What to look for in a router
Your Wi-Fi router is a vital part of your online experience, sending and receiving traffic from your connected devices to the nbn® network.
So when was the last time you thought about what you need in a Wi-Fi router, its age, or whether it suits your needs?
What are Wi-Fi generations and why do they matter
Just like mobile networks have different generations (like 4G and 5G), so too does your Wi-Fi router. Each time a new generation is released, it makes way for faster speeds, and the potential for an enhanced experience.
An older router might only support slower Wi-Fi speeds, meaning it won’t be able to reach the higher speeds available on some nbn powered plans.
What speed does your router’s Wi-Fi generation support?
Generally, the higher the generation number, the faster the data connection. If you have a Wi-Fi 5 router or if you received your router before 2019, it might not be capable of achieving the speeds available through nbn’s higher speed tiers.
| Wi-Fi generation | Typical maximum Wi-Fi speeds | Approximate year of release |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 7 | Over 1Gbps | 2024 |
| Wi-Fi 6 | Up to 1Gbps | 2019 |
| Wi-Fi 5 | Up to 500Mbps | 2013 |
| Wi-Fi 4 | Up to 100Mbps | 2009 |
Mesh coverage: when a single router isn’t enough
A single Wi-Fi router may not provide full coverage for larger or multi-storey properties, leading to slower speeds or dropouts. A Wi-Fi mesh network can help with signal strength by connecting multiple devices called nodes (also known as 'access points’ or ‘satellite nodes’) to your Wi-Fi router, spreading the Wi-Fi signal further.
Benefits to a Wi-Fi mesh network:
- Signal coverage over larger or multi-storey properties
- Signal coverage around materials that can reduce Wi-Fi signal, like thick walls and metal panels
A Wi-Fi mesh network forms a single, streamlined network – unlike Wi-Fi extenders, an older technology that also boosts Wi-Fi signals, but which can cause dropouts by often creating separate networks (SSIDs). Available for over twenty years, Wi-Fi extenders have been surpassed in performance by Wi-Fi mesh networks.
Without a mesh network
In this illustration, the Wi-Fi signal from the Wi-Fi router is obstructed by the refrigerator and thick walls, so the signal is not optimised in all areas of the house. Some areas have weak or no signal.
With a mesh network
If you cannot relocate your Wi-Fi router, or there are objects obstructing your Wi-Fi signal, a mesh network is a good way to increase Wi-Fi coverage in areas with a weak signal.
Why your router ports matter
Your Wi-Fi router is the link between a Wide Area Network (WAN) and your Local Area Network (LAN) with specific ports for each.
The ports on your router come with various capabilities that support different speeds. Devices connected via Ethernet cable will be limited by the speed of the router port, even if the connected device and cable support higher speeds.
