Shopping for a new wireless router can be an intimidating experience for many and can often end with spending far more money than is necessary. With the incomprehensible alphabet soup of router specifications, numerous numbers big and small, and pushy salesmen itching for money, buying a new piece of hardware for a wireless broadband setup can be a frightening experience. But it doesn't need to be, with just these few basic pieces of information anyone can confidently walk into the electronics section and make a purchase that is right for them.
A need for speed?
While a faster internet connection is always an ambitious goal and should be on the top of anyone's list, actually increasing that speed comes with many strings attached. Simply buying the most expensive router will not guarantee a faster web browsing experience. So put the ?100 router down, walk away from the ledge, and do some homework.
Many internet providers and countries have restrictions on how many MB per second (MBPS) you can use, that means that even if you buy the fastest router ever made your browsing speeds could be no faster than your next door neighbour's. Find out just how many MBPS you are allowed by your provider and apply that to the kind of router you want.
Decide what you are primarily using your broadband for. Are you simply checking emails and doing a bit of web browsing? Or are you streaming videos and downloading large files? Does anyone in your house play online videogames that require a superfast connection? There is no need to get a super high speed router if you will only be using a fraction of its capabilities. Speaking of super high speed routers, just how are they classified?
The most general term for routers has evolved with three different letters accompanying each generation (technically there are four generations, but you almost never see the first generation anymore). From oldest and slowest to newest and fastest, the letters you are going to see associated with speed on a router are b, g, and n. These generations match up with the same labels for modems, so if you have a modem from the b generation, getting a router from the g or n generations will not boost your speed in any way. However, having a modem from the n generation and using a g router will slow your home broadband down, so be sure your hardware matches.
The next important label you will see is the GHz, which will be either 2.4 GHz or 5GHz. While they have slight differences, both generally work the same way and neither is outright better than the other. Many other electronic devices such as your phone, garage door opener, etc. might run on 2.4 GHz, which could cause interference with your 2.4GHz router. However, outside of this inconvenience, the two technologies work basically the same, and the 2.4GHz routers tend to be quite a bit cheaper.
Finally, before you go into the store you are also going to want to evaluate the specifications of all of your existing hardware, including your modem and your computer. Does your laptop only have one internal antenna in it? There is no need to buy a router with three or four antennas if you will only be using half of them. However, getting a router with 2 antennas when your computer has four could leave you using only half of your signal capabilities.
While it may be daunting to commit yourself to a new router for the next few years, trust that you are making the right decision after you have evaluated all of the above. If you need further assistance, don't panic into an irrational purchase, kindly let your salesman know that you are still in the research phase and just want a little information.
