Most people think of their modem as that “little grey box” that helps you get onto the internet.<\/p>\n
With so many available options and South Africa’s continuous shift to faster FTTH, VDSL and ADSL speeds, we looked at what you first need to consider when buying a new router:<\/p>\n
Note this is only a guideline and should not be taken as wholly applicable\u00a0to\u00a0your specific networking setup.<\/strong><\/p>\n Making sure your device is secure is vitally important – not only so that nobody can gain malicious access to your private files, but also so your neighbour doesn’t “accidentally” burn through your cap.<\/p>\n Here is a brief run-through of the most popular encryption methods and what they mean:<\/p>\n In short, make sure your router supports at least WPA2 with AES.<\/p>\n It is important to first research whether your router supports the 802.11G<\/strong> or 802.11N<\/strong> standards.<\/p>\n Some devices (especially older ones) may have a greatly reduced transfer speed when connected to an unsupported standard, or otherwise refuse to work outright.<\/p>\n Conversely, if you have a newer device that supports 802.11ac, you won\u2019t get the benefits of the improved standard if your routers doesn\u2019t support it too.<\/p>\n This compatibility also extends to the encryption being used, as some devices do not support specific encryption types.<\/p>\n While South African internet speeds are constantly improving, very few will surpass the 600 Mbps theoretical limit provided by most modern routers.<\/p>\n However, you should consider the frequency band being used (5GHz<\/strong> vs 2.4GHZ<\/strong>), not only for compatibility reasons (which will affect speed), but because 5GHz emits a weaker signal across longer distances.<\/p>\n While 5GHz doesn\u2019t create as big a hotspot, or offer as good penetration through walls, it is a much larger band with much fewer devices and routers operating in it currently, which usually means less noise\/interference.<\/p>\n If you have devices that support 5GHz such as newer, more expensive phones and laptops, you might want to consider getting a router that supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz.<\/p>\n Routers can be a somewhat unexpected cost for consumers who just want to get their internet up and running.<\/p>\n While the temptation to jump at the cheapest option may be high, rather evaluate your options and consider factors like warranty and support, build quality, and the above-mentioned factors before making a purchase.<\/p>\n Several ISPs also offer a free router with installation upon purchase of a new FTTH or ADSL contract, or even when upgrading to a faster line.<\/p>\n The convenience of having this free router installed for you (and after running through the above “checklist”) cannot be overlooked, especially for the less tech-savvy consumer.<\/p>\n You can check out some of our recommendations<\/strong> below:<\/p>\n
\nSecurity<\/h3>\n
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\nCompatibility<\/h3>\n
\nFrequency Bands<\/h3>\n
\nPrice<\/h3>\n