When was the last time you purchased a WiFi Router for your home?

You had better sit down. Before you read this. Especially if you haven't purchased one in a couple of years. That's how long they seem to last. Cable modems seem to last a lot longer. I've only had to change mine when my connection to the Internet has increased beyond its capacity. WiFi Routers have rarely last more than two years, two and a half if I'm lucky. Most everyone I talk to reports the same. In the past I could purchase the top of the line router for less than $100. No more. When I walked into the store this time, I discovered nothing under $100. The cheap ones were under $200. Good equipment cost between $240 and $500. Yes, I said Five Hundred Dollars. WTF? Well, when I got back home with my $275 model and the technician's withering glare still feeling hot on my back, I think I discovered the reason. After installing the new device (using my former router identity and password to avoid having to setup everything again) I looked at the app on my smart phone (yes, that's where you set up everything these days) and looked at the list of attached devices, I discovered that I had 14 of them. WTF? When did that happen? Well, in the past two years (since I purchased my last WiFi Router) I seem to have acquired a lot of wireless devices, all communicating with the Internet and with each other over my WiFi. There's two Apple TVs, one Amazon Fire TV, two ROKU TVs, a BlueRay DVDR, a smart TV (my computer monitor), two smartphones (three to five more when my daughter and her family visit), three Kindles (three more when the granddaughters are here), the printer, and the thermostat. There were two more over the Christmas holidays controlling the lights. I guess that's why I needed more capacity. You may too. Be prepared for the sticker shock...