mbps peak speed. Beyond that, the hotspot mostly claims sheer flexibility as its virtue with support for as many as four separate WiFi networks and a fast toggle between pure router, access point and repeater modes. Once ASUS confirms that we can grab the N12HP in specific countries, it'll likely deliver a good signal from corner to corner in most any home -- and invite some Freudian interpretations.
Slickdeals' best in tech for September 19th: an ASUS wireless router, keyboards and more
Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long. Everyone loves to save some hard-earned cash when it comes to those tech spending sprees. In today's batch of discounted tech links, Slickdeals offers up a bit of a gadget sampler. There's a duo of keyboards, a wireless router, a VoIP phone system and a gigabit networking switch that are ready to get cozy at your place if you're in the market. Don't sweat the rebates this time around, though, as all of these links come with coupon codes. Head on past the break to see the full list.
Netgear intros sharing-savvy N750 Premium Edition router, powerline and WiFi adapters for media fans
Netgear is giving its home networking the same sort of tuneup going into the fall that you'd give your car -- not a complete overhaul, but enough to keep it running in top form. Headlining the pack, the N750 Premium Edition router you're looking at above upgrades the original N750 through a better ability to play with others: the dual-band WiFi hotspot's ReadyShare file access expands to the cloud, while its USB support now envelops Apple's AirPrint and Time Machine as well as TiVo Storage. Media sharing mavens also get their own, more specific add-ons. The Powerline Media Extender can pipe audio (and USB printing or storage) over a 200Mbps link, with a major emphasis on AirPlay streaming; the N900 4-port WiFi Adapter is a slightly less exotic, 450Mbps wireless-to-Ethernet bridge for multi-device home theaters. If Netgear's refresh is tempting enough to prompt a trade-up, you can snag the N750 Premium Edition immediately for $120 or wait until September and October for the respective launches of the N900 adapter for $80 and the Powerline Music Extender in its single pack ($99) or dual-device starter kit ($139) editions.
D-Link Cloud Router 5700 marks the outfit's first foray into 802.11ac WiFi, now shipping for $190
D-Link has fulfilled its promise to support the newfangled 802.11ac wireless standard. The company has pulled the curtain back on its first router that's compatible with the aforementioned tech in the Cloud Router 5700. Boasting performance of up to 1,750Mbps (that's 1,300 ac + 450 n), the kit implements a 5Ghz band for cutting out the clutter and houses four Gigabit Ethernet ports alongside a single USB receptacle around back. A handful of apps are included to help you get the most out of the purchase -- like the Cloud App for home network monitoring and the D-Link SharePort mobile software for streaming from USB storage units. Looking to snag one for the purposes speeding up your home network? You can do just that from either Amazon or Newegg for $189.99 as fast as your fingers will click.
Belkin's new 802.11ac wireless routers feed next-gen networking needs
Broadcom rolled out its new wireless Gigabit 802.11ac chips in January of this year, and since then Buffalo, Netgear and ASUS have all delivered routers packing the speedy new new tech. Well, Belkin's finally joining the party with its new AC1000 and AC1200 dual-band routers sporting 802.11ac/b/g/n wireless and four Gigabit Ethernet ports. Courtesy of the ac chip inside, the $140 AC1000 delivers a max throughput of 665Mbps on the 5GHz band, while the AC1200 ups that speed to 867Mbps and will set you back $160. Once they go on sale at the end of June, you just gotta grab an appropriate ASUS laptop or find a phone packing Marvell's latest WiFi silicon and you'll actually be able to take advantage of that massive throughput -- assuming your broadband connection cooperates, of course.%Gallery-158841%
D-Link SharePort DIR-505 is a router / repeater that fits in your pocket, ships today for $70
An April ship target may have come and gone, but that's not stopping D-Link -- the company's SharePort DIR-505 Mobile Companion is finally ready to join your side, beginning today. The $100 $70 pocketable WiFi-enabled hub can serve a variety of wireless functions, making it an ideal choice for road warrior types hopping from hotel to hotel while longing for just a hint of consistency. In router mode, the SharePort pumps out an 802.11g/n WiFi signal, converting a lone Ethernet hook-up to a shareable connection. There's also a nifty repeater mode, for those rare check-ins met with a spacious suite upgrade, where a single access point won't get the job done. Or, if you're covered on the connectivity front, you can use the DIR-505 to link your USB hard drive with the web -- or, if all else fails, it'll at least charge your smartphone. Ready to hand over a Benjamin in exchange for a slab of all-in-one wireless goodness? Jump past the break and hit up our source link to make your purchase. Update: The press release references a $69.99 price tag, though the DIR-505 carries a list price of $99.99, which is what you'll pay if you order it directly from D-Link. The device is available through third parties (including Amazon and TigerDirect) for $70, however. Update 2: D-Link representatives have confirmed a list price of $69.99. The headline and text above have been corrected to reflect this adjustment.
Netgear melds 802.11ac WiFi with cable modem, gives us a cable gateway we'd actually like
If you're reading this, you're likely the sort who looks down on the hybrid cable modem and WiFi gateway your cable company foists upon you: it's like setting your wireless network in stone. Netgear is hoping to make that all-in-one experience a little more pleasurable by merging the best of two very fast worlds. It's planning to show a cable gateway (not pictured yet) that unites a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, no slouch in itself, with even speedier 802.11ac WiFi to share the connection in the home. The router side has all the familiar extras, such as DLNA media sharing, guest networks and shared USB storage, but it's clear the real perk is simply making sure the hundreds of megabits per second in bandwidth from that cable pipe carry through to your future laptops and tablets. Netgear hasn't said how close it might be to shipping the cable gateway, but it'll be showing the practical device at the ANGA Cable trade show this week -- along with a 1.2Gbps download, 320Mbps upload cable modem that could give even Google Fiber a run for its money.
Apple slips out new AirPort Express with simultaneous dual-band WiFi (update: photo!)
Tucked in amidst talk of new MacBook Air and conventional MacBook Pro updates, Apple has trotted out a new AirPort Express. The new pocket WiFi router has a reworked design -- not unlike a white Apple TV -- as well as newfound support for simultaneous dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless. That's certainly good news if you want separate public and private hotspots when you're online at the hotel. The audio-out jack and USB 2.0 port are still there to share your sound or printing, and there's an extra Ethernet jack to feed wired devices. It's available now, and the $99 asking price certainly hits a sweet spot.
Ask Engadget: best sub-$200 super-powerful router?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Richard, who needs a router capable of handling all of his not-inconsiderable household traffic. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I'm looking into buying a router than can handle Netflix streaming to my Blu-Ray player, a wireless printer, two smartphones, a tablet, an always-on desktop, external HDD and an Airave signal booster. My Linksys WRT45G can't handle two data-heavy connections at the same time, so I have to restart it when it drops. I'll need something hefty, but under $200 would be ideal, if it's got a USB 3.0 connection for my HDD, even better. Distance isn't as important as stability and capacity, since I've got a single-level 3 bedroom house. Thank you!" Several of our staffers are fans of Netgear's N900, a dual-band unit that can certainly handle everything you'd care to throw at it, although it does only have USB 2.0 ports. There's always Amped's R20000G, but whilst we know its signal strength is good, we don't know how well it could handle a hefty load. But that's just our first thoughts, plenty of you out there will know the answer, so celebrate the long weekend and share your knowledge in the comments below.
Buffalo beats others to the 802.11ac WiFi punch, ships 1.3Gbps router and bridge
As intrigued as we were by the Netgear R6300's high-bandwidth chops, it won't be the one to claim the early 802.11ac WiFi crown with a shipping product. That distinction is instead going to a Buffalo AirStation router and a matching bridge, both of which should be on shelves now. Either can hit the eye-watering 1.3Gbps peak speed of the standard if you get cozy on the 5GHz band -- and if you have a computer or mobile device that recognizes the spec, for that matter. The duo still has a more leisurely paced 2.4GHz, 450Mbps WiFi option as well as a quartet of Ethernet jacks if you prefer your gigabit speeds the old-fashioned way. Both the router and the bridge will set you back $180 each, so there's not much of a penalty versus high-end alternatives to satisfy your need for network speed.
D-Link's supporting 802.11ac for speedy (wireless) gonzales
With the crushing inevitability of a rude email from the IRS, D-Link is announcing it'll be supporting the blossoming 802.11ac WiFi standard. It'll include the technology in all its forthcoming gear, vaguely described as "in the pipeline." For the uninitiated: 802.11ac is a Gigabit wireless standard that will melt the faces of anyone who thinks 802.11 is quick. It only uses the 5GHz band, unlike the elder standard, which works across the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands and the company has announced that the gear will be backwards-compatible with your older gear, which we hadn't had confirmation about beforehand. Press release is where you expect it to be, folks.
Netgear at CES 2012: Powerline, wireless routers, home networking and more
As it seems to do every year, Netgear's chosen the Consumer Electronics Show to unveil, well... everything under the sun. Up first, the outfit's launching its WN2500RP, a universal dual-band WiFi range extender ($89.99) that runs both 2.4 GHz and 5GHz bands concurrently. Over on the home networking side, the Powerline 500 Nano and N900 convert a conventional wall outlet into a high-speed network connection, with the former shipping this quarter for $119.99 and the latter this summer for $79.99. Over on the non-product side, Netgear's trumpeting its reception of CableLabs DOCSIS 3.0 certification for the industry's first voice and data gateways (CGD3700B / CGE3700B) with concurrent dual-band WiFi. Head on past the break for specifics across the whole line.
TP-Link Portable 3G Wireless N Router fits in your pocket, draws power from USB
Sure, we may be fast approaching the 12th year of the 21st century, but as you may have noticed, planet Earth has yet to be coated in a warm, fuzzy blanket of WiFi. And yes, we're just as befuddled as you. For now -- and for the foreseeable future as well -- we'll need to continue furnishing our own provisions for reliable wireless internet access, which is often no small feat. Fortunately, if you're able to find a USB 3G modem or Ethernet connection, TP-Link's new Portable 3G/3.75G Wireless N Router (TL-MR3020) can hook you up with WiFi for a mere $40. The tiny device is small enough to fit in your pocket, and offers a variety of power options, including a built-in plug and mini USB connector -- enabling you to use the device with an external battery pack, for example. A second USB port lets you hook up a UMTS/HSPA/EVDO USB 3G modem, which you can then dish out to other wireless gadgets. This pocketable WiFi wonder will be available on December 14th at Fry's, Micro Center, B&H and Data Vision, along with e-tailers like Newegg and Amazon. If an Ethernet-only model will suit your needs, the TL-WR700N is another option, shipping on November 23rd for $30. Jump past the break for the full rundown from TP-Link.
