New technologies are increasingly entering our lives, and few are able to do without a computer and the Internet for even one day. There are more and more devices with access to the World Wide Web in each house, and there is usually one access point. This problem is solved by organizing a local (partially wired, partially wireless) home network to which all available equipment will be connected. For these tasks use routers, which are also called "routers".
All establishments selling computer hardware have a fairly large number of the most diverse models of this device, so selection problems often arise. All routers of the latest models imply the possibility of organizing WI-FI connections, but they differ in price several times, have different capabilities and functionality. So the question of how to choose a
WIFI router is very tough
. There are many subtleties and nuances that need to be considered.
How to choose a WIFI router
The most important thing is to know the type of Internet connection. It can be obtained from the provider. Connection may be:
- ADSL - using a telephone line;
- Ethernet - through local networks;
- 3G, 4G - wireless connection via mobile networks of the latest generations.
When choosing a specific router model, pay attention to the fact that there is an input port that supports your type of connection. There are models that have multiple inputs, and you can connect the Internet from two providers. This is convenient if you need to organize a stable connection, regardless of the presence of problems in one of them.
Answering the question of how to choose a WI-FI router, we further advise you to pay attention to the standard with which the device works. The
maximum transfer
rate with which your local network will work depends on it:
- 802.11b - provides a speed of no more than 11 Mbps.
- 802.11g - provides a speed of no more than 54 Mbps.
- 802.11n - theoretically provides speeds up to 600 Mbps.
How to choose a router for your home
Most modern devices with Internet access support
802.11n standard. So it’s logical to choose a router with such characteristics. If one of your devices has a lower standard, then it will work with a router of a higher rank, but at the speed that is available to it. If your router has a lower speed, then, of course, all devices will work at the speed that it can provide. Another point: do not overpay for the standard 802.11n, if the maximum speed of your connection is not higher than 50 Mbps.
When wondering which router to choose for the home, find out at what frequency all the devices in the house that have Internet access work. For most computers and other equipment, this figure is 2.4 GHz, but there are devices with an operating frequency of 5 GHz. If both types of devices are available, you will have to choose a router operating at two frequencies, which, of course, is somewhat more expensive, but it removes the restriction when acquiring new devices.
The next point to consider is the number and type of antennas. They can be built-in and removable. If you intend to use wireless Internet only in your apartment, then models with built-in antennas will be enough, but if you want to "climb" on the global network while sitting on a bench near the house, then external ones are mandatory.
In fact, a router is a small computer with limited functionality, and, like any computer, it has a certain amount of memory and a processor. The larger the first and the more productive the second, the better and faster your local network will work. Therefore, choose the “coolest” in terms of these parameters from the options available to you.
This is perhaps all you need to pay attention to. We hope that it became clear to you how to choose a WI-FI router, what characteristics you should pay attention to first of all. There is also a minor point: the presence of USB ports. This is sometimes very convenient: you can connect a printer or external drive, other devices that have such an input.