Can a Router Increase Internet Speed? An In-Depth Guide

Is your internet being slow and sluggish lately? I get it, slow internet is one of life‘s biggest annoyances. As a cloud data security expert, I can‘t tell you how often I get asked if upgrading a router can boost internet speeds.

The short answer is yes, your router can play a key role in optimizing your connection speeds. But it also depends on other factors, which I‘ll explain in detail below.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dig into:

The ways a router can increase internet speed
Why your router might be slowing you down
How to test if your router‘s the problem
My top router troubleshooting tips
When it‘s time to upgrade your router
Using a VPN to bypass throttling
FAQs about routers and internet speeds

I‘ll also draw on over a decade of experience in cloud infrastructure and networking to provide extra insights from an expert perspective. My goal is to arm you with everything you need to get your internet running faster. Let‘s get started!

Can a Router Itself Increase Internet Speeds?

This is one of the most common questions I hear. And the answer is nuanced.

The maximum internet speeds your home network can reach depend on two core factors:

Your internet service plan through your provider
Your router‘s hardware capabilities

Your ISP plan sets a speed limit, essentially, on how fast your internet connectivity can be. For example, if you pay for 200 Mbps download speeds, that‘s typically the maximum you can achieve.

Your router acts as the vehicle that delivers those internet speeds throughout your home network. But not all routers are created equal.

An outdated or underpowered router can bottleneck your speeds, preventing you from getting the full capacities allotted by your plan. However, a robust, optimized router removes those bottlenecks so you can achieve speeds up to your plan‘s limit.

Think of it this way – your ISP plan is the speed limit, but your router determines how fast you can drive up to that limit.

Why Your Router May Be Slowing Your Internet Speeds

If your router is not up to par, it can hinder your internet speeds in a few key ways:

1. Outdated hardware

Modern routers use newer Wi-Fi standards like 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) that offer up to 40% faster speeds compared to old 802.11ac routers. If your router is 5+ years old, upgrading to a newer model can boost speeds.

According to a study by Ookla, Wi-Fi 6 routers increased median download speeds by 33.5% over Wi-Fi 5 routers in comparable conditions.

2. Suboptimal placement

Where you place your router impacts how well it can broadcast a signal throughout your home. Obstacles like walls and appliances weaken and interfere with signals.

An August 2022 survey found 73% of respondents experienced dead zones in their home due to poor router placement. Proper placement is key for fast and reliable whole-home coverage.

3. Too many connected devices

The 2020 lockdowns resulted in 41% of households having 10+ connected devices, according to Deloitte. A router can get overwhelmed trying to handle so many devices at once, slowing speeds.

Wi-Fi 6 routers are better equipped for heavy device loads with technologies like OFDMA, but oldest routers still struggle.

4. Outdated firmware

Firmware updates enhance your router‘s performance and security. But 50% of routers are never updated after initial setup, per Avast. Bugs and vulnerabilities in old firmware can slow speeds.

5. Network congestion

Dense housing means more neighbors‘ Wi-Fi networks potentially crowding the airwaves. Having lots of networks on the same channel can create interference and collisions resulting in sluggish speeds.

6. ISP throttling

Major ISPs are notorious for throttling speeds during peak congestion times, despite customers paying for consistent high speeds 24/7. This practice remains prevalent, impacting your speeds.

How to Test if Your Router is Slowing Down Your Internet

Before you can fix the problem, you need to confirm your router is actually the culprit behind slower speeds. Here is a simple process I recommend:

Step 1: Contact your ISP to verify the maximum download and upload speeds for your plan. This is your target speed.

Step 2: Connect your computer directly to your modem using an Ethernet cable and run a speed test at Speedtest.net. Note the results.

Step 3: Disconnect the Ethernet and connect to your Wi-Fi network. Run speed tests again in multiple locations.

Step 4: Compare the wired vs wireless results. If Wi-Fi speeds are significantly slower, your router needs optimization.

I suggest repeating these steps a couple times at different high-traffic periods, like evenings when more household devices are in use.

This helps determine if network congestion is a secondary factor compounding any router limitations. Pay attention to any times speeds seem particularly throttled as well.

If both wired and wireless speeds are consistently below your plan‘s limits, however, contact your ISP as broader network issues may be occurring.

Optimize Your Router for Faster Speeds

If you confirm your router is not delivering optimal performance, don‘t panic. There are many DIY tweaks you can implement to troubleshoot and boost speeds.

Here are my top router optimization tips for faster internet based on my years of experience:

Update Firmware

Outdated firmware is a common source of bugs and vulnerabilities that impact speeds. Log into your router‘s dashboard to check the current firmware version.

Then visit your router manufacturer‘s website and locate the newest firmware available for your model. Download and install it on your router. This painless update often provides a nice speed boost!

Change Wi-Fi Channel

Adjacent Wi-Fi networks on the same channel can interfere with one another, resulting in sluggish speeds during peak times.

Try changing your router‘s 2.4GHz channel to 1, 6 or 11, and 5GHz channel to 36-48 range. Use a Wi-Fi analyzer app to identify the least congested channel.

Enable Quality of Service (QoS)

QoS is an important feature that lets you prioritize traffic from certain devices. For example, you can give highest priority to your work laptop and gaming PC to ensure fast speeds.

With QoS, your router intelligently manages traffic so your most important devices don‘t face congestion issues from lower priority gadgets like smart home equipment.

Relocate Your Router

Where you place your router significantly impacts signal strength. The ideal location is in a central, open area of your home elevated up high to broadcast most efficiently.

Avoid corners, cramped spaces, or being buried behind furniture. Also keep it far from appliances like microwaves that emit interference.

Add Range Extenders

Do you have any Wi-Fi dead zones in parts of your home limiting speeds? Strategically adding extenders or mesh satellites can help fill coverage gaps.

Tri-band models provide extra 5GHz bands for faster backhaul communication to your main router compared to dual-band extenders.

Switch Wi-Fi Bands

Dual-band routers broadcast both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. Assign devices that need high performance like gaming PCs to the 5GHz band for faster speeds.

Reserve 2.4GHz for smart home gadgets and mobile devices that don‘t need top speed. Separating high and lower bandwidth devices prevents congestion.

Disconnect Extra Devices

Review all devices connected to your network and disconnect any that aren‘t actively being used. Things like older smart speakers or IoT gadgets just add to the congestion unnecessarily if they aren‘t performing useful functions.

Upgrade Your Router

If your router is over 5 years old or cannot deliver speeds beyond 300 Mbps, it may be time for an upgrade. Look for a model capable of handling your current ISP speeds with room to grow.

Key features to look for include Wi-Fi 6, MU-MIMO, QoS, mesh capabilities, and strong amplifiers. This ensures your router won‘t become the bottleneck.

When Is It Time to Upgrade Your Router?

With technology constantly evolving, when is it truly necessary to retire your router and get a new one? Here are the signs to watch for:

Your current router is more than 5 years old. The typical lifespan of a consumer router is 3-5 years before requiring replacement. The hardware is likely outdated at this point.
It does not support modern Wi-Fi standards beyond 802.11ac. To achieve gigabit speeds, you ideally need a Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) router capable of handling the extra throughput.
Your router‘s maximum speeds are lower than your ISP plan‘s speeds. For example, your plan may be 1Gbps but your router caps at 300Mbps. This means you are leaving lots of speed potential untapped.
You experience frequent disconnections or need to power cycle the router to restore connectivity. This indicates failing hardware.
There are dead zones in parts of your home where the signal cannot reach, limiting speeds in those areas.
You need additional capabilities like MU-MIMO simultaneous streaming or mesh system whole home coverage.

Using these criteria, if your router is not up to meeting both your current and future speed needs, upgrading is strongly advised.

Should I Use a VPN to Increase Speeds?

Frustrated by ISP throttling limiting your speeds at peak times? A virtual private network (VPN) is one clever way to work around this issue.

Here is how it works:

A VPN encrypts all traffic exiting your network so your ISP cannot actually see what kind of content you are accessing. This hides any activity like streaming video or downloading files typically targeted for throttling.

The VPN allows you to bypass imposed throttling and maintain full speeds at all times of day. It essentially tricks your ISP into thinking you are only doing generic web browsing.

Most quality VPN providers offer router installation guides. For the best speeds, I recommend using ExpressVPN or NordVPN. A VPN-enabled router protects all devices connected to your home network.

Reader FAQs About Routers and Internet Speeds

Here I‘ve compiled common questions about routers, internet speeds, and how they interact:

Can a new router increase my internet speeds?

Yes, upgrading from an outdated model to a newer, faster router can certainly increase your internet speeds, especially over Wi-Fi. Just be sure your internet plan subscription is fast enough to take full advantage of your new hardware.

If I get a better router will my internet speed increase?

Higher-end routers with robust hardware typically enable faster multi-device performance. But the speed potential still depends primarily on your ISP package. A premium router ensures your network can achieve and handle the full speeds of higher tier plans as you upgrade.

How do I choose the best router for faster speeds?

Look for key features like Wi-Fi 6 support, quality of service controls, MU-MIMO simultaneous streaming, range extending amplifiers or mesh capabilities, mobile app management, and robust processor specs. Pay attention to the maximum speeds the router can deliver to ensure it surpasses your ISP‘s speeds.

Will getting a new router improve my slow internet?

If the root cause of your slow internet is an old, outdated router, then yes – upgrading to new, faster hardware should help improve speeds. But if your ISP plan‘s speeds are simply too slow, then a router upgrade alone won‘t resolve the issue. You‘ll need to pay for increased speeds.

Does your modem affect internet speeds?

Yes, an outdated modem can also be a bottleneck limiting your overall internet speeds. Most ISPs allow customers to purchase their own modem to avoid rental fees. Just ensure any modem you buy is compatible with your ISP and internet plan speed tier. Also check that it supports modern technologies like DOCSIS 3.1

I hope this helps provide some useful insight into how routers relate to internet speeds! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Let‘s Summarize…

While your router won‘t inherently make your internet faster than what your ISP plan provides, it plays a crucial role in eliminating bottlenecks between your modem and devices.

An optimized router gets you closer to experiencing your plan‘s full speed potential across all your connected gadgets. Follow the tips above to troubleshoot router issues hindering your network performance.

Consider upgrading your hardware if your router is outdated or underpowered for your current speeds. Adding a VPN is one trick to bypass ISP throttling for faster speeds during peak congestion times as well.

At the end of the day, internet speed relies on two pillars working in harmony – your ISP‘s network capacity and your home network environment. Give both equal attention and your online experiences will benefit.

I hope this detailed guide gives you the complete picture and helpful advice on maximizing your router for faster internet speeds! Let me know if you have any other questions.