How to choose the wifi router for your home network: key features comparison
Among the objects of technology more prevalent in homes and businesses is the wifi router, that device that allows you to create a wireless network so you can connect to the internet each computer or mobile phone without the need for wires.
Anyone who wanted to remove the cables from home, he can buy a wifi router and connect it to your modem provided by the ISP.
Even those who already have a router can buy a new one to replace the old or less quick to extending the range of the signal (even if this is done before with an access point cheaper).
Who does not know what a router, or at least if you do not know what to look at, it can read this guide to buying, to know what kind of router model and get the best buy at the lowest price possible.
1) Buy a Wi-Fi router that supports the 802.11n standard.
The 802.11 standard have been created by an organization known as the WiFi Alliance, a trade association represented by companies interested in promoting a common standard for the wireless Internet.
IEEE 802.11 is the name of the first standard speed wireless internet access.
Today, the standard IEEE 802.11n is faster, much more reliable than the older 802.11g or 11b that is still on the market.
For a WiFi IEEE 802.11n is necessary that both the router and the card you received your computer are compatible with this standard.
Even if this were not so, it is important to know that an 802.11n router also supports 802.11g devices (which still can not benefit from the increased bandwidth).
2) Transmission speed 300 Mbps
Since the best option for a new router to buy is one that supports 802.11n, you have to see what kind of 11n router should take.
There are different types of 802.11n router that differ in the maximum speed of data.
If you look at the various models in a store you will notice speeds ranging from 150 Mbps or 300 Mbps, even up to 900 Mbps
The maximum data transfer rate of a 11n is 150 Mbps for a single data stream.
A router still supports simultaneous data streams to create a single large flow of data from 300 Mbps or more.
Needless to still spend a lot of money for a router that goes to 1000 per hour because both the wifi card of the computer or phone does not support these speeds, making it unnecessary spending.
Most laptops, tablets and phones can use only one or two simultaneous data streams.
In addition, generally the actual performance are always lower than what is being announced.
Searching on Google, the technical features of your card Wifi, you can find the speed supported to know if it's worth buying a more powerful router or not.
You can find the type of card being used by a Windows 7 computer if you open the Network Connections folder.
Although it is not a valid suggestion in an absolute sense, it can be assumed that a router 300 Mbps is an ideal choice, with a good balance between price not too high, and compatibility with the new computers as well as with the old ones.
3) We must not forget the speed of the wired ports.
A router is still connected to a cable which takes the internet signal.
If this router has Ethernet ports lens (10/100 Mbps), you can create a bottleneck on the overall performance of the network.
Then check that the router supports Ethernet 1000 Mbps
4) Think about whether you want the modem router is even or not.
If you buy a router because you want to replace the old router provided by your Internet service provider, you have to be careful because not all routers will work.
In this case you have to buy a router with integrated modem.
The router is the one that spreads the connection but the modem is the device that transfers data from the network to the Internet and vice versa.
E 'can always buy a separate modem and connect to the router via an Ethernet cable.
Whatever the choice, even though it will be hard to receive a clear answer, you should try to ask your Internet service provider before buying the router / modem.
5) In addition to this you can consider other interesting extra features and options:
- Many routers, even some of those low-cost, have USB ports so as to enable any device on the network that does not have the ability to wifi.
With a router of this type can, for example, put into the network the printer so as to use it from any other computer.
- Who is keen to watch videos and movies streamed from the Internet should buy a router that supports high-end dedicated bandwidth and separate 5 GHz for the media.
- People who like to tweak, customize and create different configurations from the standard is recommended that a router that supports the free and open source firmware DD-WRT that allows you to use the router in different ways: IPv6 support, advanced firewall, configure authorized access etc.. .
- With regard to safety, a router needs to support WPA2, the gold standard for the current Wi-Fi encryption.
Call for more experienced readers to have their say on the subject and those less experienced to ask questions if something is not clear.
05/09/2012
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Translated via software
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Source:
Italian version of ReteArchitetti.it