{"video_id":"lgKbwDIsg7Q","title":"Basic Wireless Router Buyer's Guide as Fast As Possible","channel":"Techquickie","show":"Techquickie","published_at":"2014-05-07T14:58:16Z","duration_s":239,"segments":[{"start_s":2.24,"end_s":8.8,"text":"This is either a sneeze, a word you use when you want to confuse the sales rep","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":6.48,"end_s":12.32,"text":"at the local Best Buy, or it's all the different kinds of wireless you can get","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":10.24,"end_s":15.759,"text":"for your devices. Probably that last one. Let's start with this. Wireless","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":14.24,"end_s":19.6,"text":"standards are mostly backwards compatible. So, while you might have a","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":17.359,"end_s":24.56,"text":"laptop with wireless and 300 megabit and a smartphone like the HTC1 with wireless","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":21.76,"end_s":27.439,"text":"AC, your AC router or your N router will work with both devices. So, if you don't","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":26.16,"end_s":31.039,"text":"feel like watching the rest of this video, just go buy a router with good","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":29.439,"end_s":35.2,"text":"reviews on Amazon.com and you'll be fine. If you do want to learn more,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":33.12,"end_s":39.44,"text":"first up is speedgrade standards. These start with","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":36.36,"end_s":41.12,"text":"802.11 and a suffix. Often a speed","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":39.44,"end_s":45.44,"text":"number is thrown in by the manufacturer, and you might see something about","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":42.64,"end_s":49.12,"text":"concurrent dual band, which amounts to a theoretical doubling of the speed","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":47.28,"end_s":53.76,"text":"normally associated with that standard. However, you will only realize that","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":51.44,"end_s":58.16,"text":"performance benefit with devices that also support concurrent dual band. These","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":56.16,"end_s":61.28,"text":"speed numbers don't really represent what you'll see in the real world,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":59.359,"end_s":65.68,"text":"though. Wireless is subject to protocol overhead and performance reductions","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":63.6,"end_s":69.84,"text":"caused by distance, obstacles, and interference. In fact, sometimes","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":68.0,"end_s":74.0,"text":"reducing these factors can do more for performance than buying better gear at","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":71.84,"end_s":78.72,"text":"all. Now, with that said, a dualband router can help even if you're not able","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":76.4,"end_s":83.28,"text":"to use concurrent dual band. Because if you have 5 GHz capable devices, 5 GHz","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":81.68,"end_s":87.28,"text":"signals are less susceptible to interference from cordless phones,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":84.72,"end_s":93.119,"text":"microwave ovens, etc. So, while maximum range is actually slightly reduced at 5","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":90.08,"end_s":95.04,"text":"GHz, signal integrity can be better.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":93.119,"end_s":100.079,"text":"Third party firmware compatibility is another big selling point. DDWRT is an","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":98.159,"end_s":104.72,"text":"example of a firmware that can unlock additional, sometimes enterprise or","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":102.56,"end_s":108.479,"text":"prograde features on your router. Check if your router is compatible on their","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":106.64,"end_s":111.92,"text":"website before buying if you want to tinker with it. Some router","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":110.079,"end_s":116.159,"text":"manufacturers, however, will avoid your warranty for flashing unofficial","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":113.439,"end_s":120.399,"text":"firmwares. So, watch out for that. QoS or quality of service systems such as","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":118.24,"end_s":125.04,"text":"WD's automated FastTrack Plus or Lynxys's manually configured options can","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":122.88,"end_s":129.52,"text":"allow you to prioritize certain PCs, applications, or even types of network","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":126.96,"end_s":134.08,"text":"traffic such as video streaming, voice clients, or gaming over others, which","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":132.16,"end_s":138.319,"text":"can be very handy for multi-PC households. Many routers also have USB","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":136.56,"end_s":143.2,"text":"ports, so you can add a hard drive to them for centralized file storage or PC","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":140.8,"end_s":148.72,"text":"backups. It's no substitute for a real NAS, but it's better than nothing a lot","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":145.04,"end_s":150.4,"text":"of the time. And don't forget about the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":148.72,"end_s":154.16,"text":"wired connections on your router. Honestly, this should be what you're","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":152.16,"end_s":158.64,"text":"using for anything that isn't a tablet, smartphone, or ultrabook. Find a way to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":156.48,"end_s":163.36,"text":"get gigabit, even if it means spending a couple more bucks. Unless your PC is","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":160.879,"end_s":167.64,"text":"very old, it will support gigabit, which is 10 times faster than 1000 for","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":165.44,"end_s":172.8,"text":"transferring files in the real world and usually many times faster than wireless","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":170.8,"end_s":176.239,"text":"because of that interference malarkey I was talking about before. Last step,","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":174.959,"end_s":182.4,"text":"well, this is just the first step. Again, after you decide what features you need, go to a trusted retailer","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":179.76,"end_s":187.519,"text":"website and read user reviews. We personally love the EA4500 from Lynxys","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":184.8,"end_s":190.879,"text":"and we're moving to an EA6500 soon for wireless AC support. But everyone's","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":189.36,"end_s":194.64,"text":"experience may be a bit different and even from a trusted company, I usually","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":192.959,"end_s":197.599,"text":"won't buy a router unless I hear a few solid testimonials. Speaking of","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":196.4,"end_s":203.44,"text":"testimonials, here's one for audible.com. Go to audible.com/techquicking. Get a free","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":200.879,"end_s":206.72,"text":"audio book for signing up. Yay. I was so offended by The Hobbit movie, I thought","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":205.04,"end_s":210.959,"text":"it might be beneficial to go through a cleanse and read through The Hobbit book","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":208.959,"end_s":214.48,"text":"again by J.R. Tolken. The unabbridged version on Audible is only 11 hours","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":212.64,"end_s":217.92,"text":"long, which is about how long that one scene with the dwarves and the","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":215.76,"end_s":221.44,"text":"dishwashing and the singing seemed to last. No, but seriously, the movie","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":219.92,"end_s":224.48,"text":"wasn't that bad, but it certainly wasn't the book. Head over to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":222.92,"end_s":228.64,"text":"audible.com/techwicki to get your free audiobook now. And unlike my Twilight","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":226.959,"end_s":232.319,"text":"recommendation a couple weeks back, I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy this one. Don't","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":230.48,"end_s":235.84,"text":"forget to like this video, leave a comment about it for the Techquickie","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":233.92,"end_s":239.76,"text":"team under the video, and as always guys, don't forget to subscribe to","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0},{"start_s":237.2,"end_s":239.76,"text":"Techquickie.","speaker":null,"is_sponsor":0}],"full_text":"This is either a sneeze, a word you use when you want to confuse the sales rep at the local Best Buy, or it's all the different kinds of wireless you can get for your devices. Probably that last one. Let's start with this. Wireless standards are mostly backwards compatible. So, while you might have a laptop with wireless and 300 megabit and a smartphone like the HTC1 with wireless AC, your AC router or your N router will work with both devices. So, if you don't feel like watching the rest of this video, just go buy a router with good reviews on Amazon.com and you'll be fine. If you do want to learn more, first up is speedgrade standards. These start with 802.11 and a suffix. Often a speed number is thrown in by the manufacturer, and you might see something about concurrent dual band, which amounts to a theoretical doubling of the speed normally associated with that standard. However, you will only realize that performance benefit with devices that also support concurrent dual band. These speed numbers don't really represent what you'll see in the real world, though. Wireless is subject to protocol overhead and performance reductions caused by distance, obstacles, and interference. In fact, sometimes reducing these factors can do more for performance than buying better gear at all. Now, with that said, a dualband router can help even if you're not able to use concurrent dual band. Because if you have 5 GHz capable devices, 5 GHz signals are less susceptible to interference from cordless phones, microwave ovens, etc. So, while maximum range is actually slightly reduced at 5 GHz, signal integrity can be better. Third party firmware compatibility is another big selling point. DDWRT is an example of a firmware that can unlock additional, sometimes enterprise or prograde features on your router. Check if your router is compatible on their website before buying if you want to tinker with it. Some router manufacturers, however, will avoid your warranty for flashing unofficial firmwares. So, watch out for that. QoS or quality of service systems such as WD's automated FastTrack Plus or Lynxys's manually configured options can allow you to prioritize certain PCs, applications, or even types of network traffic such as video streaming, voice clients, or gaming over others, which can be very handy for multi-PC households. Many routers also have USB ports, so you can add a hard drive to them for centralized file storage or PC backups. It's no substitute for a real NAS, but it's better than nothing a lot of the time. And don't forget about the wired connections on your router. Honestly, this should be what you're using for anything that isn't a tablet, smartphone, or ultrabook. Find a way to get gigabit, even if it means spending a couple more bucks. Unless your PC is very old, it will support gigabit, which is 10 times faster than 1000 for transferring files in the real world and usually many times faster than wireless because of that interference malarkey I was talking about before. Last step, well, this is just the first step. Again, after you decide what features you need, go to a trusted retailer website and read user reviews. We personally love the EA4500 from Lynxys and we're moving to an EA6500 soon for wireless AC support. But everyone's experience may be a bit different and even from a trusted company, I usually won't buy a router unless I hear a few solid testimonials. Speaking of testimonials, here's one for audible.com. Go to audible.com/techquicking. Get a free audio book for signing up. Yay. I was so offended by The Hobbit movie, I thought it might be beneficial to go through a cleanse and read through The Hobbit book again by J.R. Tolken. The unabbridged version on Audible is only 11 hours long, which is about how long that one scene with the dwarves and the dishwashing and the singing seemed to last. No, but seriously, the movie wasn't that bad, but it certainly wasn't the book. Head over to audible.com/techwicki to get your free audiobook now. And unlike my Twilight recommendation a couple weeks back, I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy this one. Don't forget to like this video, leave a comment about it for the Techquickie team under the video, and as always guys, don't forget to subscribe to Techquickie."}