Wi-Fi routers wirelessly link all your PCs and other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, letting you share a single broadband connection throughout your home. Here are the specs you need to know.
SETUP
If you're planning to create a wireless network to share a broadband connection across all of your home's PCs, start with the broadband-connection hardware (typically, a cable or DSL modem). Plug the modem into your router, connect the router to your PC, configure the router via its included software, then connect to your network from additional PCs (and other devices) that have networking radios installed.
NETWORKING STANDARDS
802.11g is the current standard for home networks, having replaced the slower 802.11b standard in new equipment. 802.11g is also compatible with 802.11b, so you can use 802.11g gear with older equipment running the 802.11b standard. Another older standard, 802.11a, has speeds similar to 802.11g's and uses the 5GHz frequency for less interference, but it's incompatible with 802.11b or 802.11g and has a shorter range.
Many new 802.11g routers feature multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) technology, which reduces signal interference and provides greater range and throughput than ordinary 802.11g routers do. MIMO is also an important part of the forthcoming 802.11n standard, which is expected to be ratified later this year. So-called "Draft N" routers being sold today are based on a preliminary version of the 802.11n spec, but the latest draft is expected to be the finalized spec. Although early Draft N routers failed to deliver the boost in range and throughput the most recent standard promises, newer models, which can be upgraded via firmware to the 802.11n spec when it's ratified, are delivering impressive results.
THROUGHPUT
Throughput refers to the speed of data transfer a router can provide, measured in megabits per second (Mbps). 802.11b routers have a maximum throughput of 11Mbps, while 802.11g and 802.11a devices have a maximum throughput of 54Mbps. The upcoming 802.11n standard promises significantly higher maximum throughput (540Mbps). Note, however, that these maximum throughputs are theoretical; real-life performance will be slower and vary from one router model to the next.
RANGE
Range is the maximum distance from the router a wireless access point or networking card can receive a signal. As with maximum throughput, the range that a router manufacturer touts often doesn't correlate with what you'll observe. That's partly because obstacles such as walls can affect a router's range. If your router's signal can't reach a remote area of your network, you may need to purchase a repeater, a device that re-amplifies the signal so it can extend to distant parts of your home or office.
SECURITY
Most routers come with Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption, which provides a first level of security but won't deter persistent security breaches. For greater security, opt for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) or the newer WPA2 encryption, which provides stronger data protection and control over network access.
A router that supports Media Access Control (MAC) address filtering limits network access to specifically permitted PCs and devices. For added protection, consider a router with a built-in hardware firewall, which can protect all PCs on the network at once from outside attacks.
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