Among the variety of gadgets, several types of Wi-Fi routers can be distinguished, which are used for general consumption. Many manufacturers offer different models of routers. For this reason, ordinary users may have difficulty choosing routers. In general, devices differ in cost, manufacturer and technical characteristics. Some routers distribute a high-speed Wi-Fi signal, others use an outdated standard, in which the speed does not exceed 11 megabits per second.
It is important to note that for the successful operation of wireless Internet, it is necessary to carefully consider the choice and purchase of a router. If such a simple condition is not met, the user will have to experience a number of problems, including constant failures and connection disconnections, the inability to download and transfer large amounts of data, watch television over the Internet protocol, and a weak signal in rooms remote from the device.
Gadgets for distributing wireless Internet are presented in various price segments. The right choice will allow the user to avoid large financial costs. Often budget-class devices with the necessary parameters distribute a Wi-Fi signal no worse than expensive routers, satisfying all user requests.
The complexity of choosing a router lies in the large number of criteria and characteristics
The wired Internet, which has existed for more than a dozen years, has firmly entered the life of every third inhabitant of the Earth. For this reason, there was a need to facilitate access to the World Wide Web. This is how Wi-Fi routers appeared, the main task of which was to convert the signal to wireless and distribute it “over the air”, because it is very convenient. In general, the following advantages of wireless Internet can be noted:
- The absence of a huge number of wires in the house.
- Possibility of parallel use of Wi-Fi on several devices - desktop computer, portable laptop, tablet, smartphone.
- High connection speed available today.
- Acceptable cost of routers.
- Routers for the most part support various Internet connection options provided by providers.
In general, routers can be divided into two types. The first are connected to a cable that transmits a wired signal. The second type appeared relatively recently. Such gadgets are used for 3G and 4G connections. They install a SIM card of a mobile operator providing this type of service. Among the disadvantages of devices connected to a cable include the lack of mobility and the inability to move the router outside the house or apartment. They are designed to distribute Wi-Fi exclusively in the place where they are installed. 3G and 4G routers can be moved to use the Internet within the network coverage. The territory where there is coverage of high-speed wireless 3G and 4G Internet depends on the level of technology development of the country and the operator providing services.
It is worth noting that there are routers that are designed to connect corporate Wi-Fi with seamless roaming. Such devices are installed by organizations when it is necessary to provide wireless Internet to a large number of users. The coverage of such routers is much wider than gadgets intended for home use. Of course, the cost of routers for corporate use is much higher.
General classification
Every user of the World Wide Web should know what routers are. Such information will allow you to make the right choice when buying, as well as simplify the process of setting up a new gadget. In accordance with the generally accepted classification, there are five types of routers for a wireless network.
The first type is a somewhat outdated type of device that receives a signal over a telephone cable with an RJ11 connector. They are called ADSL routers. It is worth noting that they are capable of receiving data at a speed of no more than 1 megabit per second, and distributing - only up to 700 kilobits per second. Of course, few people will be satisfied with such parameters today, because such a speed does not allow downloading large files. But before, this technology was very common, because it did not require a new cable to be installed in a house or apartment. The low connection speed allowed ADSL routers to gain popularity. But later they were replaced by more advanced technologies.
The second type is the most popular Ethernet technology today. Such devices have a WAN port through which a cable with an RJ45 connector is connected. Of course, such routers come in several varieties. They may differ in the type of protocol used, the supported set of IEEE 802.11 standards. There are models from a variety of manufacturers on the market, ranging from budget to high-end products.
The third type is 3G and 4G devices. They use packet data. At the same time, the principle of operation of such routers is very similar. They differ only in speed, data encoding and operating frequency. It should be noted that in many respects the quality of the operation of such a router depends on the coverage provided by the operator. At the same time, routers that receive a radio signal are very convenient for people who often work in different places.
The fourth type is routers that connect to PON passive optical networks. An SC optical pigtail is used as a WAN port. Such devices have appeared relatively recently. This means that the routers are connected to an optical cable brought into the home or office. These types of gadgets do not have intermediate nodes. At the same time, their main drawback is weak protection against data interception.
The fifth type is universal gadgets. The bottom line is that one device uses several technologies at once. The most popular combinations are ADSL+Ethernet or Ethernet+3G. They have additional ports and built-in communication modules.
It is worth noting that the purchase of a universal device should be justified. For example, in the process of purchasing a home router, it is not at all necessary to overpay and select a gadget with support for several technologies. If your ISP provides packetized Ethernet information that is wired, it is enough to purchase an appropriate router.
Protocols
There are several major Wi-Fi protocols. These include, first of all:
- L2TP;
- PPPoE
- PPTP.
Today, modern device models support all major information transfer protocols. Although there are exceptions. Before buying a router, we recommend that you find out the technical parameters that your provider uses in order to make the right choice. You can buy a router directly from an Internet service provider. This way you will be sure that the device supports all the necessary parameters. In addition, providers often carry out high-quality router firmware for their customers before installing and configuring it.
IEEE 802.11 set of standards
The quality of the Wi-Fi signal is significantly affected by the speed of wired Internet, which is provided by the provider and depends on the tariff plan. The router reduces the speed advertised by the service provider. For this reason, if you need high-speed Internet, connect an RJ45 cable directly to a computer or laptop. The signal quality will also directly depend on the location of the router in the apartment or house. Any overlap (walls, partitions) reduces signal quality, reduces the range of the wireless network. Speed is affected by characteristics such as the IEEE 802.11 standard. In the Russian Federation and Ukraine, five sets of IEEE 802.11 standards are certified.
The 802.11a standard is obsolete. It has a low information transfer rate - up to 54 megabytes per second and operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. Of course, this standard is not liked by modern users who need high data transfer rates. 802.11b operates on the same frequency as its predecessor, 2.4 GHz. At the same time, the speed increased to 11 megabits per second. The 802.11g standard is characterized by an increase in speed up to 54 megabits per second.
The fourth protocol - 802.11n - can already transfer 600 megabits of data per second. In this case, the device independently selects the operating frequency - 2.4 GHz or 6 GHz. The most modern standard is 802.11ac. It was approved only two years ago - in January 2014. Operates in the 5 GHz frequency band. The main advantage of this standard is the high data transfer rate, which can range from 433 megabits per second to 6.77 gigabits per second. At the same time, such a wireless standard is characterized by low power consumption.
It is important for all Wi-Fi users to understand what parameters are used by the provider that provides wired Internet services. It is worth noting that a router with the 802.11ac characteristic will distribute a signal that requires the 802.11n standard. The reason is that these standards are backward compatible.
Encryption protocols
The security of using Wi-Fi also depends on the encryption protocol used. There are three protocols in total. Thus, the WEP protocol is outdated and does not guarantee the safety of information, since it is easily hacked. The WPA and WPA2/PSK protocols are much more difficult to hack, so they are recommended by all providers and experts in the field of setting up wireless Internet. It is worth noting that WPA2/PSK is an improved version of WPA. When configuring the router, it is advisable to choose just such a characteristic for safe operation.
The quality of the router depends on the stable operation of the wireless Internet, its speed and security. We recommend that you pay attention to the technical parameters of such devices, which must be compatible with the requirements of the Internet connection of your provider. The manufacturer plays an important role - it is advisable to buy routers from trusted brands. Not always the purchase of an expensive gadget with a wide range of functions will be justified. A variety of models will allow each user to choose a router with optimal characteristics and an adequate price-quality ratio.