How to choose a router? ‑ Blog

The increase in the number of gadgets in every home makes it harder to use regular wired internet. After all, smartphones, smart TVs, tablets and even watches have long joined the computer. To combine and synchronize these devices in one cloud storage, or simply give each of them access to the network, you need to use wireless Internet.

You can provide your apartment, house or office with a stable wireless Wi-Fi connection if you pay attention to this issue and know which router to choose.

Let's take a look at the various options, characteristics and nuances of how to choose a router together. Let's find out what an Internet router is and why it is so important in organizing a wireless Internet connection.

A router (also known as a router) is a device that sends data over a cable or using Wi-Fi wireless technology in the form of packets between different network segments. This device operates according to the rules set by the administrator. It is thanks to the router that the user gets the opportunity to:

• organize a large-scale Internet network and install additional technical equipment (printer, scanner, MFP, speakers), while not laying a cable;
• simultaneous connection to the Internet of several gadgets: smartphones, tablets, smart watches, TVs, set-top boxes;
• full mobility of using laptop and other connected devices.

Wi-Fi is the most popular wireless technology in the world, as almost any mobile technology can use it.

To know exactly how to choose a wi fi router, it is worth understanding the basic classification of Wi-Fi routers, because different models can support different data transfer standards. Based on the required standards, there are several types of devices:

• routers using ADSL line;
• Ethernet routers (FTTB), connected using twisted pair;
• with PON connection technology;
• 3G and 4G standards;
• universal, which can be connected to several sources at once.

What problems can arise when choosing the wrong Wi-Fi router?

An urgent question for every user who is interested in which router to choose for the home, what is the risk of choosing the wrong router? What happens if the router is not compatible with your connection standard? The answer is simple: you cannot connect it to the provider's equipment. That is why most experts are interested in the type of your connection before giving any recommendations on choosing a router.

You can find a good wifi router for your home knowing the network parameters. Wireless technology has three basic parameters to consider when buying a new device: range, speed, and frequency.
Let's take a closer look at these characteristics. What do they affect and how to choose a router for an apartment, and what is better to choose for a home or office.

Perhaps the most important characteristic when choosing a router will be the data transfer speed. Take this moment for yourself by choosing a technique for a large family. It's better not to rely on luck if you need to choose a router with an increased connection speed. Several devices operating on the same wavelength “load” the air, and a regular router may not cope with the heavy load when several users are connected. In this case, an online game or movie from one of the family members will deprive everyone else of the Internet connection.

A budget router for home is quite appropriate if the standard speed of up to 150 Mbps is suitable for you. This speed will be quite acceptable for one user who is surfing the web, with no more than three devices connected to the network at the same time. Using such a router, it is quite comfortable to watch average quality video.

But if your requests are a little higher, then choose models with speeds up to 300 Mbps and higher. In addition, modern Wi-Fi networks use the 802.11n standard, and therefore your router must support this standard.

To learn how to choose a router for your home Internet, remember that the final speed of your router depends on various factors:

• the quality of the Internet provider's connection;
• the number of connected devices;
• consumption of the communication channel by each user.

As you understand, the connection speed can depend on a large number of nuances, and therefore the correct selection of equipment for distributing the Internet is of great importance.

Frequency

Today, many people think that the 5 GHz router is the best and they are thinking which one to choose. Note that most of the routers operate at 2.4 GHz, but more and more devices are entering the market that operate in the 5 GHz frequency range.

Consider the main frequency parameters:

Loading. Many household appliances operate at 2.4 GHz - this is the average for data transmission systems. This is the reason why this frequency is heavily overloaded.

Signal range. The 5 GHz frequency will help transmit the signal over Wi-Fi over relatively close distances. In comparison, the 2.4 GHz frequency will be able to carry the signal much further.

Number of channels. But in terms of the number of channels, the 5 GHz frequency has an advantage - there are about 23 of them and they do not overlap with each other. At the same time, the 2.4 GHz frequency has only 13 channels, of which only 3 do not overlap.

It is difficult to make a choice when there are approximately the same number of pluses and minuses. But there is a way out! After all, you can purchase a device that can operate in two bands. This option will provide a stable connection and high speed internet without interference. Of course, the price of such a device is an order of magnitude higher than that of routers operating at a single frequency.

When choosing the ideal router for your home, pay attention to such an indicator as the coverage radius. Various obstacles can affect the range of the router. Walls, floors, ceilings - all obstacles to one degree or another affect the signal quality of the router.

So how do you determine which router is the right radius? Pay attention to the models where the instructions indicate the power of the device is about 100 milliwatts (20 dBm). Such routers can transmit waves 150 meters in an open field and 50 meters indoors.

But not only the power of the device affects its range. At a high frequency, the wave propagates worse and dies out much more quickly. Also, good coverage does not always depend on the power of the router. It happens that the connection is interrupted due to a too strong signal. To fix this and know how to choose a router for your home, you should buy a model that you can customize for yourself, for example, adjust the power as you wish.

To choose the right router for an apartment, you should pay attention not only to the range - it is usually enough to cover 1-3 rooms in an apartment. If the apartment or house has several floors, then the connection kit should be supplemented with a repeater that catches and amplifies the signal. By purchasing this add-on device, you will be able to provide excellent connectivity at any facility.

Before choosing a router, familiarize yourself with its internal "stuffing". A powerful processor and a sufficient amount of RAM of the router will allow you to download and unload large files even without the participation of a laptop or desktop computer, as well as handle a large number of connections. Remember that the amount of RAM should be proportional to the amount of client equipment that you plan to connect.

The processor performance also affects the stable signal of the router during operation. Thus, it is better to give preference to modern processors, and then you will not be threatened with interruptions in connection with the Wi-Fi router.

Antennas

Do you want to know what the number of antennas in a router affects? The antenna does not affect the radius as much as it does the connection speed. Therefore, you should not chase the number of antennas. After all, the most important thing in this is not the number of antennas, but their gain. For example, several external antennas with a gain of 1.5 to 5 dBi (2 dBi is the most common option) and several internal antennas with a gain of 1-1.5 dBi are connected to a standard router. The best option for a router is a combination of an internal antenna of any power and an external removable one. If necessary, you can buy a device with a high gain.

Number of ports

Every modern Wi-Fi router has at least 1 LAN port for connecting to the router via a cable. The number of ports should be calculated based on the need to connect additional devices to the router. Usually, a stationary computer that does not have a Wi-Fi module, game consoles, TVs are connected via cable.

If you prefer to transfer data over Ethernet, then your device needs a WAN port.

Another required port is USB. So it will be possible to use the router as a data storage, download torrents to it. You can also connect a flash drive or hard drive, 3G / 4G modem or any office equipment via USB.

To know which router to choose for an apartment, pay attention to the software - this is an important factor when choosing the best device for distributing communications. The presence of the necessary software will allow:

• use the router as a torrent client;
• connect several providers in parallel to one device and, if the first has line interruptions, the device automatically switches to the other;
• using a smartphone to create an additional channel with a good and stable connection;
• watch movies on a TV that supports Wi-Fi video transmission;
• set the rules for copying data to reserve on an external hard drive;
• create a telephone exchange based on the router.

Such a range of functions becomes possible with firmware that supports such settings. Some users even expand the functionality of their router by installing an alternative firmware.
When thinking about how to choose a Wi-Fi router, be sure to take care of network protection. The safety and security of your data can only be guaranteed by a secure network.
There are several encryption standards for this: WEP, WPA and the most secure method is WPA2, which uses AES technology. This is what many data security experts recommend.

Price

Of course, for the average user, the simplest version of the router is quite suitable, but it cannot guarantee a fast and stable connection to the network. If the quality of the connection directly affects the productivity of your work, then we recommend choosing equipment starting from the middle price segment.

When choosing which router to choose for an apartment, you may not give preference to routers from an expensive price segment - a medium-cost router will be enough to cover an apartment with several rooms.

To decide how to choose a Wi-Fi router for your home, it is better to focus not on the budget, but on the characteristics of the router. It is better not to save money here, because the budget model will provide several rooms with the Internet and at this the range of its action will be limited.

So, when choosing a router, you shouldn't always chase a high price. The high cost of a router is most often due to a variety of features that you most likely will never need.

It is better to take into account the characteristics that are important and relevant to you so that the speed and stability of the Internet connection will please you in the long term. Therefore, the company "BRIZ" offers you a wide range of routers for any premises and tasks. Contact our experts, and they will not only help you choose the best router, but also install it for free as soon as possible!

"BRIZ" company of the Internet and TV for your comfort!