Internet access is vital these days with the number of folks working from home, the connected devices around us, and almost all of our entertainment services requiring Internet connectivity.

One of the biggest complaints I hear most often is how awful people feel their internet provider is for speed and reliability. The reality is, they are all pretty much the same. Sure, they offer different pricing and packages to entice consumers, but at the very basic level, they are providing access to the internet.

So why do some people seem to have better luck with one service provider over another? Is there really that much of a difference?

The short answer is, no – not really.

If we look from a very high level, your internet provider gives you a device for your home or office which is a combination of a modem and a router in one. While having a single device do multiple jobs, it does come with a few compromises.

One of the simplest things you can do to increase your network reliability and increase its range is to separate these things. Use the device that’s provided to you by your Internet Service Provider as a modem only (typically means setting it to bridge mode) and add your own router instead.

This will do a few things for you:

1. It will reduce the workload of the provided device from your ISP
2. It will give you much more flexibility and control over your own network
3. It will increase your internet speeds, increase your wireless range, offer more security, and will make your online experiences more reliable!

OK, so what router do I buy?

There are many factors to consider when choosing a wireless router. How fast do you need it to be? How much range do you require? What kind of features do you want? They can range in price from less than $ 100, and reach up to $ 800 or so… all depending on your situation.

Need some advice? Schedule a free call with us and we’d be happy to point you in the right direction!