Picking out the right wireless router

by Lesley Sampson Freelance Writer

In principle, the concept of a router is simple. You need something through which you can access the internet from anywhere in the house with a number of computers. But it is not as simple as that, things rarely are.

 

Wireless routers are subject to so many varying factors and environmental fluctuations that you may begin to question why you wanted one in the first place. It is easy, and quite acceptable, to purchase the cheapest and nearest router you find.

 

But then you won’t need to look very far for something to blame when hunched over your laptop, near tears, after attempting to stream the final episode of Breaking Bad for the 500^th time in a row.

 

First you will look to your router. And after throwing it angrily across the room, you will look at yourself for buying the first and cheapest wireless router you saw.

 

There are a few different types of wireless router and there are many stores, online and offline, that have a wide range of items available – wireless routers at BT shop, for example.

 

You  need to look at what you will be using the device for.  A home-user who just browses the Daily Mail site doesn't need the same kind of router as an online gaming enthusiast. If you are the former, a simple, single band router will probably work for everything you are going to need.

 

Performance varies between models – you need to look at what speed and range you will need in your home. Do you want to go to the end of the garden with your laptop? Or to the top floor of your huge house?

 

Those who are looking for a little more, like HD video streaming or moving large files, should start to look upwards from there. Again, a serious gamer, someone who enjoys hours of Call of Duty online, shouldn't settle for any old router.

 

Single-band routers transmit data using a 2.4GHz frequency. Dual-band routers can simultaneously broadcast on both 2.4 and 5GHz frequencies, giving faster speeds and better performance over longer distances. Also, if you are experiencing interference you can change the channel of your router on 2.4 GHZ – but there are more channels available on 5 GHz.

 

All wireless devices adhere to a standard known as 802.11. If you’re buying for personal use, rather than for commercial reasons, you can ignore the majority of confusing acronyms. But you should buy a router that matches your PC or laptop. If you buy an 802.11n router for laptop that has an 802.11g radio inside, then it won't make your connection any faster than an 802.11g router.

 

In this situation you should go for an 802.11n router with three aerials; mounted internally or externally. However, this is only of any use if the wireless radio inside your laptop also has three aerials. And, if you are operating at the more technologically advanced end of the scale, the latest 802.11x technology – 802.11ac – is a step up from, 802.11n.

 

It is a confusing world.

 

The first thing to look at is whether you need an ADSL modem or cable router. If you have a cable connection then you’ll need a broadband router (or cable router). If this is the case, you will already have a modem supplied by your ISP, the router simply connects to this using an Ethernet cable.

 

ASDL connections, similarly, need an ASDL router which combines the broadband modem and wireless router in one box.

 

If you are concerned about privacy or other people nearby stealing your internet, all routers have some form of encryption. There are two main types, WEP and WPA. The latter of those two is newer and stronger. Some allow you to limit how far your router broadcasts – if you don’t want it to go beyond the walls of your house, they can be reduced.

 

Last but not least, check that your wireless router will work with your computer before you buy.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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