The Best Wireless Router

Buying Guide

If ever an electronic device could be considered the brains of an operation, it would be the purpose-driven processor known as a wireless router. A wireless router functions as both the air traffic controller and communications center for multiple devices equipped with wireless capability. Because of the wireless router’s incredible ability to multitask, one user can browse the Internet on a laptop while another streams a movie or has a conversation over Skype.

The technology that makes this all possible involves the sending and receiving of small packets of data. Wireless routers spend their days chopping up information from one device into smaller pieces before sending it out to another device that reassembles it. It also determines which device receives the requested data, so a cellphone conversation doesn’t end up being transmitted through a laptop computer.

The good news for more casual users is that the original wireless router or router/modem combination the technician from the Internet service provider installed is perfectly capable of meeting most basic wireless demands. Some older models using the 802.11b protocol can still connect users to the Internet or stream a movie. The need to upgrade generally starts with a noticeable slowdown in performance or reliability, or sometimes a compatibility issue with a newer wireless-enabled device.

This is why many consumers find themselves shopping for a newer wireless router. The old router may be reaching the end of its natural lifespan or may no longer be compatible with a new laptop or cellular phone. Sometimes a family’s growing wireless needs can outgrow the current router’s capacity.

One major consideration when shopping for a new wireless router is compatibility. When a new wireless-enabled device is released to the market, the manufacturers usually select the most recent wireless router standard. If the standards are not compatible, the device simply will not work. Currently, the most common wireless standard is 802.11g or 802.11n, although the 802.11ac is growing in popularity.

When it comes to an upgrade, the emphasis should be on reliability and compatibility, not necessarily speed. Some wireless routers offer an incredibly fast 1900 megabits per second speed, which is great for dedicated gamers or families with major streaming, surfing and home controller needs. A more affordable model can meet basic demands without sacrificing much in the way of processing speed.

Ease of use is also an important consideration, especially for those who are technologically challenged. While the customer support department or a friendly technician may be able to walk customers through the original installation process, they may not be able to help with consumer-purchased upgrades. The better wireless router models offer a very helpful setup wizard that will configure most settings automatically.

Perhaps the most important consideration of all is price versus service. The highest-end wireless routers on the market today offer an astounding array of options, including tri-band frequency options, Gigabit processing speeds and compatibility with all previous 802.11 protocols. However, there are few devices on the market designed for tri-band level performance, and many users simply do not need that much power to meet their modest bandwidth demands. Consumers should only invest in as much wireless routing capacity as they actually need, not how much they may feel they want. Only serious gamers and cutting-edge device owners live in the rarefied air of tri-band, Gigabit performance.

• Overheating is a common reason why older wireless routers fail. Single-band Wi-Fi transmitters operate in the 2GHz range, which means they can generate almost as much heat as a microwave (2.4 GHz). Proper ventilation is essential, and a model with external antennae is actually preferable to the 2-in-1 wireless router/modem units many Internet service providers install for new customers.
• Wireless routers emit radio waves in a donut shape, so to increase overall coverage and performance, it often helps to orient one antenna vertically and another one horizontally.
• A wireless router’s effective range can be affected by any number of physical obstacles, including water pipes and electrical wiring inside the walls. The ideal location is in a centralized location, free of any obvious obstructions.
• The designation 802.11 is an industry standard, but it only tells half the story. The more important factor is the letters that follow. 802.11a and 802.11b routers are nearly obsolete, 802.11g routers are serviceable but increasingly limited, 802.11n models are the new standard, and 802.11ac is currently the most advanced. Some modern wireless devices are designed specifically for 802.11n or 802.11ac compatibility.
• Improving reliability is often a more important consideration than increasing processing speed. Investing in Wi-Fi extenders will often increase the range of a wireless router, but not affect the processing speed. Adding a second or even third router will often improve processing speed.
• While dual-band wireless routers do offer a faster 5GHz frequency, many common devices are currently not equipped for it.  Home users with limited wireless connectivity requirements are often satisfied with single-band 2 GHz models, so an upgrade is not strictly required.
• Some microwave ovens can negatively affect the performance of wireless routers, which operate close to the same wavelength. This is more of an annoyance than an actual problem, however, similar to a vacuum cleaner creating static on a television set while in use.
• The term Wi-Fi doesn’t actually stand for “wireless fidelity.” In truth, Wi-Fi doesn’t actually stand for anything at all. It was created by a marketing company to replace the more accurate (but somewhat stodgy) designation IEEE 802.11b. Other early names included DragonFly, FlankSpeed and WaveLAN.