WiFi 6 Routers: Unleash the Power of the Latest Wireless Technology  

If you last upgraded your home network a while ago and you’re ready for your next one, a WiFi 6 router could be just what you need. WiFi 6 is the latest wireless technology, enabling the fastest and most stable internet. Experience reliable internet even when the entire household is online at the same time. You can watch movies, play your favorite games, connect all your devices, and work from home without any issues.  

To take full advantage of WiFi 6, you’ll also need a WiFi 6 router. Whether you’re a gamer, streamer, or just someone who wants a reliable and efficient home network, a WiFi 6 router may be the upgrade you’ve been looking for. Let’s dive in! 

What is WiFi 6?

WiFi 6, or 802.11ax, is the latest wireless networking technology, released in 2019. It’s the successor to WiFi 5 (802.11ac), which was introduced in 2014. It’s designed to provide a faster, more efficient, and more reliable network. In fact, WiFi 6 is up to 40% faster than WiFi 5! 

WiFi 6 has several benefits for internet users, such as:  

• Faster speeds and increased bandwidth: WiFi 6 can provide theoretical maximum speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps, but actual WiFi speeds depend on various factors, such as your ISP, the type of devices you’re using, and the distance between your devices and the router. 
• Improved performance in congested environments. This is because WiFi 6 can support more devices simultaneously than previous WiFi standards. If your internet is moving slowly due to too many people in your household, WiFi 6 is the perfect solution for you. 
• Lower latency. Latency measures the time data travels between two points, from your device to the server and back. WiFi 6 has 75% lower latency than WiFi 5, making online gaming and video conferencing smoother and more reliable. 
• Better battery life for your connected devices. This is accomplished through target wake time (TWT). With TWT, devices schedule when they wake up and communicate with the router. With TWT, devices can stay in a low-power state for longer, which helps conserve battery life.
• Enhanced security features to protect your data. WiFi 6 includes WiFi Protected Access 3 (WPA3), the latest and most secure WiFi security protocol. 

WiFi 6 achieves these benefits through improvements, such as using orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). OFDMA divides the frequency spectrum into smaller parts so that different devices can use different parts without interfering with each other. 

What is a WiFi 6 Router, & Do I Need One?

Now that you’re up to date with WiFi 6 let’s learn more about the necessary hardware to support it. 

As the name suggests, a WiFi 6 router is a router that supports WiFi 6. It’s designed to provide all the benefits of WiFi 6, such as faster speeds, better performance, and lower latency. So, to take full advantage of WiFi 6, you’ll need to invest in a WiFi 6 router. 

If you have a WiFi 5 router and it’s still working well, there’s no need to upgrade to a WiFi 6 router immediately. WiFi 6 routers are backward compatible, which means they work with all devices we used before the glorious arrival of WiFi 6.  

But, if your WiFi is slow with your current router, a new WiFi 6 router could be a great choice to help ensure your home network stays up to speed. You see, WiFi 6 routers are like cars with bigger engines. They have a better CPU, so you can take full advantage of the speed your internet plan promises. They also have special ports for Ethernet connections, which are even faster than a wireless connection. 

Source: ASUS 

Should You Get a WiFi 6 Router?

Before you invest in a new WiFi 6 router, there are a few factors to consider. Remember, many internet service providers offer WiFi 6 routers as part of their internet plans. Check with provider first to see if they offer this option. 

One crucial factor is the number of devices you have in your home. Suppose you have a lot of devices, such as smart home devices, gaming consoles, and laptops. In that case, a WiFi 6 router is an excellent investment.    

Another factor to consider is the size of your home. For example, WiFi’s often a bit slower upstairs than downstairs, where the router is. WiFi 6 routers address that issue because they come with multiple antennas and support beamforming technology, which helps to direct the signal to your devices more efficiently. Some WiFi 6 routers also come with mesh networking capabilities, which allow you to add additional nodes to your network to improve its range. 

It’s also important to consider the cost of a WiFi 6 router. WiFi 6 routers can be more expensive than WiFi 5 routers, so consider whether the benefits outweigh the cost.   

Basic WiFi 6 routers can start around $100, while high-end routers can cost $500 or more. The price can be higher if you’re looking for a router with advanced features like mesh networking, additional antennas, or support for multiple gigabit Ethernet ports. 

A Recap on WiFi 6 Routers

Upgrading to WiFi 6 is worth considering if you want to improve your home network. WiFi 6 will provide a more efficient and reliable wireless network for all your devices with faster speeds, improved device capacity, and better performance.    

However, before upgrading, think about the cost and compatibility with your existing devices. Additionally, it’s important to remember that the speeds you’ll be able to achieve with WiFi 6 will also depend on your ISP. 

Ultimately, the decision to upgrade to a WiFi 6 router will depend on your individual needs and circumstances. If you have numerous devices, a large home, or love gaming or streaming, a WiFi 6 router may be a good investment. 

And if you’re ready to switch to high-speed fiber internet, contact Race Communications! We offer gigabit speeds, which is more than enough to take advantage of the benefits of WiFi 6. With our fiber internet, you’ll be able to stream, download, and game faster than ever before.