At work or home, you must have come across with the word ‘router’. A basic knowledge that we have about the router is that is used for internet connectivity. This post will talk about the properties, working, and features of routers to get you much more acquainted with them. There are many companies engaged in the production of routers that let you compare different routers before buying. We hope that this article will give enough knowledge so that you can ask many questions to the dealer about the router you want to purchase.

What is a router? 

In simpler terms, a router is a connecting medium between your devices and internet service. This device routes or directs the traffic between the internet and devices. A networking device, what we call a router in technological terms. It is designed for forwarding data packets between networks of the computer. For those who don’t know, we must tell that the router is entirely different from a ‘Modem’. A router is required for connecting devices to Wi-Fi, whereas a modem is a hardware that connects to the internet. This is the basic difference between these two devices. The quality of your router will decide the quality of the internet you receive plus security from cyber threats as well.

How do routers work? 

A router is designed having several ports for specific purposes. These ports include LAN, WAN, DSL, RAM, Ethernet, and many more. Specific wired pins are inserted into the router that connects it to other devices. The router individually assigns local ISPs for every connected computer and serves each system a unique internet user. It is also responsible for preventing unsolicited internet traffic to your system that might contain malware and other harmful protocols. This is achieved by working in combination with your computer system’s security software. Routers also have an important role in assuring that the right piece of information is shown to the system. This is done by the communication between “Packets” and routers over a wider IP system. This is the basic method of how a router provides the information you search over the internet.

The types 

Simply, there are two types of routers including wireless routers and wired routers.  Wired Routers 

They are box-shaped devices having different ports that connect routers to the modem for receiving internet packets and to the computer system for distributing them. Both of these connections occur via specifically made wire for this purpose.

 Wireless Routers 

If we see them physically, they are not completely wireless devices. The reason behind this is that they are connected to the modem through a cable for receiving the internet. But, what makes them wireless is how they distribute internet packets to multiple devices. Wireless routers use one or two antennas for creating a Wi-Fi zone to which we can connect easily using a secure password for surfing the internet.

The most common router that we use at our home and offices is a wireless one, but you will also see wired ones in some offices. It all depends upon the setup and requirement.

Buying guide for a router 

Now with the basic knowledge that you might have gained till now, we will see what factors need to be considered while purchasing an internet router.

 The standard

It is considered that routers with 802.11ac standard are the best. The main reason for this is that they provide faster internet speed when compared to the 802.11n standard. So, it is always better to opt for the “ac” standard.

 The Wi-Fi range

It is another important factor that should be considered while purchasing a router. It will depend upon the size of the office or home where you want to install the router. Smartness always lies in choosing the one with a high range, so that you can easily surf the internet at every corner.

 The ‘Band’ dilemma

There are two types in this category- single-band and dual-band. Our suggestion is to go for a dual-band as it can work on both frequencies 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. These types of routers deliver high internet speed and are best for a highly-populated area. But if you don’t require high-speed internet, generally everyone does, you can buy a single band model.

 The security

It is the prime factor that everyone must consider. Whether for office or home, security is necessary. So while going to buy a router you must look for the features router company is providing concerning the security. It is to prevent any kind of cyber threats from malware and viruses.

 The performance

Technology is changing very fast and it is important to have the latest technological update in your router to experience excellent service. The latest firmware should be there in the router that you chose to buy. Plus, it must allow connection to multiple users with simultaneous access to the data and great network speed.

 The design

The structural configuration has nothing to do with the router’s performance. But some people are very much concerned about how things look. For them design matters, though there are not a large number of options in this section, rather there are enough smart ones to buy. There are also some smart color options where the basic ones include black and white.

These basic points are required to be kept in the mind before purchasing a router. It is also advisable that you should not take the free router provided by the internet service provider during installation. By using that router you might not experience the best internet speed even if your ISP is providing up to 100 Mbps speed. The reason you already know, either the “n” standard or single-band router. So be smart and be informative before selecting the best one for you.

We hope that this post will help you select the best router that will provide high-speed internet that everyone wishes for.