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(This guide is <\/i>Part 2 of 7 in our Sports Entertainment Upgrade Special<\/i>.)<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p>\nWhat to consider?<\/p>\n
<\/default:svg><\/button><\/p>\n\n1. What speeds do I need to stream 4K comfortably?<\/li>\n 2. Wi-Fi 7 vs. Wi-Fi 6<\/li>\n 3. Standalone routers vs Mesh systems<\/li>\n 4. What\u2019s the most important feature to look for in a router?<\/li>\n 5. How to maximise speed and coverage?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\nIt\u2019s an exciting period for sports fans. Football season is approaching, and the NBA Finals are not far away.\u00a0We\u2019ve\u00a0done some guides to help you upgrade your viewing experience, and in this guide, we are going to cover what some might consider\u00a0to be\u00a0the most unsung hero at home \u2013 your router setup.\u00a0Ready to elevate your viewing experience?\u00a0Here are some buying advice and tips for\u00a0getting\u00a0the right router and\u00a0how to get the best out of it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What speeds do I need to stream 4K comfortably?<\/h2>\n\nAlmost any router you have is capable of streaming 4K videos, but that doesn\u2019t mean we can\u2019t improve the streaming experience.<\/p>\n
Photo: AI-generated image<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
4K is widely considered to be the gold standard for video streaming, and thankfully, you don\u2019t really need a lot of bandwidth to stream 4K comfortably.\u00a0In fact, a transfer rate of around\u00a025Mbps\u00a0to\u00a040Mbps\u00a0is sufficient to comfortably stream 4K videos<\/b>.\u00a0In light of this, all modern routers are more than\u00a0up to\u00a0the task.\u00a0Even the most basic Wi-Fi 7 router\u00a0these days\u00a0can support speeds of up to\u00a02,882Mbps.\u00a0And even\u00a0basic Wi-Fi 6 routers can\u00a0have\u00a0data transfer rates of over\u00a01Gbps.<\/p>\n
Of course, it never hurts to have more, particularly if you have multiple users and devices at home.\u00a0Having a faster router in this case means more people can access the internet\u00a0at the same time\u00a0without compromising\u00a0the\u00a0internet speeds\u00a0and\u00a0the viewing experience.<\/b>\u00a0A faster router is akin to a wider road that allows more cars to drive at the same time without affecting their\u00a0travelling\u00a0speeds\u00a0too much.<\/p>\n
However, we\u2019d argue that in cases where you are watching live broadcasts, stability is more important. Streaming services can automatically reduce quality when bandwidth is lacking, but they\u00a0can\u2019t do much if you have an unreliable connection. Given that Singapore already has some of the fastest internet speeds in the world, the quality of your connection is more important than the quantity.\u00a0And this\u00a0is why this guide\u00a0will focus\u00a0on achieving uninterrupted access to your router.<\/p>\n
Wi-Fi 7 vs. Wi-Fi 6<\/h2>\n\nAn example of how Wi-Fi 7 is superior is MLO (multi-link operation), which enables a Wi-Fi 7 router to use multiple frequency bands to connect to client devices.<\/p>\n
Photo: Linksys<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
As I mentioned earlier, a Wi-Fi 6 router is\u00a0actually up to\u00a0the task of streaming 4K videos. And indeed, they will suffice if you are the lone user or you don\u2019t have many other users or devices at home. But if you do, you might want to consider upgrading to a Wi-Fi 7 router.<\/p>\n
In a nutshell, Wi-Fi 7\u00a0consists of\u00a0technologies\u00a0that aim\u00a0to\u00a0improve\u00a0networking experiences by enhancing speeds and stability.\u00a0To read on these technologies in detail, we\u00a0urge you to check out\u00a0our Wi-Fi 7 guide.<\/p>\n
Apart from the improvements in technology, Wi-Fi 7 routers are also\u00a0coming down in price. An entry-level one can now be had for around S$200.<\/b> Furthermore, an increasing number of devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops now offer support for this new standard. In light of these developments, if you are looking to upgrade your router,\u00a0you must get\u00a0a Wi-Fi 7 router.\u00a0<\/p>\nStandalone routers vs Mesh systems<\/h2>\n\nMesh systems are great for big homes and for ensuring there\u2019s Wi-Fi coverage all over your home.<\/p>\n
Photo: AI-generated image<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
The decision to\u00a0get\u00a0a standalone router or a mesh network is a measure of\u00a0balancing\u00a0compromises.\u00a0A mesh system is handy for blanketing an entire home with Wi-Fi.<\/b>\u00a0It helps\u00a0get rid of\u00a0Wi-Fi dead spots\u00a0so that\u00a0your entire home has Wi-Fi coverage.\u00a0The downside, however, is that mesh systems often have less customisability than standalone routers.\u00a0They also often have fewer ports,\u00a0and this could\u00a0be crucial, especially if you intend to connect\u00a0it\u00a0to devices like your TV, gaming console, PC, or even USB-C and Thunderbolt hubs.<\/p>\n\nConnectivity is important if you want to use a wired connection. These are the ports of the ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE98.<\/p>\n
Photo: ASUS<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Standalone routers, on the other hand, often\u00a0have\u00a0more\u00a0customisability\u00a0and better connectivity\u00a0in the form of\u00a0more Ethernet and USB ports<\/b>.\u00a0The higher-end models often have multiple multi-gig Ethernet ports, which can be handy if you have a high-speed fibre plan and devices that are capable of taking advantage of those speeds. The downside is that their coverage can be limited, which can be troublesome if you have a large home or one with an odd layout.<\/p>\n