TeddyK
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ElizabethS
The router is one of those gadgets that you need, but tend to forget after you’ve set it up. The reason why is because it does its job quietly and in the background, but more importantly, it’s the type of product you rarely ever need to interact with. That can make it difficult to find the right one for your home network. You don’t want to break the bank because it’s not something you will ‘enjoy’ using, but you also want to ensure that it does what it’s supposed to do without fail.
Not so long ago, routers were pretty streamlined devices. There wasn’t a whole lot of differentiation between them, largely because throughput and connectivity options were pretty limited. Now, that’s all changed, thanks to manufacturers who have designed routers to be optimized for certain uses, most especially streaming and home entertainment.
That right there should be your first clue on what kind of router you need to get, but there are other elements to consider:
What kind of bandwidth speed and cap do you have with your Internet Service Provider?
What best describes your typical usage? Are you streaming movies and shows on Netflix? Are you looking to cut your cable or satellite and replace it with more Web content?
How important is speed and range for your Wi-Fi setup?
Is online gaming part of the reason why you need faster throughput? Are you looking to download and stream stuff faster?
These are all important factors because they can answer your own questions. A router, by and large, is the gadget that distributes the Internet connection that flows through the modem. Typically, routers that are given to you by your ISP are basic units that offer poor performance and complicated settings. Aftermarket ones from the likes of Cisco Linksys, D-Link and Belkin have been designed with software components that make it easy for novices to manage their networks.
To break this down, I’ve separated routers into three different categories. This is by no means a scientific breakdown, but it gives you an idea on how they match up by what they do and how much they cost.
“Basic” routers
The more basic a router, the fewer bells and whistles it offers. This typically means a smaller throughput of around 150Mbps (megabits per second), no USB port in the back for sharing a printer or connecting an external hard drive and maybe even fewer Ethernet ports.
The basic ones are pretty much all Wireless-N, which is the fastest wireless protocol with the widest range for Wi-Fi, though it’s important to remember that wireless speed will always be slower than an Ethernet cable plugged in would be. Routers in this category aren’t really ideal for streaming high-quality video or downloading large files, but are perfect for basic browsing, video sites and low-intensity Web tasks.
Price also reflects their limited specs, with some as low as $39.99, like Belkin’s Wireless-N Router or Linksys’ E1500 for $69.99.
“Middle of the road” routers
These routers tend to have faster throughput, up to 300Mbps, which means that it can handle HD streams and download files at double the speed of a basic router.
Also, once you get into this category, you start hearing the term, “dual-band”. This means that the router can function on both the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands simultaneously. This matters because devices that connect to the router that can handle 5.0GHz (laptops, media players, TV) can utilize the stronger bandwidth, while devices that don’t (smartphones, eReaders) can work with 2.4. The 2.4 band is more prone to interference from appliances as well, so streaming in the 5.0 band should be uninterrupted.
Some routers in this category may offer a USB port in the back for printer sharing or an external hard drive connection, but that’s not always a guarantee. Also, the Ethernet ports in the back are fast, but unlikely to be Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000 ports. Routers in this category tend to top up at Megabit 10/100. What does that mean? Without getting too technical, the faster Gigabit ports make file transfers over the home network faster, but don’t necessarily impact Internet speed as much. So, if you’re sharing computers in your home network, that’s a feature that should matter to you.
Routers that fall under this category are Linksys’ E2500 and D-Link Xtreme for $99.99.
“Top of the line” routers
Routers in this category are loaded with perks that includes faster throughput and connectivity options. Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000 is a staple in this category, as is dual-band and USB ports for printer and file sharing.
In the case of Linksys’ E4200 ($169.99), the router has an extra antenna (that’s what “3x3” means), meaning that speeds can go from 300Mbps to 450Mbps on devices that have the hardware to tap into it. The newest MacBook Pros and a number of higher-end Windows PCs have the capability to get that.
D-Link’s Amplifi ($169.99) is called an “HD Media Router” because it’s been designed for optimal HD streaming and large file transfers. Its “HD Fuel” technology prioritizes high-bandwidth applications, so watching Netflix will take precedence over another user just browsing the Web. Neither side will notice because the router can handle both tasks effortlessly. In fact, you could watch Netflix in two separate rooms and have no problem.
Like the Amplifi, Linksys’ E4200 and Belkin’s N750 DB ($99.99 on sale) are designed to be media-centric routers that funnel tons of bandwidth to devices. Needless to say, if you’re on a really basic Internet plan with low bandwidth caps with your provider, this wouldn’t be the router for you — unless you wanted to get a bigger plan to start streaming more.
