do i need anew router

[marvyxx]

I have a Linksys wrt54gs router now.. my ISP is RCN and my wife's computer is directly connected. she gets download speeds of 21 Mbps while my highest speed test was 5.6 Mbps.. a friend recommend I get anew router - will that increase my laptops download speed?
thanks

 

[kanewolf]

Probably. A new router will be an N router with at least 150Mbit speed. The AC1200 and the N600 or N900 routers are the best choices depending on your price point. The smallnetbuilder.com Router Chooser -- http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tools/router-chooser/chooser can help with the choices. There are lots of other tools and info on that site also.

 

[RealBeast]

The way you describe it, it sounds like you are using wireless. With an old G wireless router 5.6Mbps is about what I would expect. As kanewolf says, a new router will help a lot -- if your laptop adapter supports a faster connection like N or AC (and I expect it at least can handle N but check).