A router is a device used to direct the flow of traffic between local computers connected in a network, either through Ethernet cabling or through radio wave technology. A network that uses Ethernet cabling is called a wired network, while radio wave networks are called wireless networks. Both types of networks have advantages and disadvantages, but wireless networks are the least expensive and the easiest to set up because they do not require running Ethernet cables between machines. Standard routers don’t have built-in wireless technology, so if you want a wireless network, you’ll need a wireless router.
A wireless router.
Although a wireless router can direct local traffic on a network, a modem is required if Internet access is desired. In many cases, digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable Internet service providers (ISPs) provide a preconfigured modem to connect to the service. This type of router can be connected to the modem to provide network access over the Internet.
A wireless router.
Another option is to get a wireless router with a built-in modem, which reduces the number of devices needed. Most of the quality products in this range come with instructions for configuring the built-in modem to connect to popular national ISPs, usually a trivial exercise for anyone with a bit of computing 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 need a router model that supports both types.
A network that uses an Ethernet cable is considered a wired network.
There are several transmission standards, and a wireless router supports one or more, but not all of these standards. Wireless networking specifications are defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and are known as 802.11 standards. A letter follows this designation, as in 802.11n, indicating which protocols the router supports. The difference between the protocols (eg, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11n…) is the strength and speed of the signal. Radio waves propagate in a circular pattern out of the router. The stronger the signal, the farther away you can place a computer or walk around with a laptop and still get a good signal. As power decreases, performance drops, creating data errors and lost signals.
Wireless routers allow people to access the Internet without an Ethernet cable.
As of Q4 2008, the legacy standard is 802.11g. An 802.11g-compliant wireless router works on the 2.4 GHz band and reaches speeds of around 54 megabits per second. A more recent standard, due 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. Remember that each computer on the network will require an internal wireless card or external portable Wi-Fi device that supports the same protocol as the router.
Companies already using the legacy 802.11g standard may want to add new computers to the network using the faster 802.11n standard. In that case, a dual-band wireless router that supports both the 2.4GHz 802.11g standard and the 5GHz 802.11n standard might be the answer. 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 opting for a single-band model.
Any computer that uses a wireless router will require an internal wireless card to access the Internet.
