INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

Looks Like Google Has Another WiFi Router In The Works Scheduled For Oct. 4

By Jeremy Winslow
Published on: 13:49 PST, Sep 23, 2016

Back in August of last year, Google released OnHub, a router that was said to “[deliver] stronger WiFi connections and faster speed for every device, [meaning] smoother streaming, lag-free gaming, and lightning-quick downloads. Plus, it connects to more than 100 devices simultaneously and covers up to 2,500 square feet of your home.” It features up to 13 antennas (depending on the model you get, and they are only two), 1900 Mbps (max speed), and scans WiFi channels every five minutes to ensure you get the best, strongest, and fastest connection available. This device, a cylindrical, smaller version of Apple’s new trash can — I mean, Mac Pro — normally retails for $199, but can be purchased for much less at retailers like the Google Store and Amazon.

Well, it seems Google is said to introduce another router on October 4, and this router — dubbed simply as Google WiFi — is rumored to retail for $129.

Reported by Android Police, sources confirm that Google is launching this new router alongside a series of new devices at a confirmed Google event on October 4. These devices include “Google’s Pixel phones, Google Home, and the 4K ‘Chromecast Ultra.'” It’s unclear whether this Google WiFi will be a branded OnHub product or simply exist alongside OnHub as its own entity, but it’s supposed to have some pretty sweet features. According to Android Police, their source “claims that Google will advertise the router as having ‘smart’ features [and] that Google will claim it provides enhanced range over typical Wi-Fi routers. […] But the one thing that will make it an insta-buy for many over OnHub? Our source claims multiple Google Wifi access points (two or more) can be linked together to create one large wireless network.”

My fiance and I have two WiFi access points: one 2.4 GHz, the other 5 GHz. So, according to Google WiFi’s logic, our two access points should coalesce, creating one super access point. (I think of Goku and Vegeta fusing to create Vegito/Gogeta.) This sounds enticing, especially considering that the household uses the 5 GHz access point significantly more than the 2.4 GHz access point. (And rightfully so! Who wants slow internet? I don’t.) There are no details on how this works just yet, but Google’s event is in a mere two weeks (?); I imagine we’ll get more information regarding this WiFi access point fusion once we get closer to the event.

There is, however, information on the way Google WiFi will expand the connection speed in your household. As stated by Droid Life, “The point of Google WiFi is to be very much like Eero or Luma, two WiFi router products that expand in a house to help it cover every corner, so that you don’t have any weak spots. Google is pushing this as a ‘mesh technology’ powered by ‘modular’ bases in that you can add on parts to it, which is why I’m comparing it to those other two products. They work similarly, where you start with a router connected to your modem and then continue to add on new routers or modules to expand the network. If you are worried about security there, understand that new modules or routers will have to be a ‘trusted’ module, signed by Google.”

In other words, it seems that Google WiFi is that additional router you purchase at Walmart to help boost the connection of your current WiFi, quelling any weak spots so the denizens in your house don’t scream when their Netflix pauses to buffer.

Whatever the case, Google WiFi sounds kind of neat, and it’ll be interesting to see what Google has to say when they officially announce the device. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, October 4, and will start at 9 a.m. PST.

[Featured Image by Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Images]

Share this article: Looks Like Google Has Another WiFi Router In The Works Scheduled For Oct. 4
google
More from Inquisitr