Name the failure in one sentence
'The internet is slow' does not point to a purchase. 'My 10 a.m. video call drops audio at the desk upstairs, but not in the kitchen' does. Write down the app, device, location, time and symptom for each incident for a week. That log decides what, if anything, to buy.
This is a research guide built from Google's Nest Wifi troubleshooting documentation and GL.iNet's Flint 2 product page. The $50 monthly cap is a hypothetical discretionary budget on top of existing internet and computer costs. We have not measured any home office.
Free checks that narrow it down
These checks follow Google's list of slow-internet causes: distance and placement, obstructions, competing traffic, plan limits, 2.4 GHz versus 5 GHz, older devices, interference from neighbouring networks and electronics, a second router broadcasting the same name, and modem problems. [1]
| Check | How | If it points here |
|---|---|---|
| Internet plan | Speed test next to the router; compare with what you pay for | Restart modem (unplug 2 minutes); if still low, call the ISP |
| Distance and walls | Same task next to the router, then at the desk | Move the router or mesh point; clear line of sight |
| Wi-Fi band | Is the device on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz? | Prefer 5 GHz near the router; 2.4 GHz may be slower |
| Household traffic | Repeat the task with streaming and backups paused | Schedule big transfers; set a priority device if available |
| Cables and switches | Check the cable category and the switch rating | Replace anything limited to 100 Mbps |
| The device | Same task on another device at the same spot | Update or replace the device, not the router |
Match the finding to the cheapest fix
| Finding | Fix | Typical cost tier |
|---|---|---|
| Slow at the router too | ISP support or plan change | Monthly plan cost, not hardware |
| Fine at the router, poor at the desk | Move router or mesh point first; then wired link to the desk | Free, then the price of a cable |
| Wired link stuck at 100 Mbps | Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable, gigabit switch | Low |
| Calls fail only when others upload or stream | Router with traffic shaping (see the bufferbloat guide) | Router purchase |
| Need a backup during ISP outages | Second internet source plus a router with failover | Router plus a data plan |
| Old router cannot reach plan speed even wired | New router | Router purchase |
When a new router is justified, and what Flint 2 offers
Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) was listed at $169.99 on GL.iNet's product page on 29 October 2026. It has Wi-Fi 6, two 2.5G Ethernet ports (one WAN, one switchable WAN/LAN), four gigabit LAN ports and USB 3.0, and runs from a 12V/4A DC adapter. GL.iNet lists multi-WAN failover and load balancing, and client-mode VPN maximums of 900 Mbps with WireGuard and 880 Mbps with OpenVPN (with DCO). [2]
Those features matter if your log shows the router is the limit: it cannot reach your plan speed over a cable, you need more wired ports, you want a VPN for the whole house at high speed, or you need automatic failover to a second connection. They do not fix a desk that is simply too far from the router, a slow plan, or an ISP outage with no second connection.
The $50-a-month plan
A budget is a ceiling, not a target. If month two fixes the problem, the savings stay saved. If you decide to save for a router, write that down as a separate goal so it does not quietly become permission to overspend in one month.
| Month | Action | Spend |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keep the incident log; run the free checks; move equipment | $0 |
| 2 | Buy the cheapest fix the log supports (cable, switch, mesh repositioning) | Up to $50, tax included |
| 3 | Repeat the original task; stop if it now passes | $0 if fixed |
| 4 and on | If the router is proven to be the limit, save toward it | $169.99 for Flint 2 is more than three months at $50 |
Prove the fix worked
Before any change, write a pass mark such as 'three scheduled calls from the desk with no audio drops'. After the change, repeat the same calls at similar times. Keep the before and after notes side by side. A single good speed test is not the same as a week of reliable calls.
The CSV worksheet has worked planning examples and blank rows. It contains no invented speeds or results.
Recover an unfinished Riverside upload — Video Tools Compared — If the failure is confined to a Riverside guest track, follow the original-device recovery checks before treating it as a reason to replace the router.
Questions before you decide
What should I check before buying a new router for home-office Wi-Fi?
Run the failing task next to the router and at your desk, compare a speed test with your plan, and try a wired connection if you can. Google's troubleshooting guide lists distance, walls, other electronics, 2.4 GHz connections, older devices, competing household traffic and ISP problems as causes; a new router fixes only some of them.
Will a second router keep me online during an ISP outage?
Not if it uses the same failed connection. A router with multi-WAN failover, which GL.iNet lists for Flint 2, can switch to a second source such as a cellular connection, but you still need that second source and its data plan.
Which Ethernet cable do I need?
Google recommends Cat 5e or Cat 6 cables for internet speeds faster than 100 Mbps, and says switches, modems and splitters should be rated at or above your plan's speed. An older cable or switch can quietly cap a wired link at 100 Mbps.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Google Nest Help: Troubleshoot slow internet on Nest Wifi or Google Wifi Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- GL.iNet: Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) price and specifications Accessed 29 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.