How To Buy The Best Wireless Router
It is hard to find a home that does not have at least two computers or a computer and a gaming system. These are probably the two most popular gadgets that people use in their homes for both business and pleasure. Thanks to the advancement in technology people have the ability to use a wireless router to connect everything easily and without multiple wires or cords.
With the right router in your home you will be able to use the Internet no matter where you are in the home and without having to hook directly to it. There are a wide variety of routers available making it difficult for anyone who is not tech savvy to know what works best. There are many factors that you should consider and features to look for when trying to choose not only the brand – but also the speed of the router.
Number Of Connections
The first thing that you need to consider is size. How many computers, laptops, gaming consoles, and PDA’s you are trying to connect to one router. The majority of wireless routers are designed with LAN ports that will allow you to connect your computers using cables and a wireless antenna. If the computer is built with a LAN card then it does not need to be connected with a cable.
Internet Service Provider
It is important to know the wireless standard that your Internet Service Provider – also known as the ISP – uses. This will help you to know the data transfer rate that you can get. 802.11a and 802.11g are the most common standards and 54Mbps is usually the maximum transfer rate. However, it is possible to find better numbers in ones that are new.
Security
There are many computer hackers or people who are looking to obtain free Internet access by feeding off a simple wireless connection. To avoid this and to keep all of your documents safe you need a router that will provide you with strong security options. Purchase a Wired Equivalent Privacy compatible router. This uses data encryption and will require a password when accessing it. WPA2 is the highest level of security you can find.
Internal Or External Antenna
There are two types of antennas that a wireless router is able to use; internal and external. The external antenna will offer a better signal transmission. The downside to this is that it can get in the way of someone who owns a laptop and is constantly moving their computer. The internal antennas are best to use in small homes with laptops. These often come with a port where you can use an external antenna when necessary.