Routers

A router is the center of your internet network that serves as the point of contact for all your connected devices. If you use the internet frequently at home, it’s important to have a router that will be powerful enough to reliably support multiple devices, like smartphones and computers, that could be in use at the same time by different people. If it’s been a few years since you last bought a router, or if you’ve been having a problem with your internet and need to find Wi-Fi solutions, Best Buy has all the equipment you need to secure a strong signal, as well as Wi-Fi network tips and tricks to help troubleshoot the issue. After all, router technology has been constantly improving over the years to provide faster speeds. A perfect example of this is a wireless router, which connects to your modem, rather than a desktop PC. This is ideal if you primarily use a laptop that isn’t always at your desk hooked up to multiple accessories.

People are working from home more frequently, which makes the need to have a fast internet connection important for transferring data. It helps to have a router specifically designed to improve internet speed, stability, and flexibility. For example, a dual-band router can better manage the two different rates of data inputs — 2.4GHz and 5GHz — because they are each traveling on their own dedicated band. This leads to less interference and connection issues overall. If your cable and internet are provided by the same company, you might want to opt for a modem router that combines two essential devices in one. This joint configuration is also great if you don’t want to mess with extra equipment on your computer desk. Plus, buying one device instead of two saves you money. Wi-Fi routers in larger houses, or those built with certain materials such as stucco, might have trouble dispersing the Wi-Fi signal to every room. If this is the case, a mesh Wi-Fi system that places multiple mesh routers in different spots in your home is your best bet for ensuring the same high-quality signal no matter where you are. A lot of people prefer this portable Wi-Fi router option because they can move them whenever they need a change in scenery throughout the day, even if that’s outside on the deck catching some rays while they finish up a meeting presentation deck.

Once you decide on the best Wi-Fi router for your networking needs, you’ll need to make sure it’s set up properly. An Ethernet cable is needed to connect the router to your internet service provider (ISP). You’ll need one of these even if you bought a network router with a built-in Ethernet switch. With these products you can connect various devices, such as printers, into the multiple USB ports, that will also need to access Wi-Fi for wireless data transfers. If, after a few weeks, you notice that connections are being dropped as you move away from your router, you might benefit from having a Wi-Fi extender for an extra boost to the signal’s range. Any time you have a question about your home’s Wi-Fi network or any other tech needs, just reach out to our Geek Squad® and they’ll be more than happy to assist you. Whether you’re looking for the best router for your home office or a top gaming router for playing video games, Best Buy has a wide variety to choose from in our stores and on our website.