The Luma Router is almost the cure for WiFi blues

One minute you’re cruising the web at supersonic speeds, the next minute you’re tapping your fingers while waiting for Netflix to buffer. Or your bandwidth suddenly drops because the kids have logged onto Xbox Live and you’re forced to wander around your house with your laptop hunting for a decent signal.

As the Internet of Things expands, this situation will only get worse. That’s why router makers like Eero and Luma are promoting a multi-unit solution: instead of one big ugly router beaming signals in every direction, they use a handful of smaller units connected via a mesh network.

These gadgets are different than traditional routers. They’re easy to set up, using a mobile app. In the case of Luma, they also add something routers have needed for a long time: beefed up security designed to protect all the devices on your home network, along with some parental control features.

Today, Luma made its routers available to the general public ($149 for one; $399 for a pack of three). The hexagonallyshaped Luma is slightly larger than a hockey puck and available in four colors: silver, gold, orange, or white. The design is minimalist: two Ethernet ports (in and out), a USB 2.0 for attaching external storage, and an AC port. Two 802.11ac antennas (2.4-GHz and 5-GHz) are inside.

You start by downloading the Luma app to your phone and create an account. You tell the app how many routers you want to set up, what kind of place you live in (apartment or home), how many floors your