Do you know what a WIFI router is? How does it work, what is it for? But today, almost every person can be called modern, that is, owning a computer and having this technique at home. It is logical that if there is a PC, then there is Internet access.
Moreover, there may be several gadgets, so you need to look for a solution to simultaneously connect them to the World Wide Web.
What is a router?
In order to be able to simultaneously find several devices on the Network, a router or router is used. To understand how a Wi-Fi router works, you need to have an idea of its structure and functionality.
So, for each house there is one point of the incoming signal. It is to her that the network device, that is, the router, is connected. And already from it you can distribute a signal to any number of devices.
In principle, the router itself is a small box, which includes a motherboard in the case, a power supply, antennas for transmitting a WI-FI signal, and a patch cord for connecting to a PC.
Types of Routers
In order to understand how a WI-FI router for a home works, you need to know what types of routers are. About it further.
Standard routers are somewhat limited in functionality. At the same time, they can connect 4 computers via wired connection, as well as up to 10 gadgets using Wi-Fi. Naturally, much depends on the speed of the Internet, the lower the speed, the worse the connection speed.
Professional routers are equipped with USB connectors for connecting auxiliary devices and creating servers. There are 3G and 4G modems, they are slightly different from ordinary ones. Although it’s not at all difficult to understand how a WIFI router with a SIM card works. Due to mobile reception, such routers have a large range, as well as more reliable operation. Naturally, the speed of such devices is higher.
Even more expensive and high-quality devices have a set of additional options that will come in handy:
- restriction of access to all users to certain resources;
- enable a common firewall;
- manual distribution of network traffic between users, as well as the installation of various network encryption options.
How to choose a WIFI router
To choose a device, you need to decide what it will be used for and what kind of load is expected on it. Here, experts recommend adhering to the following criteria:
- When figuring out how a WI-FI router works, before buying, you should consider where you get the device. If you go home, then a normal router will be enough. It supports standard communication channels (IEEE 802.11g) and is able to provide a stable connection in networks up to 500 Mbps.
- Dear routers, with support for connecting external sources and SIM cards, are needed to support the activities of large companies with a large number of work terminals.
Operating principle
Actually, there is nothing complicated in how a wireless WI-FI router works. It just receives the signal coming from the user, converts it and sends it further. To do this, the entire routing path is automatically determined and registered in the settings.
This is not an axiom, and there are other ways the router works. In particular, there are options when the router filters the key requests and entered addresses of the recipients, after which it either forwards them to the addressee or rejects them as undesirable.
But in most situations, the scheme is the same - the information packet is processed, its header is detected and, if matches are found on the network, it is sent on.
How to configure the router correctly
After acquiring a router, it’s not enough just to connect it to the power supply, insert all the cords, and wait for it to start distributing Wi-Fi. Fine tune should be done. The principle of how a Wi-Fi router works is the same for all models, but the settings for all types are practically the same.
The sequence of actions should be clearly followed:
- Connect the router to the network and insert the incoming point into the desired connector (the desired port is marked WAN on the device).
- You need to configure the software, that is, optimize it as a separate equipment. To do this, you need to know how the Wi-Fi router for home works, or rather, how it will work. If there is only one PC, then through the patch cord you need to connect the router to the computer. The Internet will appear automatically.
- If there is a need for Wi-Fi distribution, then you need to additionally configure the router. You can use any browser (Chrome, Yandex, Opera, Firefox, Internet Explorer) for this. In the address bar, enter 192.168.1.1. or 192.168.0.1 (depending on the model of the router).
- After that, the admin panel should open in the browser, or rather the login / password window. By the way, this instruction will help you figure out how a dual-band Wi-Fi router works. Now, many routers are designed to operate in two frequency ranges, depending on the provider.
- Login and password also vary depending on the router model (admin-admin, admin-1234 and others). After the desired combination is entered, the detailed settings page for the router opens before the user.
- If there is not enough knowledge in this area, you can choose the Quick Setup, where virtually all the actions will be performed automatically. The only thing the user will need to come up with a password for their wireless network.
Channel selection for distribution
Another important nuance that you need to know for those who install a Wi-Fi router at home is how the data channel works. Almost all known router models (Zyxel Keenetic, TP-Link, D-Link, Asus) are capable of operating at frequencies from 2.4 to 2.48 GHz. This means that in this range separate channels are formed for operation. It is important not to miss the choice of country in the settings (in this case, Russia). If you set the region incorrectly, then the router may well not find the access point.
New models of the above manufacturers are already able to work in two ranges. That is, the already mentioned 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Naturally, most users absolutely do not care at what frequency the Wi-Fi router works, but its quality and the speed of packet exchange depend on it.
Although you can buy an inexpensive router for your home, due to the small load on it and the small number of users.
Work range
This aspect is most worrying for users - at what distance does the Wi-Fi router work. Will there be enough power to reach the farthest room in the house, and will there be a steady connection?
Here it is necessary to consider in detail what the wave radius and the permissible limits established by the state depend on. For home use, devices with a capacity of more than 100 mW are allowed. But this is a theory, and in practice, most modern routers work with an allowable power of 50 mW. This means that in the absence of interference and any obstacles, the radius of the router is about 120-150 m. But this is in the external environment, and is reduced by three times in the room. If the premises are separated by partitions, then even less.
To determine the radius of the signal distribution, the following factors should be considered:
- productive capacity;
- the selected communication protocol (802.11 with the corresponding letter - b, a, g, n);
- the presence of antennas that enhance the signal;
- number of obstacles (walls, fences, other wave devices, etc.).
Based on the foregoing, it becomes clear how the Wi-Fi router in the apartment works, the signal is distributed, and why the signal is weak at the point where the gadget is the longest from the router.
Factors Affecting Signal Radius
It is worth considering separately the factors that directly affect the quality of Wi-Fi signal transmission from the router to devices. Generally speaking, everything that only can affect this parameter:
- the selected frequency of the router (if the protocol is chosen incorrectly, the amplifying antennas will not work);
- the higher the power of the device, the greater the likelihood that the quality may be worse;
- amplifying antennas. To increase the range of Wi-Fi, you should carefully approach the choice of the desired antenna;
- external noises. This may be the work of other household appliances, power lines in the immediate vicinity, mobile communications;
- weather conditions and indoor temperature. Exactly so, environmental conditions also have a place to be. And they can make a signal worse.
Problems with the router
Sometimes there are incomprehensible problems, and the router stops working properly. There are not so many reasons, and very often the root of the problem is the error of the initial stage, namely when setting up the router to work. If the problem is not mechanical (damage to the device itself), then it can be solved at home:
- The router control panel does not work. I can’t log in through the browser at one of the addresses (192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
- There is no Internet indicator (WAN).
- There is no review for incoming point connection.
- Wi-Fi is only available when the computer is turned on (with a cable connection to a router).
- Internet is only available on PC, and Wi-Fi network is not available.
- The Internet is periodically disconnected - it is eliminated only by a constant reboot of the router.
This is not a complete list of malfunctions that provide an answer to the question - why does a Wi-Fi router work poorly. But the good news is that you can fix them without leaving your home.
Troubleshooting at home
Before you begin to solve connection problems, it is better to play it safe and perform a few simple steps:
- Perhaps a simple reboot of the router will help to solve the problem. You need to disconnect it from the network, and wait at least 30-60 seconds.
- You can try to connect the cable coming from the provider directly to the device (PC or laptop). Based on the results of this check, you can identify possible problems - it is likely that the Internet is absent due to the fault of the provider. Well, or it’s just time to replenish the personal account.
- If Wi-Fi does not catch on just one device, then the problem is clearly in the device. You need to reconsider the settings or try reconnecting to the wireless network again.
To solve the problem with the lack of Wi-Fi, do the following:
- It is necessary to measure the speed of the Internet in both ways (wire and Wi-Fi). Deviations, if permissible, are minimal. If large deviations are observed, then update the wireless adapter drivers on the device.
- As an effective means, you can change the channel, i.e. at 5 GHz. This helps to 100% eliminate the problem that too much interference and noise affect the operation of the router, often even blocking the signal.
- If the problem is with the router, you can try updating its software version. The procedure is automatic, you just need to select the appropriate item in the control panel of the router.
What to do if the router often shuts down
And finally, the most popular problem is the frequent shutdown of the router.
Really annoying, when everything seems to be working, everything is connected and working properly, and with a frequency of 5-10 minutes, the Internet disappears and you have to restart the router. The first sign is the appearance on all devices on the network icon of an exclamation mark in a yellow triangle.
The reason lies in the router itself, namely, that it does not have enough power to pull out the peak load (simultaneous Internet access of a large number of users, a working torrent client, online movies, games).
The first solution is to update the device firmware to the latest version. Next, you should disable all applications that are currently unnecessary, which create a load on the network.
Sometimes resetting the router to factory settings and reassigning them helps.
If this does not help, then you may have to fork out and purchase a more expensive router.