Lifestyle changes with telework... Is your home communication environment comfortable? What is a Wi-Fi router that improves about 50% of people's dissatisfaction?

Understanding of the "new lifestyle" advocated by the government is progressing, and wearing masks, avoiding the 3 Cs, and refraining from going out are becoming established in daily life. There are many companies that continue teleworking and rotating work, and there are many people who say that they are spending more time at home compared to last year.

Under such circumstances, dissatisfaction with the "communication environment" at home is becoming apparent. Whether it is work or private life, modern society cannot exist without the Internet. If the communication environment is not sufficient, work will be delayed and stress will accumulate.

This time, I decided to conduct a questionnaire survey about the communication environment at home to about 1,000 members of Mynavi News and find out what kind of dissatisfaction and problems they have. Together with the results, let's introduce the features and introduction benefits of NEC Platforms' high-performance Wi-Fi router "Aterm WG2600HP4" that can improve the communication environment at an affordable price.

Those who have been using the same Wi-Fi router for more than 5 years

A router is necessary when connecting a PC, mobile device, game console, information appliance, etc. to the internet line at home. is. In particular, Wi-Fi routers that can wirelessly connect each device can be said to be a necessity for modern homes.

However, the evolution of Wi-Fi routers has received less attention than smartphones, which are widely touted as being equipped with new technologies and functions. Therefore, there are surprisingly many cases where even people who regularly replace their smartphones continue to use old Wi-Fi routers that are several generations old because they can still use them.

In a questionnaire survey of 1,002 members of Mynavi News, 288 people, or 28.7%, said they had been using the same Wi-Fi router for more than five years. For more than 3 years, 473 people, nearly half. It can be seen that the replacement cycle is longer than smartphones, which often change models once every two to three years.

When we asked people who use Wi-Fi routers whether they spent more time using the internet at home due to the recent circumstances, 65.2% said, "Increased." replied. Also, 54.9% answered "yes" to whether they were dissatisfied with the communication environment because of this. The longer the Wi-Fi router has been used, the more people are dissatisfied with the speed and stability of communication.

In any case, it can be seen that the increased time spent at home due to teleworking and online classes is the cause of dissatisfaction with the communication environment.

Wi-Fi router replacement is effective in improving the communication environment

In the questionnaire, we also investigated specific dissatisfaction with the communication environment, but the answers can be roughly divided into "speed" and " can be summed up in “stability”. These can be caused by the line itself, but it's not uncommon for the Wi-Fi router to be the problem.

Like smartphones and tablets, Wi-Fi routers are evolving year by year with the introduction of new features and technologies. Therefore, by replacing it with the latest Wi-Fi router, it may be possible to eliminate various dissatisfactions felt by increasing the time spent at home.

A variety of Wi-Fi router products are available from various companies, but NEC Platforms' "Aterm WG2600HP4" is a candidate when "speed" and "stability" are emphasized. . Here, while taking up the specific dissatisfaction with the communication environment obtained from the questionnaire survey, let's introduce how it can be solved by replacing it with the same product.

▼It may be difficult to connect depending on the room

Of the dissatisfaction with the communication environment, many people who have been using the same Wi-Fi router for three years or more said, "Communication may be cut off depending on the room" and "It is difficult to reach the second floor." As in, it is difficult to connect depending on the location. Wi-Fi signals weaken as they pass through walls, doors, and other obstacles, so in rooms far from where the router is installed, communication speeds may drop or be more likely to be interrupted.

The solution to this problem is a repeater, but the conventional repeater only has the role of intermediating the radio waves of the main unit, and there were many cases where the usability was not good depending on the usage scene. For example, when using a smartphone while moving from the 1st floor where the base unit is located to the 3rd floor where the repeater is installed, it will not automatically switch to the repeater until the connection with the base unit is cut off, so it is possible to keep the weak radio waves of the base unit. Sometimes it becomes difficult to connect to the internet.

Therefore, the "mesh relay function" began to be installed in home Wi-Fi routers. Simply put, this is a function that makes the relay machine an alter ego of the parent machine. Devices such as smartphones recognize the main body and the alter ego without distinction, and automatically connect to the repeater with the strongest radio wave, so communication is unlikely to be interrupted even when using a smartphone while moving from the first floor to the third floor.

Aterm WG2600HP4 supports this mesh relay function, and can be used as a main unit (base unit) or an alter ego (mesh relay unit). Therefore, it is possible to efficiently expand the Wi-Fi area at home simply by preparing the required number of devices.

Moreover, setting up the mesh relay function is very easy. You can make the necessary settings simply by connecting the main unit and the alter ego with a LAN cable. You can also check the devices connected to the mesh repeater by using a web browser or a free smartphone app. In the unlikely event that an unknown terminal is connected, you can rest assured that you can take measures such as blocking. It is a nice point that even beginners without network knowledge can use the functions easily and safely.

Also, if you add another WG2600HP4 after installing it as the base unit, you can easily build a network using the mesh relay function.

▼The speed may be slowed down depending on the orientation of the device.

Even though the radio wave itself is within range without any problems, communication may be interrupted or slowed down when using Wi-Fi. In the questionnaire, there were voices such as ``It is uniform and does not pick up radio waves'' and ``I decided the installation location of the Wi-Fi router after repeated verification, but if I still use it, the communication speed may be slow.'' In addition, there were several people who were dissatisfied with the uneven reception of radio waves, such as "I can't communicate well with a smartphone, although there is no problem with a PC."

One possible reason for this is the characteristics of the Wi-Fi router antenna. Depending on the product, multiple antennas that emit radio waves only in a specific direction are installed in the router to cover all directions, but this may create blind spots for radio waves. Therefore, when the smartphone is placed flat, horizontally, or vertically, the reception of radio waves may be interrupted or slowed down.

The Aterm WG2600HP4 is equipped with a "Wide Range Antenna PLUS" that improves radio performance by placing four antennas inside the router that can emit radio waves in all directions. As a result, blind spots for radio waves are less likely to occur, making it easier to connect to devices such as smartphones at any angle.

▼ Speed ​​slows down when multiple devices are connected

Recently, not only PCs and smartphones, but also home appliances such as game consoles and TVs are connected to the Internet. As the performance of smartphones continues to improve, the amount of data exchanged between terminals when connected to the Internet continues to increase. As a result, when family members start using the Internet on their own devices, the communication speed suddenly drops.

There are more opportunities for families to use Wi-Fi at the same time, such as telework and online classes at home, and many survey respondents said that "connecting multiple devices at the same time slows down".

The main reason for this is that when communicating with multiple terminals, the router switches between them one by one and sends radio waves in order. Therefore, as the number of terminals increases, the waiting time increases and the communication speed decreases.

Aterm WG2600HP4 supports a function called "MU-MIMO" that can send radio waves to up to 4 terminals at the same time. Therefore, even during simultaneous communication, there is no queue and the speed is less likely to drop.

▼ Speed ​​is slow in the first place

Regardless of how long the Wi-Fi router has been in use, the most common complaint is that the communication speed is slow. Quite a few people responded that their communication speeds would drop on days and times of the week when access is likely to be concentrated, such as "Sometimes it slows down depending on the time of day" and "Slower communication speeds on weekends."

One possible reason for the lack of speed of the Internet connection is the difference in the connection method. If you use the conventional connection method called "IPv4 (PPPoE)", the communication speed is likely to drop during times when access is concentrated. However, with a new connection method called "IPv6 (IPoE / IPv4 over IPv6)", it is possible to avoid congestion and communicate comfortably even during times of heavy access.

To put it simply, IPv4 is a general road with many traffic lights, and IPv6 is a dedicated road without traffic lights. It goes without saying which one is more likely to cause traffic jams. In the case of Aterm WG2600HP4, not only does it support IPv6, but it also has its own boost technology "IPv6 High Speed", which makes it possible to load content and download large amounts of data more smoothly.

Many people consider replacing Wi-Fi routers to improve their communication environment

In addition, the Aterm WG2600HP4 is equipped with many functions that help improve the communication environment. . For example, one of them is support for the latest Wi-Fi security standard "WPA3". If the terminal side also supports it, it is possible to implement stronger security measures than the conventional WPA2.

In addition, by using a free smartphone app, you can view and manage connected devices in a list, such as "Miete Anshin Net" and "Kodomo Anshin Net Timer," which prevents children from overusing the Internet. It is also possible to use the function. If you replace your old Wi-Fi router, you can enjoy these various benefits and use the Internet.

In the questionnaire, we also asked, "Would you consider replacing your Wi-Fi router if it improves your home communication environment?" 650 people answered yes.

One of the bottlenecks when replacing a Wi-Fi router is the hassle of setting it up. It takes time and effort to reconfigure devices such as smartphones and PCs one by one to match the new Wi-Fi router.

With Aterm WG2600HP4, that area is also smart. If the "Wi-Fi setting moving function" is installed and the router before replacement supports WPS (a mechanism for easily setting wireless LAN devices with a single button), use the WPS button etc. You can take over the Wi-Fi settings as they are with a simple operation. I want to upgrade my communication environment without hassle! For those who say, it seems to be a perfect product.

Also, maintenance after purchase is also a concern, but the Aterm WG2600HP4 is equipped with a function that can check for updates at a specified time and automatically update to the latest firmware, which is a point that can be evaluated without any hassle. .

However, depending on the usage scene and living space, there may be cases where these functions are not necessary. The "Aterm" series also has a lineup of models with limited functions for such users.

The "Aterm" series has a lineup that meets your needs

The "Aterm WG2600HS2" has the same 4 streams as the Aterm WG2600HP4 and is capable of high-speed communication of 1733 Mbps, but instead of the mesh relay function A low-priced product that uses the conventional relay function. Recommended when you don't need the mesh relay function or when you want to improve the communication environment in a room where Wi-Fi equipment is installed.

"Aterm WG1200HP4" is a model equipped with a mesh relay function while maintaining a modest maximum speed of 2 streams and 867 Mbps. Even though it is modest, the speed is more than enough for general usage, so it is recommended when you want to secure communication stability with a small number of terminals connected at the same time.

The "Aterm WG1200HS4" is a model equipped with a conventional relay function, omitting the mesh function from the Aterm WG1200HP4. The point is that it is compact and can be installed in a small space, and it can be purchased at a reasonable price of around 4,000 yen.

All of them are equipped with high functionality and ease of use unique to the Aterm series, and stable communication is possible. We want you to choose the model that is perfect for you according to your budget, purpose, and purpose.

In addition, from December 4th, in commemoration of the release of the above new product, a Twitter campaign has started on Aterm's official Twitter (@Aterm_NEC) where 100 people will receive a QUO card Pay of 500 yen. Why don't you try applying for it?

Survey period on communication environment and Wi-Fi router: October 15, 2020 to October 19, 2020 Survey target: Mynavi News Number of members surveyed: 1002 Survey method: Internet login questionnaire

[PR] Provided by: NEC Platforms