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Wi-Fi logo and photo of an sunset seen from an airplane
How to connect to Alaska Airlines in-flight Wi-Fi

Alaska Airlines offers fast satellite Wi-Fi on almost all its flights

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Airplanes connect to the internet through two methods. The antennas mounted on aircraft pick up signals from ground-based cell towers or orbiting satellites. Alaska Airlines has some aircraft outfitted with air-to-ground (ATG) antennas and most with satellite connections. Your flight's Wi-Fi method is determined by the type of aircraft and its age. New additions to Alaska's fleet are being built with satellite connectivity because it's faster and more reliable than ATG connections.

A colorful Wi-Fi sign on a dark background
Which phones support Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi 7 is making its way to the smartphone market. Does your phone have it?

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2023 was an exciting year. Wi-Fi Alliance announced the powerful Wi-Fi 6/Wi-Fi 6E successor. Wi-Fi 7 introduced a new standard with speed, capacity, and latency over the previous generation. The update promises to boost the speed over four times the best available Wi-Fi connection. Though the technology is here, it has yet to be fully implemented. And to take full advantage of Wi-Fi 7's upgraded properties, you will want to know if your phone can support it — especially if you're in the market for a new smartphone. So, in our guide, we've listed all the phones that have received official Wi-Fi 7 confirmation and the upcoming devices we expect to support it.

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Best VPN for Eero routers in 2024

Turn your Eero Wi-Fi router into a security powerhouse with these superb VPN services

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A VPN is a secret weapon against virtual prying eyes and all kinds of nasty internet threats. And those looking to protect every device on their Wi-Fi network will want a VPN service compatible with routers. If you happen to have an Amazon Eero router, though, you'll run into an issue: Eero routers don't support VPNs.

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How to find your Wi-Fi password on your Android phone or tablet thumbnail
How to find your Wi-Fi password on your Android phone or tablet

Using a password manager makes this easier

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Some people write their Wi-Fi password on the bottom of their home router. While that password is safe, it's hard to remember. You don't need to write down your Wi-Fi password. You can find your Wi-Fi password in a jiffy on your Android device, whether a new Google Pixel 8 Pro or a cheap tablet.

The Roku logo against a purple film roll
How to connect your Roku TV or streamer to Wi-Fi without a remote

There are still options even if the remote gets lost or damaged

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Roku is a popular and versatile streaming device for watching your favorite TV shows, movies, and series. With one of the best Roku streaming devices, you can enjoy your favorite content whenever you want. But what happens when you lose the remote that came with your Roku? This guide explains how to connect your Roku streaming device to your Wi-Fi network without a remote using the Roku app, which you can download on any smartphone or tablet.

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Best Wi-Fi 7 mesh routers in 2024

Wi-Fi 7 is still new, but there are already some great mesh networking kits available

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Wi-Fi 7 was certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance in the first days of 2024, paving the way for faster and more reliable internet. It's set to take over for Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, and router manufacturers have already hit the market with some Wi-Fi 7 routers to accommodate the (so far) limited amount of devices supporting the new standard.

Samsung Galaxy S22 close up on Wi-Fi setting
Best Wi-Fi 7 routers in 2024

Want to get a head start on Wi-Fi 7 networking? Check out one of these great routers already offering the new technology

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It seems like we were just seeing Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E get settled in, but Wi-Fi 7 is already here. What is Wi-Fi 7? It's the new IEEE 802.11be standard, succeeding the 802.11ax standard used for Wi-Fi 6. The Wi-Fi Alliance has already begun certifying devices for Wi-Fi 7, and there are indeed some great Wi-Fi 7 routers already on the market.

A Google Nest Wifi router sitting on a wooden desk with a lamp.
How to change your Google Nest router password

Always set a strong Wi-Fi password to prevent your network from getting compromised

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Google Nest Wi-Fi routers are the best gadgets for creating an environment in your house or another place where your devices can instantly and easily connect to the internet. The Google Nest Wifi Pro is the latest Wi-Fi router that supports Wi-Fi 6E. It's easy to set up, gives a sleek look that goes with any home's interior, and has excellent internet performance.

A colorful Wi-Fi sign on a dark background
Wi-Fi 7 explained: How fast is it and when can I use it?

Learn how Wi-Fi 7 will improve your network with much faster speed, reliable internet, and better smart home connectivity

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Everyone wants better internet, and thanks to the fast pace of technology, Wi-Fi 7 is coming soon. Since we use the internet for work, news, entertainment, and controlling smart home devices, a faster and more reliable connection will make everything easier.

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How to turn your Android phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot

One device to connect 'em all

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Android phones have a handy feature that allows you to share your cellular connection with other devices, turning any phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot. In many situations, this can be a lifesaver. If you own a 5G Chromebook, like the Acer Chromebook Spin 714, or a 5G tablet, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, getting online isn't a problem. But for many other devices requiring the internet, you need a secure connection to a Wi-Fi source or be plugged in directly.

A stylized render of what the Google Pixel 8 Pro is likely to look like in its white version, with the name of the phone written in the background. A while ring is highlighting the section next to the cameras.
FCC filing hints at next-gen Wi-Fi for Google's Pixel 8 series

Wi-Fi 7 support could be on the way

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In today's connected world, every evolution in wireless technology marks a significant step forward. As Wi-Fi continues to evolve with its iterations, the promise of Wi-Fi 7 has tech enthusiasts buzzing with excitement. This advanced wireless technology, still in the wings, looks to transform our wireless experience at home, bringing faster speeds and higher reliability. And if recent FCC filings are any indication, Google's Pixel 8 series may be among the first to offer this next-gen Wi-Fi capability.

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Get ready for light-based Wi-Fi, because it's now an official standard

Think of Li-Fi as Wi-Fi, but without radio waves and like, ultra-fast

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Wi-Fi is a basic part of our lives at this point, but back in the 90s, it was a groundbreaking concept. Internet without wires? The thought of connecting your computer to the World Wide Web without hooking it up to a modem was surreal until Apple did it with the iBook in 1999 (which in classic Apple fashion it made into a proprietary thing for its devices, called AirPort). By now, though, it's a concept we're all familiar with. That doesn't mean there can't be more innovation, however. Wi-Fi uses radio waves, but what if there was a better way? Li-Fi was just made into a standard, IEEE 802.11bb — and it harnesses the power of light to give you connectivity.

The latest Asus Wi-Fi 6E router.
What is Wi-Fi 6E?

Wi-Fi 6 has a version called Wi-Fi 6E: Here's everything you should know about it

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Wi-Fi upgrades keep coming, and the terminology can quickly bewilder the average consumer. If you haven't upgraded your Wi-Fi router or phone in several years, looking at the new options may lead to a lot of confusion. What happened to old standards like IEEE 802.11ac? What does ax mean now? What about Wi-Fi 6, and is that different from Wi-Fi 6E?

Matter explained: What is the next-gen smart home protocol

Your devices will finally work together as they should

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The massive growth of the smart home market has led to problems with competing standards and protocols. The World Economic Forum estimates that more than 130 million households owned a smart home device in 2022. These issues have grown exponentially. Matter solves these problems by establishing a new smart home standard that allows smart home devices to be controlled by one app, improves security, and creates more reliable connections. Today, the best smart home devices that support Matter include devices from Google, Apple, and Amazon.

Wyze Mesh Router Pro connected status light
Wyze Mesh Router Pro review: Strong speeds with underwhelming software

The Wyze Mesh Router Pro is a solid mesh system with support for fast internet speeds around the house.

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There’s nothing really special about the Wyze Mesh Router Pro — from its compact, Eero-like physical design to its run-of-the-mill AXE5400 Wi-Fi 6E connection. This mesh Wi-Fi kit is roughly equivalent in speed and coverage to several other mesh Wi-Fi kits like the Eero Pro 6E, TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro, or the Nest Wifi Pro, which isn’t a bad thing at all. The tri-band AXE5400 wireless connection is balanced to deliver strong performance on older 5GHz-only devices and 6GHz devices alike.

What is Wi-Fi 7?

And should you be planning on an upgrade when routers that support it are released?

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With our world revolving around mobile and always online devices, Wi-Fi has been the go-to wireless technology to keep all our gadgets connected. And with every passing generation, the Wi-Fi standard continues to improve while offering new features that appeal to the modern smart home user. Wi-Fi 7 is the next generation of this popular wireless technology that promises a giant leap forward over the previous two standards, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. Although Wi-Fi 7 isn't quite ready for public use, you can check out the best Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers if you need an upgrade today.

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Delta will offer free Wi-Fi to all flyers starting February

You will need to sign up for Delta SkyMiles, though

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In-flight connectivity has improved by leaps and bounds over the past several years. While internet access on flights has been around for a while, it almost always involves hefty carrier fees or other member-only caveats. Delta is looking to change that by offering free Wi-Fi on nearly all of its routes starting February 1.

Samsung One UI text overlaid on a Galaxy tablet
Samsung's One UI 5 opens up a whole new settings menu just for Wi-Fi

These tools will be useful for finding dead zones and sussing out apps' data traffic

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Samsung is sailing full speed ahead for the launch of One UI 5 (on top of Android 13) on its latest phones — including, just announced, the Galaxy S22 series of devices in Germany, South Korea, and the United States — and it seems confident of where it is headed. We just covered some of the changes the company wants to make to the operating system's gesture shortcuts. Now, we're taking a look at some advanced Wi-Fi settings and where in the interface they'll call home.

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Boost your Wi-Fi for $140 less this Prime Day with this Eero Pro 6 multi-pack deal

Upgrade your wireless now and don't worry about it for several years

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Many of the gadgets we buy are meant to be replaced fairly often, but when it comes to your Wi-Fi, it’s usually worth investing in good equipment that won’t cause problems or require a fresh setup every couple of years. Thanks to Prime Day, there’s an opportunity to pick up the Eero Pro 6, one of the best mesh Wi-Fi routers on the market, for its lowest price ever. Through the rest of today, you can buy a 2-pack for just $259.

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This month's security patch seems to have caused a glitch on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro where a number of owners can't get Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to stay on at the same time. After plenty of bellyaching, Google has a response.

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