how long does a wireless router last

Tabular array of Contents

Practice Routers Have a Lifespan?
What Affects the Lifespan of a Wireless Router?
- 1. Evolving Applied science
- ii. Maintenance
- 3. Usage
How do I Know If I Need A New Wireless Router?

You're looking suspiciously at the erstwhile router in the corner of your living room, wondering if it'due south past its heyday. Mayhap your recent relationship with the net has been on-over again-off-again. Maybe you're just wondering how much more mileage y'all can become out of that slightly dusty device. Or, you just bought a new wireless router with dual or tri-band frequencies, and are curious almost how long it will stick effectually before having to deal with the headache of replacing it.

In short, the question circling in your mind is: how long does a wireless router last?

The short answer would be, at least several years. But "several years" in this case tin mean four years, but it can also mean more than ten. In theory, a wireless router could concluding you for decades, considering that there'south next to zip moving parts in the device. All the same, factors such as quality, maintenance, and the evolution of technology all play a role in the lifespan of a router.

Then let's take a closer look at the lifespan of a wireless router, what affects its longevity, and what are the telltale signs that it'due south time to buy a new one.

Do Routers Take a Lifespan?

We already said that due to the next-to-zero corporeality of moving parts in a router, information technology could technically last you a long, long fourth dimension. However, the general lifespan of a router is considered to exist about 5 years, give or take, although this tin change depending on each private scenario.

The lifespan of a wireless router depends on its maintenance, usage, and developments in technology.

The principal factors that affect the lifespan of a router take more to do with how it's maintained, how much it'due south being used, and whether or non its engineering science becomes obsolete. This last chip is quite important, and we'll go into more than details in a bit, but you could have a perfectly performance router from the 90's that'due south no longer compatible with the latest Wi-Fi standards.

Most of today's net users apply 2009's Wi-Fi 802.11n, or the latest standard, 802.11ac (a.grand.a. Wi-Fi 5) that came out in 2022. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is scheduled to arrive soon, too, so that'll bring up a need for router updates for those that want to switch to college internet data transfer rates, equally Wi-Fi 6 is meant to be as fast equally 9.6 Gbps.

What Affects the Lifespan of a Wireless Router?

Let'south expect at the factors that affect the lifespan of a wireless router a flake more than closely.

1. Evolving Technology

Wireless network standards and internet data transfer speeds have changed over the years. The frequencies that Wi-Fi standards use have changed to improve user feel. Routers that came earlier 2009's 802.11n wireless standard don't offering the same quality of internet speed. And then, the nigh commonly used standards today are 802.11n and 802.11ac.

The 802.11n standard uses both the two.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies, while 802.11ac uses only the 5GHz frequency, which is a lot less congested than ii.4GHz. Plus, 802.11ac supports MU-MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) technologies for simultaneous streaming better than 802.11n and employs beamforming, which ensures more efficient manual.

So as you can see, there are already some advantages of the 802.11ac over the 802.11n that may prompt users to update their wireless router to support the 802.11ac wireless standard, or Wi-Fi 5.

Some households or offices that rely heavily on speedy and efficient cyberspace data transfer may prefer to have dual-band or tri-ring routers, specially if there are multiple users connected to the network. When considering a WiFi router for a minor business, yous might need want a model that supports multiple networks then that you can have separate networks for staff and guests.

2. Maintenance

A lot of the time, a well-maintained router tin have a long lifespan, and merely become outdated by the evolving applied science.

To increase your router's lifespan, you should keep it in a dry surroundings out of direct sunlight. Additionally, avoid frequently taking the cables in and out of the router, as it tin lead to premature wear and tear.

iii. Usage

Even though there are no moving parts, an overused router tin begin heating up frequently and interruption sooner than you'd wish. If there are multiple users hooked to your router simultaneously, or you oft use a hard-wired connection for heavy information transfers, you should give your router a interruption every now and again, and let information technology to absurd down.

How do I Know If I Need A New Wireless Router?

Normally, either new technology will render your router obsolete or impairment to the hardware volition crusade it to cease working properly.

In the first case, if y'all upgrade to a new net programme or want to have the latest Wi-Fi standard which your old router doesn't support, it'south time to get a new router. Additionally, different routers have different area coverages. And then if yous motion from a smaller to a larger residence, your quondam router may non accomplish every room equally efficiently.

In the second scenario, you may notice loose ports, frayed power cords, or worse still, a flailing internet connection. If your Wi-Fi network keeps dropping, and you keep having to reset the router to get it back upwards, there'due south a practiced chance that information technology's fourth dimension to supplant it. Keep in mind that when buying a new router, you lot should be wary of the cheapest options – mostly, you lot get what you pay for. A cheap router tin can hateful cheap quality and a shorter, trouble-ridden lifespan.

Of grade, we'd advise against needless waste. If your router'southward working fine, merely y'all take the hots for some new model that'southward only slightly better, call up twice about the unnecessary pollution that y'all'd be causing past throwing abroad a perfectly adept router. Once you lot do decide to upgrade, observe out what the e-waste disposal options are in your identify of residence through the municipality or the local waste direction service.