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A poor internet connection directly impacts our productivity and fun. While various factors can slow down your internet, one reason is that your outdated router can’t keep up with modern demands. Here are several signs that suggest it’s time for a router upgrade.
1Reduced Speed and Frequent Connection Drops
Reduced internet speeds and frequent disconnections are clear signs that you need to upgrade your router, especially iftypical troubleshooting steps to speed it updon’t help. If your once-fast connection now struggles to load web pages, streaming buffers more frequently, gaming sessions, or online meetings are often interrupted, your old router could be the issue.
As you add more devices to your network and their technology advances, your old router may lack the processing power and memory needed to handle the increased demand, leading to slower speeds and frequent connection drops. This is particularly true if your router uses an older Wi-Fi version.
Upgrading to a router with better specs ensures your network can handle higher speeds, provide consistent connectivity, and support the growing number of devices in your home.
The range and signal strength of older routers can deteriorate over time, resulting in weak connection areas or dead zones in your home. Awireless dead zoneis a spot where the Wi-Fi signal is weak or nonexistent. You’re more likely to have frequent disconnections and slower speeds in those regions.
If you’ve recently expanded your home or moved to a larger house and your old router fails to provide coverage throughout, upgrade to a router that meets your new demands and covers more area. When upgrading your router, choose one based on the size of your new home and the area you want to cover.
You should also opt for a router with multiple antennas to ensure wider coverage, a strong and stable connection, and the ability to manage numerous devices effectively.
3Can’t Provide the Speed You’re Paying For
Older routers don’t supportthe latest Wi-Fi standardsand lack the necessary hardware to achieve higher speeds. If you have upgraded or are planning to upgrade to a faster internet plan but your router won’t be able to deliver the maximum internet speed provided by your ISP, you have no choice but to upgrade your router.
Otherwise, your connection speed will be capped to your router’s maximum speed. For example, if your router can deliver a speed up to 100Mbps but your internet plan offers more than that, youwon’t get speeds higher than 100Mbps. Upgrading to a router that supports Wi-Fi 5, 6, 6E, or 7 will ensure you can take advantage of the speed you are paying for.
4It No Longer Receives Firmware Updates
Keeping your router up to date with firmware updates is essential for maintaining a secure, efficient, and reliable home network. If your router no longer supports or receives firmware updates from the manufacturer, that’s another solid reason to upgrade it.
Without regular firmware updates, your router becomes vulnerable to security risks, making your privacy susceptible to exploitation. You will also likely encounter bugs and glitches affecting your router’s performance, and you won’t have access to new features.
In summary, lacking firmware updates not only leads to poor performance but also increases your vulnerability to online threats. So, get a router with hardware that meets your ISP’s requirements and continues toreceivenew firmware updates.
5Overheats, Almost Like It’s on Fire
If your router feels excessively hot to the touch, almost like it’s on fire, you should place it in a well-ventilated area, elevate it off the ground, and clean its vents. If these steps don’t help, the overheating could indicate several other issues.
With an increase in the number of devices, your router might be working harder to manage data traffic, internal wear and tear might have degraded it, or the cooling mechanism might not function efficiently due to a temporary blockage or a permanent issue.
Overheating can cause sudden shutdowns, frequent reboots, and dropped connections. An overheated router is more likely to throttle its performance, resulting in persistent issues and unstable speeds.
Upgrading to a new router with advanced cooling systems will ensure better thermal management, providing a stable and reliable connection with fewer reboots and slowdowns.
6Missing Advanced Features
If your router lacksadvanced featuressuch as beamforming, MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output), and mesh networking, it’s another reason to consider upgrading your router.Upgrading so you can use the latest security protocols, like WPA3, is also useful.
Where MU-MIMO allows multiple devices to receive data simultaneously, reducing wait times by transmitting data efficiently, beamforming improves signal strength by focusing the broadcast directly toward devices rather than in all directions. QoS prioritizes critical applications like online gaming to ensure they receive sufficient bandwidth over less critical tasks.
Likewise, advanced security protocols provide improved encryption and protection against cyber threats, and mesh networking extends Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home using multiple nodes and eliminates dead zones. So, if you’re missing out on these features, upgrading your router should be a priority.
7Your Router Is More Than 10 Years Old
While your old router may still work for a few more years, using an aging model could limit your ability to maximize the performance potential offered by your internet service provider.
The issues mentioned above are more common in routers over ten years old, typically theaverage maximum lifespan of a router. Such routers may not support the latest standards, their internal components may be worn out, they might lack advanced features, or they could be missing the security protocols that ensure a secure connection.
Similarly, if your children have grown older since you first purchased the router, you might now find features like parental control useful in your new router. If you’ve moved homes and are experiencing dead zones with the same router, or if you believe that age-related issues are affecting its performance and security, it’s definitely time to consider upgrading to a new one.
