Amazon delivery drone could self-disintegrate for safety if it falls from sky

Hopefully it won’t happen very often, but when Amazon and others finally get fully fledged drone delivery services off the ground, there’ll be occasions when the flying machines suddenly drop out of the sky.

Whether it’s inclement weather, a software malfunction, or some ne’er-do-well with a catapult and a rock, we have to accept that those multi-copter contraptions will sometimes get into difficulties and fall all the way back to the ground.

It’s one of several challenges that gives the Federal Aviation Administration folks sleepless nights as they consider the safest way to let companies and organizations use the popular technology as part of their operations.

But Amazon may have the answer.

The online shopping giant is exploring an innovative system that would cause an airborne drone that’s in difficulties to disintegrate in mid-air, minimizing the force of the potential impact on any human, animal, or object on the ground.

The idea is outlined in a patent granted this week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Titled “direct fragmentation for unmanned airborne vehicles (UAVs),” the document describes how a malfunctioning drone could dismantle itself in the sky after assessing the conditions on the ground.

“The fragmentation sequence includes a release timing and a release location to fragment away (e.g., release, drop, jettison, eject, etc. away) one or more UAV components in case the flight operation of the UAV is disrupted,” the company says in the patent.

Amazon

Conditions that could cause problems for a delivery drone are listed as “unexpected heat, cold, wind, rain, hail, high or low (e.g., barometric) pressure regions, or other meteorological conditions.” These could affect the drone’s rotor system, flight control computer, battery, flight sensors, or other components, resulting in a major malfunction that makes it behave more like a brick than an aircraft.

The patent, which Amazon filed in June 2016, says that the release system could include “attachment mechanisms, such as clips, latches, hooks.”

Amazon says the fragmentation sequence would happen automatically, and that depending on which parts of the drone are jettisoned, “the weight, speed, air drag coefficient, and other factors related to the UAV can be altered.” This suggests that the drone wouldn’t always completely disintegrate. Rather, it would in some situations only eject the parts causing the problem if it allowed the damaged drone to make a safer landing.

We’re assuming the system would also do its best to ensure that whatever it’s carrying — several textbooks for a delivery, for example — is jettisoned away from anyone its sensors detect on the ground … providing it’s not its sensors that are malfunctioning.

It’s an intriguing idea, though Amazon has been filing a lot of intriguing ideas related to its delivery drone ambitions, some more outlandish than others. Check out this city-based drone tower that would look — and sound — like a giant beehive. And if you want to go full bonkers, then this patent for a “flying warehouse” should tickle you.

There’s no telling whether this latest idea will become a thing, but it nevertheless offers some interesting insight into how champions of the technology are hoping to overcome the great challenges that lie ahead.

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• Propel Star Wars Battle Drones review

Hybrid-electric passenger plane project given boost by Rolls-Royce

The electric flying taxi project led by Uber may be making progress, but how about a much larger, hybrid-electric passenger plane for trips further afield?

The ambitious plan isn’t the work of some obscure company you’ve never heard of, either. Instead, it’s the goal of big-name firms Airbus and Siemens. And now Rolls-Royce is joining the collaborative effort.

The trio are confident that its hybrid-electric plane can transform the short-haul market, with the first demonstration aircraft taking to the skies as early as 2020. A commercial service using planes with up to 100 seats could potentially come just five years after that.

The race is on to build an airplane that’s kinder to the environment, and a design like this would help to markedly reduce both air and noise pollution compared to today’s jet planes.

The E-Fan X program, as it’s called, will start out by placing a two-megawatt electric motors alongside three jet engines on a BAe 146 aircraft, Airbus said in a release this week. Once sufficient progress has been made, a second electric motor will replace another of the jet engines. Fully electric planes are a challenge too far with the current technology because of the heavy weight of existing batteries.

The test aircraft aims to explore the challenges of high-power propulsion systems, “such as thermal effects, electric thrust management, altitude and dynamic effects on electric systems, and electromagnetic compatibility issues.” At the same time, the project will help to train a new generation of designers and engineers “to bring hybrid-electric commercial aircraft one step closer to reality,” the plane manufacturer said.

Airbus has been working with Siemens for several years on developing alternative methods of powering passenger planes, but the latest move to bring Rolls-Royce on board brings new skills and experience to the joint effort.

The three companies will use their respective areas of expertise to push the plan forward. Airbus will take care of the control integration of the hybrid-electric propulsion system and batteries and its integration with the flight controls, while Rolls-Royce will be responsible for the turbo-shaft engine, two megawatt generator, and power electronics. Siemens, meanwhile, will focus on the electric motors and their power electronic control unit, among other technical challenges.

“The E-Fan X is an important next step in our goal of making electric flight a reality in the foreseeable future,” said Airbus chief technology officer Paul Eremenko.

He added: “The lessons we learned from a long history of electric flight demonstrators … will pave the way to a hybrid single-aisle commercial aircraft that is safe, efficient, and cost-effective. We see hybrid-electric propulsion as a compelling technology for the future of aviation.”

Industry giants like these are in an excellent position to offer huge resources for the ambitious project, and hopefully the team can stay on track with its development plans for an exciting new aircraft capable of reducing not only air pollution, but also noise for those living close to flight paths.

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Samsung has moved on to second-gen 10-nanometer chips

Samsung is making sure that your current smartphone will soon be passé by starting fabrication of its second-generation 10-nanometer chips. Dubbed 10-nanometer LPP, they’ll have 10 percent higher performance or 15 percent lower power consumption than the current, 10-nanometer LPE chips. The chips are likely to be used in next gen Qualcomm chips (rumored to be the Snapdragon 845) and Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S9 and S9+ flagship phones.

The new 10-nanometer LPP chips are reportedly manufactured in much the same way as Samsung’s current LPE wafers, so little delay is expected for full volume production. Samsung has already qualified its 8-nanometer chips that, despite having smaller traces, are also manufactured in much the same way as its 10-nanometer processors.

By releasing two iterative versions of its current chips, Samsung is biding its time until it perfects 7-nanometer manufacturing, which requires the use of extreme ultraviolet light (EUV) lithography. Because of that, gains in speed and power for your future smartphone are expected to be modest — around 10-15 percent for each of the next two generations. Rival TSMC is supposedly ahead of Samsung in 7-nanometer chip manufacturing, creating speculation that Qualcomm might jump ship in the future.

Samsung gets a lot of credit for beating Intel in chip technology, but both companies are currently making modest gains, not doubling performance like we used to see. Intel has boasted, however, that it’s 10-nanometer Cannon Lake tech will be a generation ahead of its main rivals, Samsung and TSMC, because it’s packing more features into the same area. Both Samsung’s 8-nanometer chips and Intel’s 10-nanometer models are supposed to go into manufacturing by next year.

Source: Samsung

Toyota’s upgraded safety system detects pedestrians at night

Toyota is among the swarm of automakers promising a safer driving future in the shape of autonomous vehicles. But, seeing as we’re still stuck in the present, it’s adding another notch to its safety advancement belt with its next-gen SafetySense (TSS) tech for regular cars. The upgraded suite — a mix of tweaks to existing safety systems and brand-spanking new functions — will roll out on “select vehicles” in mid-2018. Toyota is not explicitly stating the models that will get it first. But, if its near-standard automatic braking is anything to go by, the tech should spread rapidly.

Among the enhancements is the pre-collision system’s ability to detect pedestrians at night and cyclists during the day — and slow down faster. The lane departure alert will also get improved road edge detection to assist you in keeping to your lane. And, adaptive cruise control is adding full-speed functionality and enhanced recognition.

Meanwhile, the new stuff will include road sign assist (displaying road sign info on the dashboard or head-up display). Plus, there’s a second lane-keep system that pairs up with adaptive cruise control to offer steering support. Like the current-gen TSS, its successor will come as standard and not as a costly add-on.

Source: Toyota

Deliveroo offers £6 restaurant ‘Lunchbox’ service in London

It’s midday, your stomach is growling and you haven’t brought a packed lunch. You could go outside and queue for some Pret a Manger, or — if you live in east London — you could try Deliveroo’s new Lunchbox service. It’s a £6 meal deal from various restaurant partners including Motu, Yoobi Sushi, Franca Manca, BabaBoom and Mother Clucker. The service is available between 12 and 3pm, Monday to Friday, and the menu changes at the start of every week. Food is prepared in “Editions” — delivery-only kitchens built by Deliveroo — and can be dropped off almost anywhere in “The City” or Canary Wharf. (More places will be added over time.)

The food delivery business is hugely competitive in the UK. Deliveroo is up against UberEats — which already offers breakfast, McDonalds and scheduled deliveries in the capital — Amazon, and the combined might of Just Eat and Hungryhouse, which was recently allowed to merge by the Competition and Markets Authority. Deliveroo is growing rapidly because of its prices and, more importantly, brand recognition — it was one of the first companies to offer lyrca-clad bicycle couriers in the UK. That’s no guarantee of future success, however. To keep its rivals at bay, Deliveroo will need more ideas like Editions and its subscription-based Plus service.

Andy Rubin reportedly left Google after ‘inappropriate’ relationship

Android co-founder Andy Rubin left Google in 2014 on his own accord — at least that’s what the former Google exec said upon his departure. But, a new report claims that there was more to the exit than we were led to believe. Specifically, Rubin left after an internal investigation determined he’d carried on an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate, according to three sources that spoke to The Information.

The people familiar with the matter claim Google kickstarted its investigation after a female employee from Rubin’s Android division lodged a complaint with the firm’s HR unit about their relationship — although, details of the complaint have not been divulged.

The inquiry reportedly found that Rubin conducted in improper behaviour and showed bad judgement. Rubin left Google in October 2014 — by which time he was in charge of robotics at the company, having handed Android duties over to Sundar Pichai — after learning of the results of the investigation.

Citing personal reasons, Rubin is currently on a leave of absence from Essential (the handset-maker he founded after leaving Google), according to a spokesperson that spoke to The Information.

The revelations come in the wake of sexual assault and harassment accusations against individuals in the entertainment and tech industries. As recently as last month, Amazon underwent an exec shakeup in its TV and film unit after its head of programming Roy Price resigned following sexual misconduct allegations.

Meanwhile, Uber’s internal turmoil regarding its toxic company culture dominated headlines this year. In the midst of that crisis, the ride-hailing firm asked SVP of engineering Amit Singhal to resign, after reports emerged that he’d been involved in a sexual harassment case at his former workplace — which just so happened to be Google.

Source: The Information

Legendarily boring ‘Desert Bus’ is playable in VR

Back in the late 90s, comedic magicians Penn Jillette and Teller made a mini-game collection for Sega CD that was never released and quietly forgotten. Unfortunately for anyone with taste, one of those was the intentionally awful Desert Bus, which Internet sketch group LoadingReadyRun unearthed during a charity stream in 2007. They turned it into their annual program Desert Bus For Hope, which has raised $4 million in the last decade while they’ve subjected themselves to one of the most boring games ever made — and now they can do it immersively with Desert Bus VR.

The old 16-bit version belted players into the driver’s seat for an eight-hour real-time trip simulating the route from Tucson, Arizona to Las Vegas. To keep things interesting, the titular bus veers to the right ever so slightly, requiring constant attention. Desert Bus VR refreshes the concept for virtual reality — now you can explore a completely mundane station and bus interior as you roll along your mind-numbing eight-hour journey.

Studio Dinosaur Games added a few other features, including several radio stations, one of which has Jillette himself chattering away. You can honk the horn, open the door and flick the air freshener. Immersion! And if you veer far enough off the road, a tow truck will take you back to the start. Realism! If you want to take the longest virtual ride of your life, Desert Bus VR is available for free on Steam.

Via: Mashable

Source: Desert Bus VR (Steam)

Amazon Echo Dot – who is it for, should you buy it?

While the Amazon Echo Dot (2nd gen) has been on the market for quite a while now, it seems that now than ever is the right time to take a look at this gizmo here on Android Authority — especially with the Google Home and Amazon Echo wars heating up hardcore thanks to Google’s big Assistant announcements from Google I/O 2017.

What is the Amazon Echo Dot exactly? You’ve probably seen it in a commercial or maybe at the store, but why would you buy this little guy when the Echo Dot or Google Home have bigger, fuller sound? Good question. That’s exactly what we aim to address in this post. Keep in mind that while this does serve as an Amazon Echo Dot review of sorts, we aren’t going to stick to traditional formatting. Instead we want to answer the questions – what is it, who is it for, and do we recommend it.

See also – Amazon Echo vs Dot vs Tap vs Show

What exactly does the Echo Dot do or not do?

Pretty much everyone these days is familiar with the Amazon Echo, thanks to Amazon’s major marketing efforts both on the web and via TV. In short, the Echo is a smart assistant powered by Alexa that lets you order items from Amazon, play music, ask questions, set timers, look up recipes, control your smart home — and more. Oh, it’s also a pretty high quality speaker system for your tunes, to answer those questions, etc.

Meanwhile, the Amazon Echo Dot does everything we mentioned the Echo does, but there isn’t that high quality speaker. Instead there is a tiny speaker that’s good enough if you are right next to it and aren’t too particular about audio quality.

Why would you want to sacrifice sound? For one, it’s small and can be placed just about anywhere in your home without distracting the overall decorum of that room. Also, it has Bluetooth and a physical audio jack so you can connect your existing speakers to it.

Design, ease of use, and so forth

As for the design? It’s small, easy to use with a few physical buttons on top.. And that’s about all there is to say about it. You can get it in black or white, though I personally favor the black version.

Not a lot to say about the software or how to use it either. You set things up with the Alexa app on your phone (Android and iOS support), then after that you hook it to Wi-Fi and from then out — you can listen to music, control stuff, and more right from the speaker.

Of course any time you need to add new functions (skills, etc) — you do have to go back into the app. All in all, it doesn’t get much easier to use than the Echo Dot.

So who should buy the Echo Dot?

Is the Echo Dot for you? Very likely, especially if you fall into one of these situations:

Those with a quality audio setup already in their homes

If you have an expensive traditional speaker setup, a living room audiotainment system, or just a solid Bluetooth speaker — the Amazon Echo Dot can default to those speakers when plugged in. That makes this a no brainer accessory, considering the Echo Dot is only $50!

Those who are simply curious about the whole ‘smart speaker’ thing

At $50, the Echo Dot is pretty much in impulse buy territory for many of us. In fact, that’s how I got started with it. Was curious if I’d use a smart assistant more in a speaker than I do on my phone. And the price was low enough for me to give it a go.

I liked it so much I ended up buying a higher-end model for the living room, while keeping the Amazon Echo Dot in use as a bedroom speaker.

Those who already have an Echo and just want to ‘extend’ its functions to more room

If you have a smart home setup, in particular, Echo Dots make a lot of sense for bedrooms, common areas in the house that your main speaker won’t be able to hear well, and so forth. If the room isn’t going to be used for high quality music — why pay high dollar just so you can say “Alexa” and ask your lights to go on/off, etc.

Amazon Echo Dot – Wrap up

At $50, the Amazon Echo Dot is perfect for those that want to try a smart assistant without making a big investment. It’s also great for those with a quality speaker setup already. If you fit into either of those categories, YES BUY IT NOW. You won’t regret it.

That said, if you are more of a Google Assistant guy, Google Home or Google Home Mini will make more sense. What do you think of the Amazon Echo Dot? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments.

Get it on Amazon!

Next: Smart speakers – what are your options?

Extend your Wi-Fi range with one of the best Wi-Fi extenders

If your Wi-Fi router lacks enough oomph to reach all your devices or leaves you with dead zones around the home or office, you’ve got a problem. As much as a decent router can alleviate that problem, Wi-Fi extenders can push your signal even further. They take your current wireless signal and amplify it so that it reaches the furthest corners of your home while offering a host of other useful benefits in the process.

For the most affordable solution to the problem, we’d suggest learning how to convert a old router you have lying around into a Wi-Fi extender of your own. Tinkering around isn’t for everyone,  but it’s a good way to save some money.

Otherwise, we’ve put together a list of the best Wi-Fi extenders you can buy, whether you’re looking for a feature-packed beast or merely an affordable device for your home or office.

Our Pick – Netgear EX6200 (AC1200) ($85)

Netgear‘s powerful Wi-Fi extender has the ability to create dual-band Wi-Fi speeds up to 1200Mbps and spread them throughout your house with a powerful 700mW range booster. So far, so good – but it’s the extra features that really make this powerhouse stand out from the crowd and the reason that we consider it our best pick for a Wi-Fi extender.

First, there are useful tracking features that check your Wi-Fi strength where you set up the extender, which allows you to pinpoint the precise spot in your home or office to put the satellite device for maximum range. You can also measure channel interference to help locate any serious problem areas. Perhaps even more interesting, you have the ability to use a dedicated Fastlane band to create an extra-powerful signal, which is ideal for demanding tasks such as HD streaming or online gaming.

There are also features here more suited for offices or complex entertainment setups, such as the ability to directly connect up to five wired devices into the extender using its Gigabit Ethernet ports, which ultimately gives you a more reliable connection.

Note that this extender uses a Wi-Fi connection to amplify the signal – it does not need to be plugged directly into your router to function (though it does need a wall outlet for power). This is a common type of setup these days. If you buy a Netgear router and specifically format it to be an access point, then you can attach the EX6200, but there’s not usually a good reason to do so.

It might not be as understated as the plug-in Wi-Fi extenders on this list, but it’s still our pick as the best of the bunch.

Buy it now from:

Amazon Best Buy Netgear Walmart

Best router with touchscreen – Amped TAP-EX3 (AC1750) ($170)

The Amped TAP-EX3 is a very different model from our top Netgear pick, but is still one of the best Wi-Fi extenders we found, especially for larger homes and families that want an easy solution. We’re talking about a lot of range here, around 12,000 extra square feet of coverage for your network and some of the highest speeds we’ve seen in an extender with its AC1750 rating. The TAP-EX3 contains 12 amplifiers in all, designed to broadcast a dual-band Wi-Fi signal powerful enough to stream 4K content and play demanding online games without a stutter.

The standout feature here, however, is the touchscreen. While small, it allows for easy and obvious setup procedures (oddly enough, with an included, unnecessary stylus). If anything goes wrong, the touchscreen makes a great focal point to locate the problem, reset, or find a resolution. There are also five Gigabit Ethernet ports for directly connecting devices like smart TVs or gaming consoles for a more straightforward connection – these setups are handy if you don’t mind putting the extender right by your TV and the router at the other end of your house, a placement that may seem counter-intuitive at first.

On the downside, the price for the TAP-EX3 may be a little high for some homeowners, and its capabilities are overkill for a typical family home.

Buy it now from:

Amazon

Best portable router – D-Link DCH-M225 ($43)

On the opposite end of the spectrum we have a far more affordable model, suitable for smaller homes or offices where the primary problems may be interference instead of range (although of course range will also be boosted). The D-Link DCH-M225 is a direct plug-in model that fits into the outlet like a little adapter.

The small size, plus the low price, make this the most portable offering on our list and means you can take it with you if you’re heading somewhere that you expect to have poor Wi-Fi reception. You will still have to download the QRS mobile app to complete installation though.

Notably, this model also offers AirPlay support if you are an Apple fan and really don’t want to buy another AirPort device.

On a less positive note, this D-Link model only provides up to a 300Mbps, single-band connection. That’s certainly okay, but it’s not enough for high demand situations like lots of HD streaming, or gaming from multiple devices. You’ll need a stronger device for the more demanding tasks, but the portability of this one make it worth the mention.

Buy it now from:

Amazon Newegg Walmart

Best middle ground – Linksys RE6500-FFP (AC1200) ($80)

If you want a Wi-Fi extender that covers almost all of the bases of the bigger boys without the heftier price tags, the Linksys RE6500-FFP is a solid choice. It’s not quite out top-pick, but it’s not far off either.

This 10,000 square foot, dual-band extender is a strong middle-of-the-road offering, letting you retain the ability to speed things up a bit, this time with crossband tech that takes data from one band and delivers it using the other band for a higher rate of efficiency and speed. Other unique features include an audio jack for connecting music devices, four Gigabit Ethernet ports, and varied security options that offer WEP, WPA, and WPA2 encryption to choose from.

Buy it now from:

Amazon Newegg Walmart

Best budget router – D-Link Wi-Fi DAP-1520 (AC750) (from $20)

This affordable, outlet-based model does provide dual-band extension – in fact, it can turn an older single-band router into a dual-band signal. This is a handy option if you have one of those single-band routers and still like it, but just wish it had more range and could handle more devices without faltering.

At $20, this budget offering is the most affordable way to expand your wireless network and is certainly a less expensive solution than buying an entirely new router! However, the network speed is fairly low, so this is most suitable for low-key Wi-Fi connections that don’t need to stream the very latest ultra HD content.

Buy it now from:

Amazon Newegg Walmart

Best alternative – Eero ($203)

If you are considering the possibility of buying a new router entirely, take a look at Eero. Eero is part of a growing number of next-gen routers that have evolved into multiple device setups (another example is Luma). Instead of being a single router placed in one central location, these routers are made of several different parts that work together simultaneously. Eero, for example, is made of three hubs that you spread throughout your house.

As you can see, these routers tend to be much more expensive than traditional versions, at least for now. But they also have multiple advantages. Notably, the multi-device setup essentially eliminates problems with range and dead zones, and allows you to re-adjust on the fly to fix any particular issues. It may be the future of routers, and if you can afford one of these solutions you can kiss your typical range issues goodbye.

Buy it now from:

Amazon

Updated by Jon Martindale on November 28, 2017 with updated formatting and copy.

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Extend your Wi-Fi range with one of the best Wi-Fi extenders

If your Wi-Fi router lacks enough oomph to reach all your devices or leaves you with dead zones around the home or office, you’ve got a problem. As much as a decent router can alleviate that problem, Wi-Fi extenders can push your signal even further. They take your current wireless signal and amplify it so that it reaches the furthest corners of your home while offering a host of other useful benefits in the process.

For the most affordable solution to the problem, we’d suggest learning how to convert a old router you have lying around into a Wi-Fi extender of your own. Tinkering around isn’t for everyone,  but it’s a good way to save some money.

Otherwise, we’ve put together a list of the best Wi-Fi extenders you can buy, whether you’re looking for a feature-packed beast or merely an affordable device for your home or office.

Our Pick – Netgear EX6200 (AC1200) ($85)

Netgear‘s powerful Wi-Fi extender has the ability to create dual-band Wi-Fi speeds up to 1200Mbps and spread them throughout your house with a powerful 700mW range booster. So far, so good – but it’s the extra features that really make this powerhouse stand out from the crowd and the reason that we consider it our best pick for a Wi-Fi extender.

First, there are useful tracking features that check your Wi-Fi strength where you set up the extender, which allows you to pinpoint the precise spot in your home or office to put the satellite device for maximum range. You can also measure channel interference to help locate any serious problem areas. Perhaps even more interesting, you have the ability to use a dedicated Fastlane band to create an extra-powerful signal, which is ideal for demanding tasks such as HD streaming or online gaming.

There are also features here more suited for offices or complex entertainment setups, such as the ability to directly connect up to five wired devices into the extender using its Gigabit Ethernet ports, which ultimately gives you a more reliable connection.

Note that this extender uses a Wi-Fi connection to amplify the signal – it does not need to be plugged directly into your router to function (though it does need a wall outlet for power). This is a common type of setup these days. If you buy a Netgear router and specifically format it to be an access point, then you can attach the EX6200, but there’s not usually a good reason to do so.

It might not be as understated as the plug-in Wi-Fi extenders on this list, but it’s still our pick as the best of the bunch.

Buy it now from:

Amazon Best Buy Netgear Walmart

Best router with touchscreen – Amped TAP-EX3 (AC1750) ($170)

The Amped TAP-EX3 is a very different model from our top Netgear pick, but is still one of the best Wi-Fi extenders we found, especially for larger homes and families that want an easy solution. We’re talking about a lot of range here, around 12,000 extra square feet of coverage for your network and some of the highest speeds we’ve seen in an extender with its AC1750 rating. The TAP-EX3 contains 12 amplifiers in all, designed to broadcast a dual-band Wi-Fi signal powerful enough to stream 4K content and play demanding online games without a stutter.

The standout feature here, however, is the touchscreen. While small, it allows for easy and obvious setup procedures (oddly enough, with an included, unnecessary stylus). If anything goes wrong, the touchscreen makes a great focal point to locate the problem, reset, or find a resolution. There are also five Gigabit Ethernet ports for directly connecting devices like smart TVs or gaming consoles for a more straightforward connection – these setups are handy if you don’t mind putting the extender right by your TV and the router at the other end of your house, a placement that may seem counter-intuitive at first.

On the downside, the price for the TAP-EX3 may be a little high for some homeowners, and its capabilities are overkill for a typical family home.

Buy it now from:

Amazon

Best portable router – D-Link DCH-M225 ($43)

On the opposite end of the spectrum we have a far more affordable model, suitable for smaller homes or offices where the primary problems may be interference instead of range (although of course range will also be boosted). The D-Link DCH-M225 is a direct plug-in model that fits into the outlet like a little adapter.

The small size, plus the low price, make this the most portable offering on our list and means you can take it with you if you’re heading somewhere that you expect to have poor Wi-Fi reception. You will still have to download the QRS mobile app to complete installation though.

Notably, this model also offers AirPlay support if you are an Apple fan and really don’t want to buy another AirPort device.

On a less positive note, this D-Link model only provides up to a 300Mbps, single-band connection. That’s certainly okay, but it’s not enough for high demand situations like lots of HD streaming, or gaming from multiple devices. You’ll need a stronger device for the more demanding tasks, but the portability of this one make it worth the mention.

Buy it now from:

Amazon Newegg Walmart

Best middle ground – Linksys RE6500-FFP (AC1200) ($80)

If you want a Wi-Fi extender that covers almost all of the bases of the bigger boys without the heftier price tags, the Linksys RE6500-FFP is a solid choice. It’s not quite out top-pick, but it’s not far off either.

This 10,000 square foot, dual-band extender is a strong middle-of-the-road offering, letting you retain the ability to speed things up a bit, this time with crossband tech that takes data from one band and delivers it using the other band for a higher rate of efficiency and speed. Other unique features include an audio jack for connecting music devices, four Gigabit Ethernet ports, and varied security options that offer WEP, WPA, and WPA2 encryption to choose from.

Buy it now from:

Amazon Newegg Walmart

Best budget router – D-Link Wi-Fi DAP-1520 (AC750) (from $20)

This affordable, outlet-based model does provide dual-band extension – in fact, it can turn an older single-band router into a dual-band signal. This is a handy option if you have one of those single-band routers and still like it, but just wish it had more range and could handle more devices without faltering.

At $20, this budget offering is the most affordable way to expand your wireless network and is certainly a less expensive solution than buying an entirely new router! However, the network speed is fairly low, so this is most suitable for low-key Wi-Fi connections that don’t need to stream the very latest ultra HD content.

Buy it now from:

Amazon Newegg Walmart

Best alternative – Eero ($203)

If you are considering the possibility of buying a new router entirely, take a look at Eero. Eero is part of a growing number of next-gen routers that have evolved into multiple device setups (another example is Luma). Instead of being a single router placed in one central location, these routers are made of several different parts that work together simultaneously. Eero, for example, is made of three hubs that you spread throughout your house.

As you can see, these routers tend to be much more expensive than traditional versions, at least for now. But they also have multiple advantages. Notably, the multi-device setup essentially eliminates problems with range and dead zones, and allows you to re-adjust on the fly to fix any particular issues. It may be the future of routers, and if you can afford one of these solutions you can kiss your typical range issues goodbye.

Buy it now from:

Amazon

Updated by Jon Martindale on November 28, 2017 with updated formatting and copy.

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