A router directs traffic between computers on wired or wireless networks. Wireless networks are cheaper and easier to set up, but require a wireless router. A modem is needed for internet access, which can be combined with a wireless router. Different wireless standards exist, with 802.11n being the fastest. Dual-band routers support both 2.4g and 5n GHz standards, but are more expensive.
A router is a device used to direct the flow of traffic between local networked computers, either via Ethernet cables or radio wave technology. A network that uses Ethernet cabling is called a wired network, and radio wave networks are called wireless networks. Both types of networks have advantages and disadvantages, but wireless networks are the least expensive and easiest to set up because they don’t require running Ethernet cables between machines. Standard routers don’t have built-in wireless technology, so if you want wireless networking, you’ll need a wireless router.
While a wireless router can route local traffic on a network, a modem is required if you want Internet access. In many cases, digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable Internet service providers (ISP) provide a preconfigured modem to connect to the service. This type of router can be connected to your modem to provide Internet access to your network.
Another option is to get a wireless router with a built-in modem, reducing the number of devices you need. Most quality products in this line come with instructions for configuring the built-in modem to connect to popular national ISPs, usually a trivial exercise for anyone with little computer experience. If you choose to get one with a built-in modem, you’ll need to know what type of Internet access you’ll be getting (cable or DSL), or you’ll want a router model that supports both types.
There are several transmission standards, and a wireless router will support one or more, but not all of these standards. Wireless networking specifications are established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and are known as the 802.11 standard. A letter follows this designation, as in 802.11n, indicating which protocol the router supports. The difference between the protocols (e.g. 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11n…) is the signal strength and speed. Radio waves propagate in a circular pattern outward from the router. The stronger the signal, the further away you can place a computer or walk around with a laptop and still get a good signal. As strength decreases, performance decreases, creating data errors and lost signals.
As of Q4 2008, the legacy standard is 802.11g. A wireless router that supports 802.11g operates in the 2.4 GHz band and achieves speeds of approximately 54 megabits per second. A newer standard, to be finalized in 2009, is 802.11n, which operates in the 5 GHz band. One that supports the 802.11n standard can provide up to four times the speed of an 802.11g router. Note that each computer on the network will require an internal wireless card or external portable Wi-Fi device that supports the same protocol as your router.
Businesses already using the legacy 802.11g standard may want to add new computers to the network using the faster 802.11n standard. In this case, the answer may be a dual band wireless router that supports both the 2.4g 802.11 GHz standard and the 5n 802.11 GHz standard. Dual band routers will be more expensive because they contain two radios. If you’re setting up a network for the first time and don’t need a dual-band wireless router, you can save some money by sticking with a single-band model.
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