It’s fairly obvious when it comes time for a computer upgrade. Your
system’s not as spry as it used to be. It’s starting to have trouble
doing basic things like running an Internet browser, and no amount of
software tweaking or disc cleaning seems to help.
Applications and media
files are getting larger, and you never seem to have enough space on
your hard drive…
You get the idea.
At most, a high-end
system has a lifespan of about 3-5 years before it’s time to upgrade
some of the components within, or buy a new system altogether. It’s just
the way technology works. Eventually, every gadget you’ve got is going
to be obsolete and you’ll end up buying a new one if you want to keep up
with everyone else.
Manufacturers make it fairly obvious when
it’s time to upgrade your tablet, or processor, or graphics card. A new
model hits the market. A new type of chip revolutionizes the way
computers function. A new piece of hardware won’t work with your old
motherboard.
But what about when it comes to routers? How can you tell when it’s time to upgrade your access point?
First things first, you need to pay attention to how many devices
you’re running. Your old router might not have had any trouble
whatsoever dealing with a computer or two, but now that you’re running
several PCs, a tablet, and a smartphone, well… latency should probably
be expected.
Speaking of which, there’s another sign it’s time for
an upgrade – if you’re noticing your connection seems to be slowing
down (or it’s simply not as fast as you want it to be) it might well be
time to upgrade your router.
Of course, there are a number of reasons
your connection might be slow. Maybe there’s something wrong with the
wiring in your building or neighborhood (in that case, call your service
provider and have them send someone out).
Maybe your connection’s being
throttled, or maybe it’s time to upgrade your service. You could always
try optimizing your router, as well.
Or
perhaps it’s simply time for a new router. As a general rule, even if
you’re not replacing it, you should check your hardware at least every year to two years, and upgrade every three years or so.
Same deal as with computers, really.
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