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Best wireless router

Our Broadband Expert says...

A wireless router allows you to connect all of your home computers, as well as other devices such as games consoles, smartphones, internet radio or printer to each other - and to the internet using your broadband connection.

Some of the most reliable router manufacturers include Linksys, Belkin and Netgear, but you should look at the specific features of each model as well as brand names.

ADSL or cable

The first thing you need to think about when choosing a wireless router is the type of internet connection you have.

If you're a Virgin Media (www.Virginmedia.com) cable broadband customer then you'll have to buy a specific cable router to get online.

On the other hand, if you're signed up to a copper wire ADSL broadband provider like BT broadband (www.BT.com), TalkTalk broadband (www.Talktalk.co.uk) or Plusnet broadband (www.Plus.net) then you’ll need to make sure that you take an ADSL router.

ADSL routers take over the job of your modem too, so you'll only need one device to connect to the internet and share the signal around your home.

Wireless router speeds

All wireless routers adhere to a standard known as 802.11, which simply allows different appliances from different manufacturers to work together.

But some routers are faster than others. Older 802.11b, or wireless b, models are only capable of transferring data at speeds of up to 11Mb. Technology has moved on massively, and if you're still using a wireless b router, upgrading it could make a real difference to your download speeds.

Wireless g, or 802.11g replaced the b model routers in 2003, offering transfer speeds of up 54Mb. Wireless g routers are suitable for people living in flats, apartments or a small house.

Wireless n is the most recent development in router speeds. The 802.11n models are capable of transferring data at superfast speeds of up to 248Mb - and this is now the standard for new wireless routers.

Wireless router range

The type of router you choose will also affect how far your signal can travel - which is very important if you live in a large house or have thick walls that could affect your connection.

As already mentioned, wireless g routers are suitable if you live in a flat or small house, but if you want to surf the net from the garden, or if you live in a large house, a new wireless n router would be the best choice. Wireless n is also better for heavy usage, multiple users and large file transfers.

Many big broadband providers, including Virgin Media, O2 broadband (www.O2.co.uk), BT and TalkTalk now offer wireless n routers on their top packages, if not all options.

Match your router to your PC

While upgrading your router can help you get a faster connection in every corner of your home, if your computer’s internal radio isn’t compatible with the new n range, you might not notice a huge change.

Check your computer’s specifications to find out which ranges it is compatible with.

Single and dual band wireless routers

Routers are capable of using one of two different radio frequencies. Single band routers use only the 2.4GHz frequency, while dual band models can simultaneously broadcast on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies - offering faster speeds and a longer range.

Dual band routers are more expensive than single band models, but using both frequencies, and changing the wireless channel, can eliminate problems with neighbouring wi-fi networks.

To make a dual band router work for you, your computer and any other connected equipment will need to be able to communicate using both bands.

Wireless broadband security

It’s important that you set up a password on your router to make sure that no one else can access your internet connection.

The two main forms of wireless encryption are WEP (Wireless Equivalent Privacy) and WPA (Wi-fi Protected Access).

WPA offers the best level of protection because it scrambles your password, making it harder for people to hack into, but again, you do need to make sure that all your devices are compatible.

Watch our video and learn secure your wifi router. You can also use our free Wireless Key Generator to create unique, hard to crack passwords.

Other features also offered by some routers include:

• Privacy and parental control - set security levels and filters so that children can't view certain types of websites
• Time-based controls - lets you set specific times when users can access the internet
• Website logging - lets you keep a log of the websites visited by connected devices
• Remote management - lets you access your wireless router remotely from the internet.

Wired connections

Some of your broadband speed will always be lost when you connect wirelessly. Because of this, you might want to connect your main computer using an ethernet cable if it’s close enough to your router.

As well as having aerials to send out your wireless signal, wireless routers also have around four ethernet ports that can be used to connect computers and devices.

External antennas

Some routers have internal antennas, but if you have a very large house and think that you might have trouble connecting from every room you might want to choose a model with external aerials.

Standard external aerials are usually around 2dBi - indicating the length of the aerial - but they can be replaced for longer 5dBi or even 9dBi ones that will give you a better range.

Watch our video on how to make the most of your wireless router aerials.

Free routers from your broadband provider

Almost all broadband providers offer a free wireless router when you sign a new contract. This does mean that you won’t have to fork out for one yourself, but there are a few things that you should watch out for.

For example, not all broadband providers allow you to change the settings on their routers, while others force you to use their standard router - and won’t let you upgrade to one of your own choice.

NB Best buy tables are always current.

Examples in the text of the article are correct at time of publication.

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If you have a general switching or provider query please email us at OurExpert@broadbandchoices.co.uk

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