Streaming movies, listening to online music services, sharing files between work and home and completing school assignments are only a few of the ways high-speed broadband can make life better.

A weak or out-of-date Wi-Fi router can turn fun and productivity into frustration and irritation. 

A Wi-Fi router makes it possible to wirelessly connect the internet to computers, smartphones, televisions, game consoles and more. But it’s important to realize all routers are not the same – far from it.

For the best home Wi-Fi experience, the choice of router is critical. Make sure you choose the best one for your home.  – Wes Hohn, Central Office Technician at NHTC

“Buying the wrong router can mean you do not have access to the full speeds available through a service such as New Hope’s high-speed Internet,” says Wes Hohn, central office technician at NHTC.

NHTC’s fiber-to-the-home internet service is designed to keep a home’s internet moving fast. “The router you choose will impact Wi-Fi coverage and connections throughout your home,” Hohn says.

Compared to the low-cost routers such as those typically found in big-box stores, Comtrend routers are built for performance. Comtrend routers used by NHTC are capable of handling Gigabit speeds. For comparison, the common Netgear N300 Wi-Fi router can handle speeds no faster than 300 Mbps.

There are other key differences between a Comtrend router and lower-performing routers. Comtrend routers rely on the latest technology, such as the ability to broadcast at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. That means the Comtrend routers can transmit for longer distances and with less interference from other devices in the home than routers using older standards. For example, many discount routers offer only 2.4 GHz, limiting their usefulness.

Comtrend can be configured to match the performance a customer needs. And after the installation, the team at New Hope Telephone can maintain and troubleshoot any issues that may arise down the road. “For the best home Wi-Fi experience, the choice of router is critical,” Hohn says. “Make sure you choose the best one for your home.”

Some factors that may affect wireless internet speeds include:

• Placing your wireless router centrally in your home – doing so will help to maximize coverage and speed throughout the house.
• Remembering to check your device manual for maximum speed and Wi-Fi technology – each wireless device has different speed capabilities.
• Distance between your router and your device.
• Other wireless devices – these may cause interference.
• Number of walls or obstacles between the router and your device.