Your customer’s smart home has fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) internet with speeds of 150 Megabits per second (Mbps) and they have a clear Wi-Fi signal through their Wi-Fi transparent media panel. But, is that enough to guarantee that all their connected devices are going to work at their best?

When your customers use Wi-Fi for home entertainment, smartphones, smart thermostats, coffee makers, security systems, and smart fridges, they can’t afford network latency. And they count on you to make sure it runs smoothly. That’s why it’s up to you to set them up with the right router for their needs.

Router technology is improving all of the time, and there’s a wide range of options. It’s important to understand your customers’ needs before you help them select a router. You need to assess their Wi-Fi usage as well as the layout of their home. Some of your customers might be well served by a basic router. For example, a couple who uses the internet only for Netflix and online browsing, and lives in an 800-square foot apartment, don’t need a top-end router.

Routers for large homes

Large homes may require a mesh router, which is essentially a number of small devices placed around the home to provide complete coverage. A popular mesh router is the Google system, which offers AC1200 speeds and dual-band setup. AC1200 means that the system uses the 802.11ac network standard and that the maximum bandwidth is 1200 Mbps. The 1200 represents a combination of what is available on each of the bands. In this case, the speed is 400 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 867 Mbps on the 5 GHz band.

The Netgear Orbi mesh network offers similar coverage to the Google system along with speeds of AC3000. At the upper range of mesh routers is the eero Pro Wi-Fi. The eero comes with three additional devices for placement around the home. Google has two additional devices and the Orbi offers only one. The eero pro also operates with a tri-band setup, so it features two 5GHz bands and one 2.4Ghz band.

Routers for gamers

If your customers are gamers, they will prioritize speed. For light gamers, the Asus RT-AC86U is a good option. It offers download speeds of 1734 Mbps and MU-MIMO connectivity, which means the gaming won’t slow down the entire network. The TP-Link Archer C9 has a speed rating of AC1900. At the upper end of gaming routers is the Linksys Stream EA9500, which offers speeds of AC5400 and a tri-band network setup, and device prioritization.

Device prioritization is usually handled through an app. It allows your customers to give more bandwidth to certain devices. For example, they can ensure that bandwidth is always available for the security cameras even when the kids are at home playing video games. This feature promises to be more common in future routers as households bring more devices online.

Netgear

Netgear offers a number of reliable routers. The Dual Band R2320 is a good option for your customers who are light Wi-Fi users. This router can still handle multiple devices, and it’s inexpensive. The R6700 Nighthawk is a better router that can support a dozen or more smart devices. The R2320 has an AC1200 rating; the Nighthawk has an AC1750 rating. The Nighthawk X8, at AC5000, is a good option for serious gamers. The Netgear pro gaming router has speeds of only AC2600 but features device prioritization.
Secure routers

If security is your customer’s primary concern, they should consider the Norton Core Secure router. Norton is primarily an antivirus company, and the Core Secure Router comes with Norton protection built-in. It is an AC2600 dual band router. The Linksys WRT, a tri-band AC3200 router, is among the more secure routers. It can accommodate a great deal of network use and is a great option for large families.

This is, of course, merely a sample of the available routers that are appropriate for family use. It should provide enough information, though, to help you guide your customers in selecting the best fit for their lifestyle.