So you’ve heard about the new standard in wireless connectivity 802.11ac and got amazed with the speeds that it promises. Before you go around looking for 802.11ac routers, there are a few things that you should know.
The 802.11ac standard that promises wireless connectivity speeds of up to 1.3Gb has yet to be finalized. Meaning, 802.11ac is not yet available. However, devices that are marketed to have 802.11ac will available in the market before the new standard is released. If you do buy a router before the 802.11ac standard is released, you will most likely need to upgrade its firmware once the standard comes out.
Another thing you may want to consider is if you have wireless devices at home that are 802.11ac compatible. If not, then it would be best to wait for the standard to be released and manufacturers come out with devices that are compatible with the new standard.
Don’t get too excited about getting speeds of up to 1.3Gbps, you probably won’t be able to get it anyway, even if the packaging says you will. Products that have been tested on 802.11ac have not yet been able to reach those speeds. The fastest they have reached is 800Mbps. This is still amazing, but don’t get your hopes too high just yet.
When the time is right, the best way to find a good 802.11ac is to do a bit of research. It’s nice to be one of the first in your neighbourhood to have a router like this, but remember this standard is still new and like most new things in the technology world, you can expect to see some revisions before everything works the way it should. Find out what others have to say about their experience on these devices before you go out and buy one for your home.
If you are still adamant on buying an 802.11ac router early, then expect to be buying one at a high price. TrendNet is expecting to come out with an 802.11ac router before the end of 2012 and they expect that the retail price of the router will be around £140 or even more.
802.11ac will be a great development for wireless connectivity, but it is still too early in the game to really tell is all will work well. Routers that are 802.11ac capable will be sold towards the end of this year, even earlier, but until the actual standard has been released, you won’t be able to realize the full benefits of the router.
If you decide to take the chance and get one early, then it really won’t be such high a risk because 802.11ac is supposedly backwards capable. Meaning, the devices will work for 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b enabled devices.
The best way to buy an 802.11ac router is to wait until the standard is released and other people have started using them. You can expect a lot of chatter on the internet about their experience so it won’t be difficult to find out if it is really worth the cost.
If you are looking for the top 5 wireless 802.11ac routers then visit http://www.theproductsite.com for expert friendly advice that will explain to you which router is the best for your needs. This site aims to help customers find the best wireless routers for them by offering a needs-oriented shopping experience. The productsite.com also offers a range of expert reviews, technical tests, articles, tips, and resources to guide users on finding the right type of router for them for streaming (YouTube), downloading (Bit torrent) or online gaming (Xbox, PS3) needs.