How to buy a wireless router
A basic Wireless Router should have the following ideal specification:Standard: 54Mbit/s Ethernet Ports: Four 10/100 Mbit/s; Broadband Connection: Ethernet WAN port.
A basic wireless router with the above specifications should cost around £25.
A standard 802g wireless router will be fast enough to share an Internet connection, but probably a little too slow for file sharing. It doesn’t have a built in modem, so you’ll have to use it with an existing broadband modem that has an Ethernet port.
If you have ADSL (most broadband is provided by ADSL except Virgin), you should get a wireless router that has a built-in modem. This will cost more than a standard cable router (you should only need this if you are connected to Virgin), but it lets you connect your router directly to your broadband connection without a separate modem. An ADSL2+ modem will support broadband connections up to 24Mbit/s with an appropriate Broadband provider.
If you want to share large files over your wireless network, you’ll need an MIMO or Draft-N router. You can identify MIMO routers by the fact that they have multiple antennas. They’re usually WiFi compliant and are capable of transfer speeds (the speed that your data is transferred from point A to Point B) of around 30Mbit/s. Both MIMO and Draft-N routers require network adaptors to run at full speed…so check out you have one first.
If you have problems getting a wireless signal, a MIMO or Draft-N router can help. Alternatively, a hi-gain antenna for your router will help boost signals and improve the signal and range throughout your property. You can also add a hi-gain antenna to a PC’s network adaptor.
If you’ve got a printer that you want to share on your network, select a wireless router with a built-in USB port and print server.
If you want to make Voice Over IP calls using a provider such as Vonage or Skype, look for a router with a built-in SIP connection and phone sockets, as this can save you a huge amount of money on your phone bill.
