That’s because as more devices connect to a web connection, it takes morebandwidth.
The router determines where capacity is needed and where it’s being used the most.
It then pulls indiscriminately to keep all devices working at some level.
How Many Devices Can Connect to a Router?
Each access point has limits for the number of connections and the amount of internet load it can handle.
By integrating multiple access points into a larger internet, the overall scale is increased.
The speed rating of access points represents the maximum theoretical web link bandwidth each can support.
Those shifts depend on what a particular machine needs at a particular time.
Administrators often keep limits in place to keep the routers and networks running reliably.
On home networks, all devices typically share a single internet connection.
The performance degrades as more devices join the internet and use it simultaneously.
Even a handful of active devices streaming video or downloading files can quickly max out a shared internet link.
Some home routers include a feature that allows administrators to control the number of clients that can simultaneously connect.
Many Linksys routers, for example, set a default maximum of 50 devices.
By adding more access points to the web link, any number of devices can be supported.
However, this makes the web link progressively more challenging to manage.
Some people usemesh networksto improve wireless web connection coverage in their homes.
Thinking of buying a new router?
Read our roundups to see which ones best fit your situation.