Best WiFi Routers for Streaming 2023

What is Streaming ?

A streaming WiFi router,is specifically designed to prioritize and optimize internet traffic for video streaming or gaming purposes. On the other hand, an ordinary router is a general-purpose device that provides internet access to multiple devices.

Streaming means watching movies or listening to music without downloading it. In this case, the user directly uses a website (such as Netflix, Spotify, YouTube) to watch movies and listen to music. In fact, the video or music original files are stored in a web server and play in your client whenever you want.

Today, the streaming is one of the most widely used activities in Home WiFi networks. Users do not have to store large files on their own systems, because they are available at any time they need.

Streaming Challenges:

The streaming is the most bandwidth-consuming applications in WiFi network. You should be equipped by appropriate internet and WiFi systems.

There are two types of bandwidth limitations in Streaming. The first one is the internet connection speed and the second is WiFi network speed. Here you can see a list of Streaming WiFi Routers.

The First limitation is not a big challenge because most internet providers support higher speeds than required. ( a high quality video requires 20-25Mbps bandwidth).

The main challenges in streaming application are The WiFi technology inherent limitations.The speed of your WiFi network depends on several variable factors:

• Noise and Interference.

In fact, noise and interference are two important factors affecting the quality and speed of a WiFi network. These two factors are largely similar and mean the impact of an external signal on our WiFi network.

• • Noise means the impact of destructive signals from non-WiFi sources (with same frequencies) such as wireless phones, microwave ovens, etc. Is.

• • Interference means the impact of another WiFi network on our WiFi network. ranges. If two WiFi routers with the same channel are near each other, they have a huge negative impact on each other (WiFi networks use a certain number of channels and frequencies) . Read This Post for more information about noises and interference.

• The  Router’s Technology.

  To date, 6 technologies have been introduced for WiFi routers, each of which has a specific connection speed. In general, it can be said that the newer the WiFi technology, the faster the connection speed. So, try to use a router with the latest technology to have the best communication speed (to date, 802.11ax or WiFi6 technology is the latest). Read This Post know more about WiFi technologies.

• Number of Connected Users and Devices.

  • One of the most important limitations of WiFi routers is that they serve users and devices in turn. It means that if 3 devices are connected to your home WiFi router, they will receive service from the router in turn.But due to the high speed of the service, this limitation is not noticeable. But as the number of users or devices connected to the router increases, this limitation becomes visible and has a noticeable effect on the quality and speed of your WiFi network.

• Router’s installation conditions & ….

  • The condition of installing a router has a great impact on the quality of its service, but unfortunately it is not carefully used for this. For example, if you put the router above the closet or next to a metal surface such as a cabinet or install it next to an aquarium or mirror, the quality of your WiFi connection will drop by 50%.Try installing the router at the most central point and be open as far as possible around it. Read This Post to know how to install the router.

How to choose a streaming WiFi Router?

Here are some tips that will help you find a suitable streaming router and also know the technical differences between these routers and regular routers:

Bandwidth prioritization:

Streaming routers often come with advanced Quality of Service (QoS) functionality that helps prioritize bandwidth for streaming or gaming activities, ensuring a smoother experience. Ordinary routers may not have this feature or may provide limited QoS options.

Number of Antennas:

Technically, the number of antennas indicates the overall performance of the router.Try to choose a router that has more than 3 antennas ( internal or external) and supports beamforming technology.

Dual-band or tri-band support:

Streaming routers typically support dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) or tri-band (one 2.4GHz and two 5GHz) connectivity. This helps distribute the load efficiently and allows for simultaneous streaming on multiple devices. Ordinary routers may only support single-band connectivity.

Enhanced wireless range and coverage:

Streaming routers often have stronger antennas and improved range, providing better WiFi coverage within a larger area. This can be beneficial for larger homes or premises where the WiFi signal needs to reach distant corners. Ordinary routers may have relatively weaker antennas and limited coverage.

Security features:

Streaming routers may come with built-in security features such as WPA3 encryption, firewalls, and guest network isolation to protect against potential threats. While ordinary routers also provide basic security options, they may not offer the same level of advanced security features.

User-friendly interface:

Some streaming routers have user-friendly interfaces and mobile apps that provide additional configuration options specific to streaming or gaming needs. Ordinary routers usually have simpler interfaces with standard configuration options suitable for general internet usage.

Price:

Streaming routers often come with advanced features and enhanced performance, which can lead to a higher price tag compared to ordinary routers. The price difference is primarily due to the additional functionalities and optimizations offered by streaming routers.

Conclusion:

Streaming WiFi routers focus on optimizing network performance for streaming or gaming activities, while ordinary routers provide general-purpose internet access for regular browsing, file sharing, and simpler tasks.Our technical team has performed a series of detailed tests on different routers from different brands. Finally, we suggest the following list for choosing a proper Streaming WiFi Router: