IF your Wi-Fi router is slow, there’s a hidden number you should look for.
Experts at the tech giant Intel have revealed how certain routers give a much better experience.
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A section on the Intel website explains the best ways to increase Wi-Fi speed.
The experts said: “For the best wireless experience, consider a new wireless router and PC that supports the 5 GHz 802.11ax standard (Wi-Fi 6) with the latest Intel® Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) technology.”
A router that says 802.11ax (or Wi-Fi 6) means it’s likely quite new and should be offering you a good service.
Lots of brands, including Intel, offer this kind of technology.
You can check your router or its box for that number to see how up-to-date your device is.
Wi-Fi 6 compatible routers offer a max speed of around 9.6 Gbps.
In comparison, Wi-Fi 5 only offers around 3.5 Gbps.
The figure 802.11ac also stands for Wi-Fi 5.
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It isn’t necessarily a bad sign if you have this kind of router and means you have one that’s still widely available.
It can be a bad sign if you see the figure 802.11a/b/g on your router.
That likely means the device is very old and needs replacing.
Generally, those routers only offer a single frequency, which means it will be slower and prone to congestion.
Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 routers offer 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies that you can choose between.
If you see a different number on your router, a quick online search should reveal where your device stands on the scale.
