technology
Home Office Small Office
Star quality
D-Link DIR-890L - Wireless AC3200 Ultra Performance WiFi Router, £254.99, www.ebuyer.com ot only does this look like a spaceship from Star Trek but, like the show, it’s got forward-thinking technology too. This is ideal for the smart home - a place where anything and everything requires Wi-Fi, it even comes with smart connect technology. What this means is that with three bands available, it will detect which one is most suited to the device connecting to it. So, you’ll always have the clearest band (and fast connection) whether you’re gaming or simply browsing the web on your phone. There’s six antennas, so you’ll have great coverage in the home, and although it costs a fair amount, it really is the bee’s-knees.
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Need for speed
NETGEAR Nighthawk X4S R7800 Wireless Modem Router, £222.99, www.pcworld.co.uk ith speeds of up to 2.53gbps, this is a router for the serious gamer or streamer - or a house which includes both. Because it sends data to multiple devices at the same time, you can easily stream a film in one room while someone else plays an online game in another. That aside, this Netgear device is a good option for families as there’s easy to programme parental controls.
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ASUS 900 Mbps Dual Band Wireless N Router, currently priced £84.99, www.amazon.co.uk hat’s great about this spiky looking device is just how smoothly it runs. From the feel of it to setting it up (it’s a doddle on your phone/tablet/pc) and then the ease of using it - it’s just so straightforward. It provides good connectivity even if rooms in your home are divided by super-thick brick walls and it’s more than capable of streaming HD content, as well as ensuring there are no lags when you’re gaming (online).
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LAN’d ahoy! Simply does it
Belkin Play Wireless Modem Router, £29.99, www.currys.co.uk f you’re looking for a router that will do a good job at a good price, this is the one for you. Granted it doesn’t come with loads of extras, but if you’re not gaming or streaming 4k content 24 hours a day, it will be more than sufficient. It’s easy to set up and most importantly is a stable device that you won’t have to check in on all the time. Oh and yes, we know appearances aren’t everything, but it is one of the prettier routers out there!
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APP OF THE month 76
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A touch of class
TP-Link Touch P5 AC 1900 Touch Screen Wi-Fi Gigabit Router, £129.99, www. maplin.co.uk his may sound a bit nerdy, but it really has to be said: The TP-Link Touch P5 is a thing of beauty. Who needs a clunky old box when you can have this masterpiece?! The touch screen makes the setting up of this router simple and, when we gave it a go, it was up and running within a couple of minutes. It offers a solid 10,000 square feet of coverage and is powerful enough to watch that HD films without even a hint of that annoying ‘buffering’ wheel.
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TP-LINK Archer VR900 AC 1900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit VDSL2/ ADSL2+ Modem Router for Phone Line Connections - White, £124.58, www.amazon.co.uk nother goodie if you’re using multiple devices at the same time, this router will help you get the most out of your broadband speeds. Connect your devices directly to the LAN ports and you’ll really see the difference in speeds - a major selling point if you’re gaming and struggling with lags. On top of that there’s 1 USB 3.0 port and 1.1 port and three antennas which give a great Wi-Fi range.
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Fing - Network his is a comprehensive app that will help you get the Scanner most out of your Wi-Fi network. It will scan and quickly FREE show which devices are connected to your network and alert you to intruders trying to get a piece of the action! It also helps if you’re having network issues. ON THE AGENDA