While more expensive than single-band routers, dual-band routers are ideal for modern homes that require multiple devices to be connected simultaneously.
The dual-band routers switch between the two bands on the fly, as per the requirements of the devices connected. The dual-band routers here all use the Wi-Fi 5 communication standard, this is not the latest specification, but the most common at the moment. Wi-Fi 5 is an easy to understand specification used by manufacturers to represent the IEEE 802.11ac standard. There is only a handful of next-generation Wi-Fi 6 (or 802.11ax) routers available in the market at the moment, and all of these are incredibly expensive. There is no need to look at the range in this price point and segment really, as the specification itself addresses the range, which is about 35m. Do note that if you are still using some really old devices, then they might not be compatible with the Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) standard.
The Netgear R6080 is ridiculously easy to set up and offers almost plug and play functionality. The security offerings are also great, with easy options to set up parental lock to restrict the online activities of children, as well as a guest network that automatically directs new devices to a sandboxed access point. All of this is possible through the Netgear Nighthawk app, which can be installed on the smartphone. The router can also be controlled remotely, which is a plus point. On the back are five ethernet ports, 1 WAN and 4 LAN. The great thing about this product is that you do not have to worry about legacy equipment, as the router is backwards compatible with most older wireless networking standards. The product also comes with a one-year hardware warranty.
The TP-Link Archer C6 has a number of features geared towards increased coverage. First off, there are four antennas on the body. Then, the 2.4GHz band is used effectively to penetrate through more walls and eliminate Wi-Fi “dead zones”, or locations in the house where the coverage drops. The 5GHz band provides high-speed connectivity to nearby devices. Additionally, the router uses MU-MIMO technology to simultaneously communicate with multiple devices, so if one device is streaming while another is engaged in a multiplayer game, neither of the devices encounter any stuttering or lag. One of the nifty little features of this model is the ability to simply link it up to the router provided by your ISP, and use it as an access point, to increase coverage and take advantage of all the extra features on the router. The router can be micromanaged through the TP-Link Tether application, which also allows for easy setup and customisation.
One of the standout tweaks of this particular router is the allocation of bandwidth to the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. While most routers offer only around 200Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, ASUS goes all the way to 400Mbps, which means that even the devices towards the edges of the house, and many rooms away can experience high speeds. This is a tried and tested model, that has been around for six years, but that does not mean that it is outdated. The EZ Switch option allows users to use the router as an access point or a Wi-Fi range extender as well. The standout aspect of this model is all the kinds of features available to track and monitor network usage. Users can get a network map of all connected devices, and monitor traffic in real-time. Users can also set up their own quality of service options, such as prioritise streaming services over downloads, using the router itself. It is also possible to block particular keywords or URLs. The network can also be controlled from anywhere through the ASUS Router application.
This router has a lot going for it. There are four antennas, which use both MU-MIMO as well as beamforming technologies to optimise the signal strength for each individual device. The setup for this device is also incredibly easy, with the option of simply importing the settings from your ISP provided router, without having to know the settings or even the password. There are four encryption modes available for security, as well as the ability to whitelist and blacklist individual websites. The Tenda AC5 AC1200 can easily change its purpose depending on the use case. While it can be used as a router, extender and access point, it can also be used in the WISP mode, where the router is both the WAN port and the access point, with a single IP address. The settings can be managed through the Tenda WiFi app. Another thoughtful feature is a night mode, which subdues the LED lights according to a preset timetable, so your sleep is not disturbed by little blinking lights in the dark.