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Creating an autonomous system for fun and profit (2017)

At its core, the Internet is an interconnected fabric of separate networks. Each network which makes up the Internet is operated independently and only interconnects with other networks in clearly defined places. For smaller networks like your home, the interaction between your network and the rest of the Internet is usually pretty simple: you buy an Internet service plan from an ISP (Internet Service Provider), they give you some kind of hand-off through something like a DSL or cable modem, an

Asus RT-BE86U Review: This Dual-Band Wi-Fi 7 Router Punches Way Up

Asus has always been one of my favorite router makers. The first time I bought my own router to get out of paying to rent one from my ISP, I got an Asus Wi-Fi 4 model. Being the person I am, I was delighted by the number of options it presented, even if I didn’t understand them all. The $299.99 Asus RT-BE86U is no different, and I love that about it. I just wish it were cheaper. That’s not to say the RT-BE86U isn’t a very good router—it truly is. I tested its throughput using a network benchmar

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If Wi-Fi Can Go Through Walls, Why Is My Internet So Slow?

When it comes to your home internet connection, there's one question we get asked quite a bit: Does Wi-Fi travel through walls? The short answer is yes, but the long answer is a bit more complicated. I spoke with several experts, including CNET's Laboratory Technical Project Manager Gianmarco Chumbe, to find out everything you need to know about how Wi-Fi travels. It's a simple question, but it has a big impact on whether your Wi-Fi connection is slow. "As with any radio signal, attenuation occ

New 1.5B router model achieves 93% accuracy without costly retraining

Want smarter insights in your inbox? Sign up for our weekly newsletters to get only what matters to enterprise AI, data, and security leaders. Subscribe Now Researchers at Katanemo Labs have introduced Arch-Router, a new routing model and framework designed to intelligently map user queries to the most suitable large language model (LLM). For enterprises building products that rely on multiple LLMs, Arch-Router aims to solve a key challenge: how to direct queries to the best model for the job

13 Best Wi-Fi Routers of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

Other Routers We Have Tested I have tested some other routers and have several more in the queue. These aren’t as great as the picks above, but are worth considering. Photograph: Simon Hill AVM FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro for £374: While AVM has dominated the German router market for years and still has around a 50 percent market share, it's now expanding across Europe and the UK, so I tested the FRITZ!Box 5690 Pro. AVM’s range is distinctive in white and red plastic, but there's a focus on functional

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Wi-Fi and Your Walls: Our Experts Share This One Secret to Optimizing Your Internet Connection

When it comes to your home internet connection, there's one question we get asked quite a bit: Does Wi-Fi travel through walls? The short answer is yes, but the long answer is a bit more complicated. I spoke with several experts, including CNET's Laboratory Technical Project Manager, Gianmarco Chumbe, to find out everything you need to know about how your home's walls can impact your connection. It's a simple question, but it has a big impact on your Wi-Fi connection. "As with any radio signal,

Eero Pro 7 Review: Great Mesh Networking, Even if You Don’t Have Wi-Fi 7

It’s been years since I had consistently shitty Wi-Fi in my home. Around the time that Apple discontinued its AirPort routers in 2018, I cobbled together a mesh network comprised of a second-generation Eero Pro and one of the company’s entry-level Eeros. I’ve upgraded a couple of times since then, getting higher throughput and a couple extra bells and whistles, but generally the experience has been a stable one that’s asked little of me. Now, having spent some time with the Wi-Fi 7-capable Eero

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Show HN: Arch-Router – 1.5B model for LLM routing by preferences, not benchmarks

Hi HN — we're the team behind Arch ( https://github.com/katanemo/archgw ), an open-source proxy for LLMs written in Rust. Today we're releasing Arch-Router ( https://huggingface.co/katanemo/Arch-Router-1.5B ), a 1.5B router model for preference-based routing, now integrated into the proxy. As teams integrate multiple LLMs - each with different strengths, styles, or cost/latency profiles — routing the right prompt to the right model becomes a critical part of the application design. But it's stil

How I upgraded my home Wi-Fi with a VPN-ready router (and why it makes such a big difference)

ZDNET's key takeaways The Privacy Hero 2, a $189 router available on FlashRouters, supports NordVPN and Surfshark alongside various VPN protocols. It comes with one year of access to Privacy Hero Wireguard VPN and, with a current promotion, one year of NordVPN. The company should improve the build quality and be more generous with the Ethernet cable's length. View now at Flashrouters Right now, you can buy the Privacy Hero 2 VPN router for $189 ($60 off retail price), a fantastic deal on a we

Should you upgrade to Wi-Fi 7? Here's my verdict after testing this next-gen router at home

ZDNET's key takeaways The Asus RT-BE86U router is currently on sale for $270 for a limited time. This supports Wi-Fi 7 delivering fast, wireless connections protected by multiple security features. However, getting the most out of the device requires Wi-Fi extenders which can be an expensive endeavor. View now at Asus View now at Best Buy more buying choices The Asus RT-B386U is currently on sale across major retailers for $30 off ahead of July 4th weekend. Wi-Fi 7 has been around since las

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6 Best Mesh Wi-Fi Systems (2025), Tested and Reviewed

The Quality of Service feature lets you prioritize activities like gaming or streaming, or set priority devices. Importantly, you can split the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands to show as two separate Wi-Fi networks. This is handy, as some smart home devices only operate on the former band. Similarly, there's a mixed mode for WPA2 and WPA3 security. Some devices don't work with the newer WPA3 standard, and some routers force you to choose one or the other, which can lead to issues. This mode ensures all

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Prime Day Isn’t Official Yet, But This WiFi 7 Router With 9,214 Mbps Is Already at Its Lowest Price Ever

Prime Day is two weeks out, but Amazon is already unveiling some of its best tech deals of the year. Among the early gems is an all-time low on one of the world’s fastest WiFi 7 routers: the TP-Link Archer BE550. The tri-band router from the future can be had now for just $179 (including a $20 coupon), a discount from its usual $249 price tag. What’s even more awesome is the fact that this sale is open to everyone and not just Prime members, so it’s the perfect time to get your home network up

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The US Government Is Weighing a Ban on TP-Link Routers, but I’m Not in a Rush to Replace Mine

Wi-Fi routers don't typically spend much time in the limelight, but TP-Link has been an exception over the past six months. Three US departments are currently investigating the company for ties to Chinese cyberattacks and potential predatory pricing. That's a lot of bad press, but it hasn't been enough for me to buy a new Wi-Fi router yet. I've been covering the internet world for more than six years, and for the past two, I've used a TP-Link router. I can honestly say I've never had an issue w

Eero’s speedy Pro 6E mesh system is on sale with a gift card for $200 off

Sluggish Wi-Fi is one of my least favorite tech problems to deal with because it messes with everything: my work, my smart lightbulbs, my online sessions of Mario Kart World . There are many reasons your Wi-Fi may be wonky, but the good news is that you can solve many of them with better routers. One of the best mesh options is the Eero Pro 6E , which is currently available on Amazon in a three-pack — with a $100 Amazon gift card — for an all-time low of $449.99 ($100 off). The Pro 6E has been

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This TP-Link Wi-Fi 7 Router at 19 Gbps Hits an All-Time Low, Amazon Slashes the Price by 42%

Nothing is more annoying than a slow WiFi connection, especially when you find out the culprit is the old or underpowered router your ISP provided you with. If you’re tired of buffering videos and lagging games, it might be time for an upgrade. Right now, Amazon is offering the TP-Link Archer BE800, a cutting-edge WiFi 7 router, at an all-time low price of $349, 42% off the original list price of $599. This deal is a great opportunity if you’re looking to improve your home network especially if

This TP-Link Smart WiFi Router Is 50% Off, Here’s How to Unlock the Ultimate Discount on Amazon

Few things are as frustrating as a sluggish internet connection at home, especially when you know the culprit is often the basic router provided by your internet service provider (ISP). These standard boxes always seem to fall short of delivering the speed, coverage or reliability today’s families need. Fortunately, it doesn’t need to break the bank to enhance your Wi-Fi experience. TP-Link is a reliable brand in networking that enjoys millions of individuals’ trust for offering great routers i

Getting free internet on a cruise, saving $170

Internet on a cruise ship is insanely expensive, but a little bit of DevTools knowledge and some simple Python scripting can go a long way when it comes to getting free internet Picture this, you’re a teenager in the middle of the ocean on a cruise ship. All is good, except you’re lacking your lifeblood: internet. You could pay $170 for seven days of throttled internet on a single device, and perhaps split it via a travel router or hotspot, but that still seems less than ideal. I’ve been trave

Best Wi-Fi Extenders of 2025

Editor's Note: We think you should be aware that TP-Link routers are under investigation by the US government over security concerns and could be banned in the US this year, according to multiple news reports. The TP-Link Archer RE605X was previously named our best overall choice for Wi-Fi extenders. While our evaluation of the hardware hasn't changed, out of extreme caution for our readers, we decided to pause it as our top recommendation until we learn more. Read CNET's reporting for more info

Best Gaming Routers for 2025

“Gaming router” is more of a marketing term than a legitimate designation. Sometimes it tells you the router comes with gaming features like device prioritization, but often it just means flashy lights and futuristic designs. Don't fall for it. The main metric you should pay attention to is jitter, which tells you how often your gaming experience will be interrupted by lag. We tested 31 of the top Wi-Fi routers to find the ones that remove lag from the equation as much as possible. What’s the b

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Amazon Is Going All Out, This Top-Performance TP-Link WiFi 7 Router Is Selling for Peanuts Before Prime Day

There’s nothing more frustrating than dealing with poor Wi-Fi at home. Slow speeds, dropped connections and dead zones can turn everyday activities (streaming, gaming, video calls, and more) into a real challenge. If you’re looking for a turbocharged connection that keeps up with your needs, it’s time to consider upgrading your home network. Although your internet service provider (ISP) router typically is subpar, buying a good-quality router can be well worth it. Today, the TP-Link WiFi 7 rout

Best Wi-Fi 6 Routers for 2025

Psst. I'll let you in on a not-so-secret, secret: It’s a great time to buy a Wi-Fi 6 router. A few years ago, Wi-Fi 6 was the latest and greatest wireless technology. It’s since been dethroned by Wi-Fi 7, which gives you access to the newly opened 6GHz band, but Wi-Fi 6 routers still offer more than enough speed for most homes. They’ve also come down significantly in price, with many standalone routers available for less than $100, as well as mesh systems, gaming routers, range extenders and mor

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Best Mesh Systems for Whole-Home Wi-Fi

Editor's note: We think you should be aware that TP-Link routers are under investigation by the US government over security concerns and could be banned in the US this year, according to multiple news reports. The TP-Link Deco W7200 was previously named our best overall choice. While our evaluation of the hardware hasn't changed, out of extreme caution for our readers, we decided to pause it as our top recommendation until we learn more. Read CNET's reporting for more information. What is the b

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