Today’s question comes from Jose, who asks, “What kind of router should I use for my Tablo?”
The answer is complicated, but no worries, we’ll walk you through it.
Your internet service provider will likely rent you a modem/router device; its rental fee is part of your internet service. Some rely on these as their primary routers. If it meets the criteria below, it may work for you. If not, you may want to do what many ISP customers do and purchase your own router to connect to your modem.
We won’t recommend one brand over the other but we can suggest that a router have the following features.
It should have dual-band Wi-Fi. Most routers come with such already. You need Wi-Fi to set up your Tablo. Having access to 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies will give you maximum, solid options for connecting devices that cannot use Ethernet.
It should have multiple Ethernet ports. If you’re connecting a router to your ISP’s router, you’ll need an Ethernet port for it. The second one should be for your Tablo. This will ensure your over-the-air and streaming channels reach your router fast and interference-free. You can also connect your computers to your router via Ethernet and switch off their Wi-Fi. This will reduce the radio noise in your home and make the wireless connections of your smart TVs, phones and tablets cleaner.
A word on mesh networks. Mesh networks are routers made up of multiple Wi-Fi receivers. They’re handy for spreading your Wi-Fi over a large area and enhancing Wi-Fi signals. They work great but tend to be more complicated to manage. If you use a Tablo with such, we suggest a direct Ethernet connection to its main hub. Connecting your Tablo to one of its nodes may require delicate adjustments to enable your DVR to work with your mesh.
With the above info, you should be ready to secure your router. Look for one that’s within your budget and comes with solid ratings and warranty.
Have a question about watching TV that you’d like answered? Send us a note and you may see your question on the Tablo blog and in an upcoming issue of our newsletter, Stay Tuned!
