There has been a shift in the industry from AV to networking. Here, Paul Skelton looks at a few of the ‘routers of tomorrow’.

If you’re an integrator who relies solely on custom AV jobs, you may have already heard that your business model is supposedly outdated and unsustainable. The future for installers, they say, is networking, not entertaining.

“Routers now play a critical role in the home, as it’s the central connection to all your devices and internet connectivity,” D-Link Australia consumer product manager Scott Howell says.

“Routers have undergone many enhancements over time. Now, their key role is to handle the mass of devices that require connectivity, whether they are a smart phone, tablet or computer.

“They will also play a major role in the homes of the future with the introduction of home automation and security to the masses, mainly due to the ease of installation and the ability to access your router through WiFi.”

As more and more AV devices become commoditised, integrators are being forced to find new ways of generating income. Creating secure networks is proving to be a popular solution, so much so that router suppliers – D-Link and Pakedge, for example – are getting on board by making it easier for integrators to deploy a network within a home or business.

“Making the setup process quick and easy is an ever increasing focus of ours; if a device is too hard to setup it causes bad customer experiences,” Scott says.

“D-Link is producing devices that have security enabled and have simple setup guides, along with configuration cards in the box, to make it easier to get up and going. In addition to this our new mydlink Connected Home devices have a QR code that users can scan when adding their device to simplify the whole process of installation.”

Recently, D-Link launched its first ever tri-band wireless router, the AC3200. The new device reportedly delivers faster WiFi speeds of up to 3,200Mbps (600Mbps on 2.4Ghz and 2 x 1,300Mbps on 5GHz) and features six high-gain antennas and advanced AC SmartBeam technology, for enhanced WiFi speed and coverage.

“The major push behind tri-band technology is the increased device count. Most users will have an average of seven devices that require WiFi access to a network for internet connectivity,” Scott says.

This typically includes one laptop, three smart phones, a PC and a tablet or two.

“And as you add more users to the mix the device count increases exponentially. A tri-band router will enable you to split your devices across the three WiFi bands to alleviate congestion on the WiFi network while providing more bandwidth.

“The AC3200 is ideal for integrators as it not only provides the networking support that is needed in the backend for client devices, but it also supports flawless streaming. Streaming services like Netflix and Stan have brought in a new age of high bandwidth requirements and this is where the AC3200 router excels.”

D-Link isn’t alone in creating routers for the home of tomorrow.

Amped Wireless is shipping the next model in its TAP Series of touch screen WiFi devices, the TAP-R2. Designed to deliver three times the WiFi coverage of other routers, coupled with an incredibly fast and simple setup process that requires nothing but a few taps of your finger to complete.

“Many homes and offices are settling for poor performing, slow and outdated WiFi networks simply because they don’t want to wrestle with updating it,” Amped Wireless brand manager Lacey Limbrick says.

“We plan to change this networking experience with our TAP-R2. Consumers can now update and upgrade their network with next gen AC WiFi speeds and they’ll be able to get all of this accomplished and up and running in minutes. The touch screen setup eliminates headaches as it makes installation incredibly simple.”

The router’s setup is done entirely on the touch screen display. The TAP-R2 automatically detects your internet settings, the user gives the WiFi networks names and passwords, and setup is complete. No laptops or other devices are needed. The touch screen also allows for quick access to many features of the router including the setup and management of guest networks, the WiFi access schedule, user access controls, the strength of the WiFi signal in signal coverage controls and many other settings.

Both of these routers – the TAP-R2 and AC3200 – also show that routers are no longer supposed to be simple devices that you lock away in a cupboard somewhere. Both suppliers have spent considerable time on industrial design as well as technical enhancement.

“Gone are the days of an ugly dull router that was hidden away in a cabinet. Today routers are feature pieces that users want to show off,” Scott says.

“The AC3200 is the start of the future. Soon the next generation of 802.11ac devices will start to ship and these will provide even more bandwidth. But the AC3200 router that you see today is the pinnacle of modern technology.”

For savvy integrators, D-Link offers a Partner Rewards Program that could well be worth investigating.