The answer is “Yes” However, if you're using a wireless network with an older standard and want to connect devices that support WiFi 6, then it's worth upgrading your router so those devices can get the fastest speeds possible.
Upgrading to a router with a stronger signal or a mesh Wi-Fi system can significantly improve coverage, ensuring consistent and reliable Wi-Fi access throughout your home.
A second router can extend your internet signal and capacity and solve many of your home WiFi issues. This includes dead zones and patchy connections. However, using two routers can lead to signal interference. You will also experience a loss of connection as you transition between the two devices.
As mentioned in this article, WiFi 6 offers faster maximum theoretical speeds, with data rates of up to 9.6 Gbps, 25% faster than WiFi 5. At the same time, WiFi 6 operates with up to 75% less latency than WiFi 5. This is massively beneficial and is probably why many users upgrade their setup to WiFi 6.
In general, experts recommend swapping your router every five years at a minimum. Make that every two to three years if you use lots of smart home gadgets, or if you make a regular habit of buying the latest laptops, phones and other primary Wi-Fi devices.
Will a more expensive router make my internet faster?
Your home network's internet speed is ultimately determined by the plan you have with your internet provider, so even the fanciest, most high-tech router on the market will not be able to make your internet go faster than your plan allows.
In fact, it's the best Wi-Fi standard for at least the next five years, possibly longer. The gist is that, practically, it's now an excellent time to invest in the best top-tier Wi-Fi 6 hardware you can find—either a standalone router or a mesh system with wired backhauling.
For instance, Wi-Fi 6 signals passing via brick walls will lose more strength than signals transmitted through glass surfaces. Wi-Fi 6 can also penetrate drywall, gypsum, and wood efficiently. The wall thickness is also one of the main factors affecting the Wi-Fi 6 signals.
Mostly, you need to know that older devices will not enjoy all of the maximum benefits possible with Wi-Fi 6. Generally speaking, older devices won't run as fast or efficiently. In fact, there are four specific Wi-Fi 6 advantages that will be diminished or entirely missing from older devices on the network.
Whether marketed as wireless extenders, repeaters or signal boosters, they are all devices that claim to increase wireless signal range. Most people buy them as a cheap and easy way to boost the signal from their router. They work fine in some environments, but are certainly not a guaranteed fix for all.
Does adding a second router slow down internet speed?
For the average user or even for most business applications, the delay caused by an additional router is imperceptible. Internet activities, whether they involve browsing, streaming, or data transfer, are unlikely to be noticeably affected by this microscopic increase in latency.
Your internet provider could be throttling your speeds, your plan might be too slow for all devices using it or your router may be in the wrong spot. Sometimes the culprit is outdated hardware. In general, experts recommend swapping your router every five years at a minimum.
Generally, a new router will improve the range of your Wi-Fi. Advances such as Wi-Fi 6 and mesh systems offer a greater Wi-Fi range, but you'll likely see a noticeable improvement if you upgrade from Wi-Fi 4 to a Wi-Fi 5 router as well.
Most exciting and noteworthy, WiFi 7 will be much faster than WiFi 6. For the same WiFi radio configuration, the speeds will be 2.4x faster. So, maximum speeds with a typical mobile phone with WiFi 7 can reach up to 5Gbps.
With more WiFi 6 devices hitting the market, users can expect a superior wireless experience. Still, the high cost of WiFi 6 routers and limited compatibility with older devices are drawbacks that need consideration before upgrading.
Is there a noticeable difference between WiFi 5 and 6?
Wi-Fi 5 uses downlink MU-MIMO, while Wi-Fi 6 supports bidirectional MU-MIMO for both uplink and downlink capabilities. Wi-Fi 6 enables multiple users to upload and download data simultaneously, and Wi-Fi 5 can't. Wi-Fi 6's MU-MIMO capabilities are part of its promises to enhance speed.
Performance: Wi-Fi 7 offers substantial speed, capacity, and latency improvements over previous generations. If your current network is slow or congested, upgrading could provide a noticeable boost in performance.
If you are currently using Wi-Fi 5 or older technology, upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 could be a significant improvement due to its increased efficiency and capacity. However, Wi-Fi 6E takes this a step further by adding access to the 6 GHz band, offering even less congestion, higher speeds, and greater reliability for devices.
The short answer is likely "yes" if your current router is more than three years old. Nearly all new consumer devices, from notebooks to tablets, support Wi-Fi 6. Even if your devices are still operating on 802.11ac, it's worth the trouble to consider a Wi-Fi 6 router upgrade now.
A new router can provide more reliable and stable connections, with less buffering and fewer dropped connections. This is because newer routers often feature improved hardware and software, such as faster processors and more memory, which can help reduce network congestion and improve performance.
Can I extend WiFi range with another router? Yes, you can extend the range of your WiFi with another router, either by connecting the two routers together using an Ethernet cable or by setting up the new router to function as a Wi-Fi range extender.
Without contacting your ISP, you can replace your WiFi router. You must contact your ISP to have them register the new cable modem, though, if you plan to replace the current cable modem.
