Slow wifi router, need new one?

The short answer is absolutely you need to update your router. You have quite a few wireless devices on your network. Wireless itself operates like a 2 lane highway. Meaning the fastest a car can go is the what the slowest speed device is doing. Most wireless routers today are dual band which in essence provides 2 sets of roads. Additionally the second band (5ghz) has more speed capacity the original 2.4ghz.

There have been many other enhancements to wireless technology over the years as well. Multiple radios per band (this increases speed as it increases available bandwidth). Your iPad Air is a good example of this. It has 2 radios per band where your iphone 4s only has 1. Your Galaxy S4 even has AC technology which is the latest standard able to reach gigabit speeds wirelessly.

Your situation is not unique. Today more and more homes have multiple users sharing wireless space. That's why your seeing a big push toward dual band, AC and even TriBand wireless routers. I addition to the bandwidth is router speed. This is another area that has improved with dual core cpu's, multiple cpus for router functions and radio management and more.

This is a long explanation but your question and need is a big one.

Let me suggest you check out a few wireless routers that will be a very good upgrade.

NETGEAR R7000 X3 AC 1900mbs Router. This is the current gold standard in performance. Super performance and range. You can read a review I wrote here http://www.avsforum.com/forum/39-networking-media-servers-content-streaming/1493322-netgear-r7000-nighthawk-ac1900-router-review-comments-thread.html

NETGEAR R8000 X6 AC 3200 mbs TriBand router. This router builds on the R7000 by adding a 3rd band. It has 2 5ghz radio sets in essence doubling that important bandwidth. 2.4ghz is the same is the R7000. See my introduction to it here. http://www.avsforum.com/forum/39-networking-media-servers-content-streaming/1579850-netgear-nighthawk-r8000-triband-ac-router-review-comments-thread.html

NETGEAR WNDR4500 This is a 900mbs dual band N based router. One of the best N based routers available.

My advice is to look at the R7000 or R8000. If you expect wireless device activity to increase then you would be better served by the R8000 Triband, But any of the 3 I suggest will be worlds difference then what you have today.

Bob Silver
NETGEAR Networking Consultant