Not too long ago, many households could easily get by with just a basic single-band router to allow several devices to connect to the home network. But, things have changed, and right now, it is no longer easy if not completely impossible to find a home without multiple smartphones, tablets, laptops, and gaming consoles, all of which vie for online access. If you constantly lose your wireless signal, experience choppy videos when you stream Netflix, or you need to wait for several minutes before the web pages load, there is a good chance that your router no longer keeps up with all your networking demands. This is a sure sign that a router upgrade is a necessity, and not a mere luxury.

But, if you are like most people, you probably feel a bit hesitant to shell out some of your extra cash on a brand new piece of technology. You try to convince yourself that everything works just fine, even if other people are telling you otherwise.

However, time will come when you can no longer ignore the signs that you need to upgrade your router. According to the experts, a wireless network’s average life expectancy is around 3 to 5 years. There are several tell tale signs that will let you know that the time has finally come to kiss your good old dusty router goodbye.

Signs That Your Router Needs a Replacement

Routers are usually taken for granted by many users, and the only time they bother to pay attention to these devices is when they notice a significant malfunction. But even then, it is very likely for them to consider an upgrade.

If you are starting to notice frequent symptoms of under powered router, or you can no longer get any WiFi signal in all parts of your home or office, you might to consider an upgrade. Some other indicators include the network-related congestion problems, like stuttering playback of videos and slow loading of web pages. Routers that come from ISPs are usually at risk for troubles. There is a chance that if your internet service provider is the one that supplied your router, it might not be able to meet or suit all your needs.

After some time, heat can also damage the router’s internal components, and this will explain symptoms such as slow performance or intermittent outages. You might want to consider using a small fan and point it at your router, or you can move it somewhere where there is sufficient airflow to know if it will improve the situation.

If your current router doesn’t support 802.11ac standard, it is definitely a must that you think about upgrading your router. When your present router is topping out at 802.11n or 802.11g, you will not get the range and speed you should be getting. In addition, when your wireless router is not offering dual band wireless, it is possible that some of the wireless appliances in your home are operating on a similar 2.4 GHz wireless band just like your router, which will result in a major interference.