If you find yourself stuck in the Internet slow lane, your Internet service provider may not be to blame—the problem just might be your router. As the device that turns wired Internet into the Wi-Fi network that connects your laptops, desktops and other gadgets, routers are the key to a smooth online experience. Advances in router technology have created a wide range of high-tech routers specially designed to meet the individual needs of all sorts of Internet users, from professionals and web-surfers to gamers and movie-watchers. Faster connections, better streaming video, lag-free Facetime and Skype chatting, system monitoring capabilities, and direct access to cloud storage are just some of the features that accelerate your Internet experience. If your current equipment is slowing you down, here are three reasons why it’s time to think about moving to a next-generation router:
1) ISP-issued routers can slow your Internet access
Internet service providers (ISPs) often offer a router or modem-router combo when initiating a contract. If you signed up for your Internet service a while ago and haven’t updated your device, you may find yourself using a router that’s several generations behind the technological curve. Even if your ISP-provided router is newer, you may find that a higher-capability or more specialized router better suits your preferences and habits. If you’re still using the equipment that came from your ISP, take a look at D-Link’s selection of state-of-the-art routers to see if a newer router more closely fits your needs.
2) Older routers aren’t built to accommodate all of your devices
There was a time not so long ago when you’d buy a router just to connect your laptop wirelessly to the Internet. But today, with smart phones, tablets, smart TVs, and media and storage devices spread across the whole family, most households have tons of devices to link up. Equipment designed for the age of the single laptop just doesn’t fit the more-connected present, and an old router may be holding your devices back. Consider a router with Gigabit Ethernet for faster wired connections, built-in Wi-Fi amplifiers or beamforming technologies for improved coverage, or dual-band technology to make your network more robust and take your devices to a whole new level of connectivity using the faster and less congested wireless 5GHz frequency.
3) Next-generation routers can best fit your individual needs
Older routers are like single-speed bikes—they’re built to do just one thing, no matter the rider or terrain. Today’s high-tech 11AC routers are very different. Overflowing with specialized capabilities, they let consumers pick the features that best fit their preferences and habits.
Love to stream media? A dual-band router with built-in amplifier capabilities, like the DIR-868L, will keep your movies buffer-free, your music crisp, and your video calls clear. Are you a passionate gamer? Then D-Link’s DGL-5500 Gaming Router with ultra-fast speeds and StreamBoost intelligent bandwidth allocation is for you. The DGL-5500 automatically manages your Internet bandwidth and detects devices and apps to prioritize real-time traffic over downloads or streaming so that you can keep playing hard without interruption. Want to connect directly to cloud storage? Or monitor your network to keep tabs on the office or protect your kids? Then the DIR-850L, with its innovative range of mydlink cloud services, will keep you connected. No matter your preferences, D-Link’s line of state-of-the-art routers let you balance price, efficiency, speed, and functionality in the way that best suits your individual needs. So head online and take a look at the full range of D-Link’s revolutionary routers. Then merge into the fast lane and start enjoying the benefits of a router built for you.