TP-Link Archer NX505 5G router, Wi-Fi 6 AX3000, gigabit ports

A 5G mobile network brings internet to places that have no fibre or cable line, or where installing one would take too long. The Archer NX505 receives the connection and passes it on to every device in the home or office, so you do not have to use your phone as a hotspot. It needs a SIM card with a data plan and coverage from your mobile operator.

AX stands for the Wi-Fi 6 standard (802.11ax), and 3000 is the combined theoretical speed of both bands in megabits per second. The 2.4 GHz band reaches further through walls, while 5 GHz is faster for devices close by. Wi-Fi 6 is designed for networks with many phones, laptops and smart devices connected at once, and it remains compatible with older Wi-Fi devices.

Gigabit in the name means the router's Ethernet connection runs at up to 1000 Mbps. A desktop computer, TV, games console or network switch is worth connecting by cable: a wired link is more stable than Wi-Fi and does not share airtime with other devices. The manufacturer does not list the exact number of ports.

The quality of a mobile connection depends on where the router stands. A place near a window or on a high shelf usually gets a stronger signal than a cupboard or basement, yet the router should stay central enough for Wi-Fi to reach every room. Before settling on a final spot, it is worth trying the unit in a couple of places.

Owners of a holiday home, country house or small office that cable internet does not reach, or where running a line makes no sense; temporary workplaces where the network has to work straight away; and anyone whose operator offers 5G and who wants to share it with several devices at once, not just one phone.