How to Choose a Router for Your Home

Introduction

Wi-Fi is the technology without which it is difficult to imagine modern life. The best wifi router is not only wireless Internet distribution to several devices within the apartment. It is also a device designed to protect sensitive data transmitted over the network. In addition, it must ensure signal stability and proper speed.

To choose the right one, you need to know what to look for when buying. A detailed guide will tell you the nuances of choosing a cool internet modem for your home and which criteria are of primary importance.

Which router to choose for your home? Checklist for choosing

Frequency range

It is an important characteristic. Most routers operate in the 2.4 GHz band. Such equipment has a wide range but is less resistant to interference on the line. The 5 GHz band has more free channels. Devices operating in this frequency provide higher data rates and are less prone to interference.

Each of wifi frequencies is divided into many channels. A 2.4 GHz router will most likely attempt to choose a channel by itself. You might have to adjust it because it might be set automatically to channel 6. Some can change wifi channel to 1 or 11 (avoiding the possibility that their neighbors are likewise set to channel 6). Therefore, it’s worthwhile to periodically use Wi-Fi analyzer tools to check wifi channels for any new interference. The least crowded of the three non-overlapping channels can be found with a wifi channel scanner. A 5 GHz network is not nearly as busy as a 2.4 GHz one. That is why it is less likely to need manual setting.

Bandwidth

It is the maximum transfer rate that a device can provide under ideal conditions. If you pay 100 Mbit/s according to the tariff, but the router maximum is 50 Mbit/s, the realistic Internet speed will be less than 50 Mbit/s. It is also not recommended choosing a router with a bandwidth equal to the Internet speed according to the tariff. As a result, data will be transferred more slowly.

Ports

The number of USB, LAN, and WAN ports is crucial. A standard router has 4 LAN ports and one WAN. The presence of USB and additional LAN connectors are special functions for which you need to look for suitable devices.

Optimal for home use are devices with 100-megabit ports (FastEthernet). Routers with gigabit ports, with some exceptions, are not required. Standard models have no more than four LAN ports. But this amount is quite enough for home use.

Antennas

Wi-Fi signal coverage is essential if you plan to use a wireless connection in a large area. The radius directly depends on the number of antennas on the device. The more antennas, the greater the Wi-Fi range is. It is better to buy devices with external antennas because the internal ones have a lower amplification factor. It means that the router has a smaller radius of action.

For example, you can choose a router with an internal antenna for a one- or two-room apartment. But if your home has a larger area, you need a router with external antennas. The necessary power for the antenna is 5 dbi, and it is better if there are two or three such antennas.

Wi-Fi standard

The maximum transmission speed between the router and connected devices depends on the Wi-Fi standard. To ensure conventional data transfer speed, you should choose routers with the 802.11n standard. It supports a maximum speed of up to 600 Mbit/s and is compatible with devices adapted to older standards. At the same time, Wireless will be indicated in the characteristics. It should be at least 300. This indicator means that the device supports a speed of 300 Mbit/s.

Types of routers for your home

Depending on how the router itself is connected to the provider, there are the following types of routers:

ADSL – connection via telephone cable (was the leading source at the dawn of the Internet, but is now rarely used).

Ethernet router – access is via fiber optic cable. It is the major source of the Internet nowadays.

Mobile ones get access to the network through an Internet modem or SIM card. They work with 3G and/or 4G standards.

Universal routers combine several types of Internet access.

Nowadays, the most common are universal routers, in which the main channel is optical fiber, and a modem is additionally connected through a USB port.

Conclusion

The choice of routers is great. These devices are distinguished by technical characteristics, types, and price. Yet, choosing the right Wi-Fi equipment is not a difficult task, especially if you know which characteristics to pay attention to, as well as understand which parameters are crucial for a particular case. The best option for home today would be a router with support for the Wi-Fi 6 standard (802.11ax) and gigabit ports.

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