What is the best router? Which Wi-Fi router is better to buy for a home or apartment? Choosing a router

Hello, dear visitors! Have you decided to buy a new Wi-Fi router? Great idea! In this publication, we will tell you how to choose a WiFi router for your home, what to look for when choosing a router, and how not to be disappointed in your purchase. We have already told you what to pay attention to and how not to make a mistake when choosing. We even wrote an article on how to get into the car correctly. The time has come for a home Wi-Fi router.

It's no secret that today there are a lot of manufacturers of wireless routers and access points: ASUS, D-link, Huawei, Linksys, MikroTik, NETGEAR, TP-LINK, TRENDnet, Ubiquiti, Upvel, ZyXEL and others. And each manufacturer can have several dozen models of routers and Wi-Fi access points. Which router should you choose for your home among all this variety? Do you need to overpay for famous brands, modern innovations and progressive features? Let's figure it out together!

What are the best parameters to choose a router for at home?

In one of our articles, we have already described what the basic principle of its operation is. We would like to immediately clarify the difference between a Wi-Fi router and a Wi-Fi access point. Otherwise, in stores, routers can be called access points, and vice versa. The first difference between a router and an access point is the presence of network ports on the router. And this is not easy, since the task of a simple access point is to expand the network coverage area, and not to distribute the Internet to devices.

All WiFi access points are designed to increase network coverage. That is, it will not be possible to organize a full-fledged network using an access point (there are no necessary ports). A WiFi router (also known as a router) is the same wireless access point, but with the ability to organize a network. Any router can act as a switch, since it has LAN ports for connecting a laptop or computer via a network cable (). We will now show you what these network ports are. This is what a standard Wi-Fi router looks like from the back:

As you can see, there is nothing complicated about it. First of all, you need to understand for which Internet connection you want to choose and buy a Wi-Fi router. After all, there are several connection technologies and here you need to know exactly what type of Internet you have installed. Or what type do you plan to use in the future. We have already talked about different types of Internet connections in our article. Here are the three main connection protocols: Ethernet, ADSL And 3G/4G.

Advice! Many providers post recommended router models on their websites. It would be a good idea to go in and check the compatibility of the router with your Internet connection.

First protocol Ethernet(the main three varieties of this protocol in Russia are PPPoE, L2TP or VPN) works over a network cable, if a cord from the provider is connected to the network card of your home computer or laptop, then your connection uses this communication protocol. The most popular providers providing Ethernet access is Beeline (Beeline), Rostelecom (Online), Dom.ru (Dom.ru), NETBYNET Akado, ByFly, TTK, Ukrtelecom and others. In fact, there are a great many of them, it’s just that many of the providers buy the channel from larger ones. This is what the RJ-45 connector looks like on a router:

The second common communication protocol is ADSL. In Russia, a provider works with it MGTS. This is what a WiFi router looks like for the ADSL protocol (the connector looks like a telephone connector):

The third popular type of connection is 3G/4G. Such mobile operators work with it as MTS, Beeline, Megaphone And Skylink. On the router intended for distribution 3G/4G Internet there is a special USB connector:

The first thing a buyer always pays attention to is the price. Why does one router cost a thousand rubles, and another four or five thousand? In many ways, it's all about its characteristics. But before we look at them, a few words about the price and pricing market for routers.

Very often you can hear two opposing points of view. Some users of home WiFi routers claim that there is no point in overpaying for expensive router models, while others say that cheap routers are defective, break down quickly, are glitchy and unstable. As usual, the truth is somewhere in the middle. The vast majority of routers are produced in China, but this does not mean that they are all of poor or the same quality. Here's what affects the price of a router:

• What hardware is installed in the router (processor, flash memory, etc.).
• Router brand.
• Hardware and software capabilities of a particular model.

Let's consider all three factors influencing the price. Of course, the price is affected by the build quality and good components that are present in more expensive router models. But if you get to the bottom of things and take a closer look at specific models, you can choose a WiFi router for your home for less money and you can’t go wrong with its contents.

For example, WiFi routers from one of the leading manufacturers Dlink, especially cheap models, are often released with crude firmware, and the hardware of cheap routers and access points from Dlink is not designed for high performance. Eminent Asus has a diverse lineup, which includes both expensive router models and relatively budget options. The latter may not be the best choice. Linksys- relatively expensive, but mostly reliable and high-quality routers. TP-Link is a budget manufacturer of Wi-Fi routers; the quality of this company’s products is highly controversial. You may end up with a low-quality product. Zyxel - produces a range of home models that are quite proven and suitable for home use. True, the prices of this company are not the most affordable. Routers from NETGEAR And TRENDnet They are also of fairly high quality and relatively cheap.

In general, you can run into a low-quality model from any manufacturer. But if you pay attention to reviews and technical specifications, this probability can be greatly reduced. Hardware and software capabilities - here's what you need to know if you want to choose a decent wifi router for your home. In many ways, the price of a particular model depends on the capabilities that the router can provide. But are advanced features really needed in everyday home use of a WiFi router? Let's look at the question of how to choose a router for an apartment, from the point of view of its technical characteristics.

Main technical characteristics when choosing a Wi-Fi router

If you choose a home router based on price and do not pay attention to its characteristics, then you may make a mistake with the purchase. Some cheap wireless devices are not designed for high power and the network coverage area can be several meters. In addition, low-power routers do not allow the signal to reach through walls or other obstacles. If you have an apartment with concrete walls or a country house with brick walls, you should take a closer look at the chosen model.

There are a lot of negative reviews from owners of cheap routers who complain that their router cuts down the incoming and outgoing Internet speed via WiFi. This is due to the cheap and low-quality hardware of Wi-Fi routers. For example, if your provider provides access via a 10-megabit channel, and the measured file download speed is less than 1.25 megabytes, then it may not be a problem of poor-quality service, but the operation of Wi-Fi.

In addition, cheap router models can freeze, glitch and simply turn off. Agree that constantly rebooting the router is a very nerve-wracking task. Sometimes a device can be saved from such behavior by flashing it, that is, replacing the internal firmware with a newer one (the latest firmware can be found on the manufacturer’s website). However, you may not be lucky with an expensive analogue, but the likelihood of such troubles is lower.

Now we will look at the main characteristics of routers that you need to pay attention to when using WiFi at home. If you are choosing a WiFi router for the first time, then most likely you do not understand the specific parameters. In fact, it's not that complicated. We have already found out above that any router has a port for connecting a channel from the provider, LAN ports for connecting to a computer’s network card, and the ability to distribute the Internet via Wi-Fi wireless technology. These are the characteristics a modern router should have; if you don’t know which WiFi router to choose, then these will be sufficient:

1. The ability to encrypt the channel with all available encryption types - WEP, WPA, WPA2.
2. Ability to work on all wireless communication standards - 802.11b, 802.1g, 802.11n. N mode provides the fastest wireless connection speed. It is advisable that the router be able to work with mixed modes 802.11b/g And 802.11b/g/n . This will allow you to connect those devices that I can use 802.11n and those older gadgets that only work on 802.11b or 802.1g. Some models support the standard 802.11ac, which theoretically allows you to work over a wireless gigabit channel. But in practice, a gigabit channel is not needed at home, and you need to look for a provider who can provide such bandwidth.
3. The router must be able to work with protocols PPPoE L2TP And VPN. The first is usually included by default in all models, but not all have the second and third protocols. Even if you don’t have a VPN or L2Tp connection at home now, it’s not a fact that you won’t need it in the future.
4. It is advisable that the router have a removable antenna. This will increase the WIFI coverage area if it turns out to be insufficient.
5. Number of external antennas - the more, the better. However, for a small apartment or a small country house, a Wi-Fi router with one antenna may be enough. If the apartment or private house is large enough, then you may have to install a wifi router in the middle of the house or apartment, or buy an additional access point.
6. Volume . It is advisable to buy a router with at least 64 megabytes of RAM. 32 megabytes of RAM may not be enough when using WiFi with a large number of devices.
7. It is advisable to find a router with not the weakest one. A powerful wifi router for your home is the key to stable operation in the future. The maximum Wi-Fi data transfer speed and signal stability during device operation depend on the processor.

All modern routers have their own web interface, with which you can. There is no need to worry about the absence of such an interface. In addition, all modern models have a built-in DHCP-a server that allows you to distribute IP addresses to a computer, laptop, phone, tablet or other gadget automatically. Also, most routers have a built-in software firewall (FireWall), which will protect your home network from hacking by an attacker. A more specific characteristic of the router is the function WPS. It serves to quickly connect devices that support it. For those who are interested in quickly setting up a WI-FI connection using WPS, we recommend reading our articles and setting up and. We also suggest that you read our articles on setting up a WiFi router:

• — how to connect a Wi-Fi router using the example of a router Trendnet.
• — even more detailed instructions for setting up and connecting a Wi-Fi router.
• — what to do if WiFi still doesn’t work.

Typically, for home use, you do not need a router with a print server (with software that allows a group of users to share the printer by connecting it via USB). However, if this function is necessary, do not forget about it when choosing and purchasing the model you like. In the next chapter, we have compiled a rating of routers for the home based on their characteristics, which in our opinion are the best choice in terms of price-quality ratio.

When choosing the best router for your home, you should pay attention to its characteristics, the requirements for which largely depend on the tasks the router performs. So, for online game players, the main parameter is the speed and stability of the connection.

For those who exclusively surf the Internet, a budget model is more suitable - especially since any modern router meets the requirements of the average user.

For a large family, it is desirable to provide the maximum number of connections and high speed access to information. And, if the wired Internet in this region is unstable (especially when the router is installed in the private sector or outside the city), an equally important parameter is the ability to connect a 3G modem.

Main selection criteria

The parameters you should pay attention to when buying a home router are:

• the number of LAN ports to which you can connect a computer, laptop or switch using a cable;
• data transfer speed using a wired connection;
• presence of a USB port for connecting a flash drive.

Rice. 1. Router with a connected 3G modem.

The speed of data transfer over wireless channels also matters. However, for modern routers it is at least 300 Mbit/s. This figure is higher than that of most domestic providers, offering access at speeds of up to 100–200 Mbit/s.

Wired communication

Most modern routers have several LAN ports - usually at least 4. Their tasks include distributing information at a speed of 100 or 1000 Mbit/s using a wired connection. The advantage of this method of data transfer is stability; the disadvantage is the lower speed and the relatively short distance at which the router and the connected device can be located from each other.

A device called a switch is used to increase the number of wired connections to a single router. At the same time, the maximum number of computers simultaneously connected to the router is practically unlimited. It’s just that as their number increases, the connection speed will drop in proportion to this value.

You should know: The maximum distance that can be achieved using a cable is 100 m. But most cords are no more than 10 m long. And their use is limited by the configuration of the premises.

Wireless connection

For wireless communications, an important factor is the Wi-Fi standard, the frequency at which information is transmitted, and the number of bands. It is most convenient to use dual-band routers that support 802.11ac technology. While models that transmit signals only using the 802.11n protocol are cheaper, although they provide lower quality communications.

The speed of information transmission and the distance over which it is transmitted are related to the number of antennas. Budget router models have only one such amplifier. More expensive devices are equipped with two, three or more antennas.

The advantage of this option is the high speed, exceeding even that of a cable, and a large number of connections provided simultaneously. The disadvantage is the need to configure and protect the wireless network with a password.

Rice. 2. Router with a large number of antennas.

USB ports

Some router models are equipped not only with standard ports, but also with USB connectors. Using these ports you can:

• connect a printer to the network;
• provide a connection between the router and an external storage device (for example, a USB flash drive);
• install a 3G/4G modem that allows you to get a backup channel for Internet access.

If you need a regular network connection for browsing websites and working with email, the presence of a USB port on the router does not matter. Therefore, budget models do not have such an option. And in expensive ones there may even be two connectors.

The most budget-friendly high-speed model: Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi mini

A stylish-looking Xiaomi router with the ability to transmit data using the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac protocol provides an overall connection speed of 1167 Mbps. In addition, the manufacturing company supplies this model with two types of firmware - regular and intended for developers, that is, with extended functionality. The router has the following advantages:

• USB input for connecting storage devices;
• affordable price for a model supporting the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac protocol (RUB 2,200);
• high speed network access;
• a wide range of router configuration options.

The disadvantages of the equipment include the presence of instructions only in Chinese. A slight inconvenience may be the presence of only two LAN ports. And if you need to connect 3 computers, you will have to buy a switch.

Rice. 3. Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi mini model – affordable price for its capabilities.

The fastest: TP-Link Archer C7

The main advantages of the TP-Link Archer C7 model are its impressive Internet access speed. Its maximum throughput reaches 1.75 Gbit/s – 1300 Mbit/s for the 5 Hz band and 450 Mbit/s for 2.4 GHz. The device has wide coverage and provides a wireless network to both a large apartment and a private house. By the way, in order to correctly choose which Internet is best for you, read our material Which Internet is better to connect to at home. Review of all possible options.

The router is equipped with 2 USB ports through which a scanner or printer is connected to it. And when you connect an external storage device (portable hard drive or flash drive) to Archer C7, information from it can be available to all users of the wireless network.

To make it easier to work with the router, it has special software installed that allows you to check the number of connections and set up individual access for them to the network as a whole or to individual pages. Thus, the router can be used to prevent children from accessing unwanted information.

Rice. 4. Archer C7 model with the highest speed - almost 2 Gbps.

Netgear N750: model with setup from a smartphone

Among the capabilities of the N750 model from the manufacturer Netgear, it is worth noting the high speed of network access using wireless (at 750 Mbit/s for two bands) and wired (1000 Mbit/s for LAN) connections. This speed is more than enough for each family member to watch videos in FullHD quality without degrading the signal quality.

An external drive can be connected to the router, with the help of which the device turns into a mini-server. And thanks to the Time Machine function, the drive allows you to create backup copies of Apple computers. At the same time, a user with a phone running Android or iOS can manage the network directly from their mobile device. The same application allows for parental control of children using mobile devices.

Rice. 5. N750 router with setup from a smartphone.

Router TP-LINK TL-WA901ND: maximum range

The advantages that a user who chooses the Tp-Link TL-WA901ND router model receives include:

• three amplifier antennas, thanks to which the signal is amplified by several dBi and reaches even remote areas. The maximum range is about 270 m.
• support for the PoE standard, thanks to which power can be supplied to the device not only using a special cord, but also through a wired connection (using an adapter);
• ease of setup.

In addition to its advantages, the router has a small drawback - the lack of wired connections. In order to provide Internet to a desktop PC, you will need to purchase a Wi-Fi adapter. At the same time, the equipment is quite affordable and is excellent for installation in a house or apartment, where only mobile devices – laptops, tablets or smartphones – need to be connected to the network.

Rice. 6. Tp-Link TL-WA901ND router – a model with a high level of signal amplification.

ASUS RT-N56U: high speed and functionality

The ASUS RT-N56U model has an original and immediately eye-catching design and is capable of operating in two bands and a wireless connection speed of 300 Mbps that is quite decent for most tasks. Two USB ports provide connection to the router for external hard drives and flash drives, as well as 3G/4G modems. Other quite important characteristics of the device include:

• high data transfer speed via cable: up to 1000 Mbit/s;
• data transfer to the connected HDD at 10–12 Mbit/s for writing and 14–16 Mbit/s for reading;
• the price is about 5,000 rubles, depending on the place of purchase.

Hard drive sizes can reach 1 TB. However, it is not recommended to leave this connection permanently. The router gets relatively hot even in normal mode. And when working together with a drive, it can even overheat.

Rice. 7. ASUS RT-N56U router is a good option for both home and office.

TL-WR841N6 is a budget analogue of expensive TP-LINK models

At its budget price, the TP-LINK TL-WR841N router has a convenient and intuitive interface for setting up equipment, which coincides with the menu of more expensive models of the same brand. The advantages of the device include its low cost, which suits most users.

Among the disadvantages is the presence of only a 100-megabit wired connection and a 300-megabit wireless connection. This would hardly be enough for an office, but in an apartment or private house the router will allow you to simultaneously connect up to 4 computers and more than ten mobile gadgets with a speed of 20–30 Mbit/s.

Rice. 8. TP-LINK TL-WR841N

D-link DIR-300/A/D1 – regular price and parameters for home

Among the few advantages of the D-link DIR-300/A/D1 router is its low price and support for the WPS option, which ensures the creation of a wireless network in semi-automatic mode. At the same time, the technical characteristics of the model are not impressive - although they are not too upsetting. 150 Mbps is enough for 3-4 simultaneous high-speed connections at home. It is not of great importance for an apartment or house and has a relatively small range of action, within 10–20 meters.

Rice. 9. D-link DIR-300/A/D1

Netis WF2419E – budget Chinese router

The Chinese router Netis WF2419E can be classified as a budget segment. And its price is the lowest among all models available on the market. The build quality of the device corresponds even to the more expensive segment. And the data transfer speed is quite suitable for home use - up to 300 Mbit/s over a wireless network and up to 100 Mbit/s over a wired network.

The advantages of the gadget include simple setup and good functionality. There are practically no disadvantages, taking into account such a low cost. The only noticeable disadvantage is the reduction in the information transmission range to 20 meters or less if there are concrete walls or reinforced interior partitions in the apartment or house. In the absence of serious obstacles, the equipment provides high-quality reception at a distance of up to 30 meters.

Rice. 10. Netis WF2419E is one of the most budget routers on the market.

Tenda N301

The advantages of the Tenda N301 model are its compact body size and low price. These advantages are complemented by the ease of setting up the operation of the equipment, which makes it easy to put the router into operation even for inexperienced users. By the way, on our website you can read detailed instructions for setting up this router: Tenda n301: setting up and working with the router

The setup menu interface is in Russian, and clear instructions are included with the router. When the device operates, it provides a good connection speed to the network - up to 300 Mbit/s over a wireless network and up to 100 Mbit/s over a wired network.

The disadvantages of the Tenda N301 model include the presence of only 3 LAN ports instead of the standard four and a not very powerful signal. In fact, after 10 meters it may not be enough to fully surf the Internet. Although for the conditions of an ordinary apartment such characteristics are usually sufficient, it is advisable to install the equipment closer to the center of the home.

Rice. 11. Tenda N301 – router for undemanding users.

ZyXEL Keenetic Start – not too fast, but stable connection

The ZyXEL Keenetic Start model is a simplified version of the Kinetic router from the same manufacturer. The functionality of the device is limited compared to a more expensive router. However, for a small house and a two- or three-room apartment, its capabilities are sufficient.

At the same time, the device has a favorable price, does not overheat too much during operation and provides a real 150 Mbit/s speed - while some models from other manufacturers (especially budget ones) do not always correspond to the declared parameters.

Rice. 12. ZyXEL Keenetic Start - a simplified version of an expensive router.

Results

The routers presented in the list are among the most popular and most frequently purchased models. There are many reasons for this - affordable cost, high speed, easy setup. Buying one for your apartment, private home, or even a summer house (if you have a USB connector and a 3G modem) will provide a high-quality signal over a considerable distance around the router. And it will allow you to access the Internet using a wired or wireless connection.

Video:

Who and why might need a reserved Internet channel at home? For example, if you have a “smart home” installed in your house or apartment, or simply a server and video surveillance cameras, security and engineering sensors (water leaks, gas leaks), a status report on which you would like to receive is guaranteed, regardless of whether at the moment, your Internet provider, or unexpectedly decided to carry out routine maintenance.

Seamless Wi-Fi roaming

The technology is slowly starting to appear in home devices after becoming an integral part of enterprise wireless networks. It is important when, to ensure a large coverage area (a multi-room apartment with “impenetrable” walls or a large private house), not one wireless router is used, but several. One router is designated as the “master” (usually the one that is connected to the provider), and the rest are switched to access point mode, and the “master” constantly monitors the state of the entire network, distributes uniform settings and connection rules to all routers, and can transfer clients from loaded points to a less busy one, provides a transparent transition from one point to another, and so on. If you have a large house or apartment and are faced with the problem of stable reception with one wireless router, this may well be the way to go. One has only to take into account that a prerequisite for the operation of such a scheme is the use of routers from the same manufacturer, and those models in which this technology works. And one more “but”: you should not expect that this technology will work flawlessly on home routers - it is just emerging and is unlikely to be ideally implemented in the home segment in the near future.

Ethernet port speed

Gigabit ports are gradually becoming something that is simply a must-have in a home router: providers are offering increasingly higher speeds, and all of our stationary devices have switched to the Gigabit Ethernet standard. So there’s not much to discuss here - soon there will simply be no devices left with 100 Mbit/s ports.

Types of routers

There are several types of routers, depending on the Internet to which the user is going to connect.

Ethernet

This type is used most often. Most routers are equipped with an Ethernet port. A regular cable (twisted pair) is connected to it, which the provider runs into your house/apartment.

ADSL modems with Wi-Fi

These are also simple routers, only they have a special connector for connecting a telephone cable. If you have an ADSL modem installed, then you should buy an Ethernet router and connect it to it using a regular cable.

3G/4G Wi-Fi routers

If you are going to connect to the network via a USB modem and distribute the Internet, you should use a router with a special WAN port connector - USB 3G.

Universal

There are routers that have several ports for connecting the Internet, for example, Ethernet and USB. Please note that just because a device has a USB port, this does not mean that a 3G modem can be connected to it.

Main Factors

Now let's move on to how to choose a router for home Wi-Fi. You should already have determined what type you need and the approximate amount of money you are willing to pay for the device.

Price

On the router market you can find devices starting from 600 rubles. However, it is not recommended to pay attention to such cheap routers. Their functionality is limited and they will emit a weak signal. It is better to choose devices starting from 1,500 rubles, but not more than 4,000 rubles, since a simple router in the region of 1,500-3,000 thousand rubles is enough for a home.

Physical port

Here you need to decide what speed you need, but most often a router with 100 Mbit ports is enough. It is very rare that routers with gigabit ports are purchased for home use.

Wi-Fi module

This is the most important parameter in a device for distributing the Internet. Let's start with the fact that under no circumstances should you buy routers with an internal antenna. They are very weak, the gain is only 2 dBi. This may be enough for a small one-room apartment, but for a large house it will not be enough. We do not recommend buying devices with a non-removable external antenna, since if it is not enough, you will not be able to install another, more powerful one. To achieve good coverage, you need a router with two antennas with a coefficient of 5dBi in MIMO mode.

There is another factor - supported standards. Almost all modern devices support the 802.11n standard, which provides data transfer speeds of up to 600 Mbit per second (if it has 4 antennas). If the router is cheap with one antenna, it usually says Wireless 150, that is, the speed should be 150 Mbit, but in reality it is much less. It is better to buy routers that indicate Wireless 300. They support speeds of up to 300 Mbit and cost a little more, literally 100-150 rubles.

Router hardware

Everything here is the same as with a PC, the better the processor and the more RAM, the more load the device can withstand. Keep in mind that if your tariff provides you with Internet at a speed of 100 Mbit, routers that cost up to 1,500 rubles will not cope with it. If you plan to download a lot, consider this factor.

Which model to choose

Now let's look at how to choose a router for your home, which one is better. Each manufacturer has several good models, so you shouldn’t pay attention to the brand, because the main thing is to find this very model.

The ASUS RT-N12 router is a good model for home use. It provides data transfer at speeds of up to 300 Mbit and has a simple interface. It’s easy to set up; even a complete “teapot” can handle it. It supports 4 data transmission protocols and has two antennas with a gain of 5 dBi. Approximate cost is about 1500 rubles.

Another great home model is the D-Link DIR-615S. It has 100 Mbps Ethernet ports and can provide an access point with speeds of up to 150 Mbps. The model copes well with the load even when several users are connected at once. Approximate price from 950 to 1800 rubles.

The next model is Xiaomi Mi WiFi Router 3. It is equipped with 4 antennas: two at 2.4 GHz and two at 5 GHz. This budget router has many advantages, for example:

• Availability of a USB port.
• Supports dual-channel Wi-Fi 802.11ac mode.
• You can control the device from your smartphone using a special application.

4 antennas provide excellent coverage and stable high speed. Approximate cost 1500 rubles.

And the last one for today is TP-Link TL-WR841N. It is easy to configure thanks to a special disk. The model has two antennas that provide good coverage. The connection is always stable and not lost. The maximum speed supported by the device is 300 Mbit. The approximate cost is up to 1300 rubles.

Where to place the router

It is advisable that the device be placed in the center of the house or as close to it as possible. If you live in a private house with several floors, it is best to place the router in the center on the ground floor. Be sure to point the antenna upward. Do not place the router where there are various fittings, electronic devices, etc. This may affect the quality of the connection.

How routers are configured

Let's look at the general algorithm for connecting and configuring routers:

Conclusion

We hope this article will help you choose a router. We have outlined all the important characteristics and factors that you need to pay attention to when purchasing. In addition, we have provided a short guide to setting up routers. Of course, not everything is covered there, but soon we will release full instructions on setting up routers.

• 10 - Keenetic Start
• 9 - Tenda AC6
• 8 - Mikrotik HAP ac2
• 7 - ZyXEL Keenetic Extra II
• 6 - Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi 4
• 5 - Huawei B525
• 4 - Keenetic Giga KN1010
• 3 - LinkSys EA8500
• 2 - ASUS RT-AC86U
• 1 - TP-LINK Archer C3200

The extreme degree of equipment of apartments and offices with intelligent systems designed to make our existence easier, life as comfortable as possible, and work productive, requires the indispensable organization of a high-speed communication center inside the premises.

This device must aggregate a maximum of digital streams, process the information coming to it quickly and without mutual detrimental influence - the quality of communication should not degrade due to an increase in the number of hosts. In this case, the number of wire connections should be minimal. Wireless routers for broadband access to Network resources cope with this task, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, and “sores”.

We present to your attention the best routers for the home of the 2019 model year. Go!

8.2 Evaluation

• Non-marking body
• Convenient application
• Easy initial setup
• High frequency antennas
• Ability to connect multiple providers

• Supports frequencies only in the 2.4 GHz range

The last line of our router hit parade is occupied by a very high-quality development from Keenetic, which is part of the triad of routers released this year - this is the Start model - the cheapest and smallest router for quickly deploying a Wi-Fi network.

You won’t be able to make any significant claims regarding build quality, performance or reliability on this “baby”:

• The design is well thought out;
• Antenna 5 dBi devices of the latest generation;
• Security is at a high level (there is even support for IPSec and 802.1x encryption).

Its main problem is that the communication standards on which the consumer is asked to work are slowly “sinking into oblivion” - this is 2-channel communication exclusively in the 2.4 GHz range at the maximum achievable speed of 300 Mbit/s - indicators 5-7- years ago. And the switch offers only 100-megabit ports - there is no reason to bring “optics” into the apartment.

This is indeed a high-quality product, but among its target audience, most likely, there will be only university students - cheaply and in 5 minutes, distributing Wi-Fi in a dorm room - that’s the destiny of the Start KN1110.

7.4 Evaluation

• Interesting design
• Possibility to place both on the table and on the wall
• Clear installation wizard
• Parental controls via app
• Signal support in the 2.5 and 5 GHz bands
• Low price

• Small range

It’s not entirely clear how this happens, but... the developments of little-known Chinese companies over the past couple of years have literally burst into the wireless router market and taken leading positions there. The same “dark horse” continues in our 2019 rating of Wi-Fi routers for an apartment or office - Tenda AC6 is in 9th place.

Everything here is mature: simultaneous support for two frequency ranges 2.4 and 5 GHz, on-air throughput up to 1200 Mbit/s and good coverage quality - this is facilitated by a powerful 30 dBm HF transmitter.

Four removable antennas along the perimeter of the case, coupled with active Beamforming algorithms, form radiation in the direction of the consumers furthest from the router - these are “premium habits”.

The cool Russified configuration interface adds advantages to this device - thanks to the developers.

If everything is so wonderful, why only 9th position? Yes, because no one is interested in the maximum speed of the radio channel if the provider’s service is limited to a 100-megabit WAN port - they somehow forgot about it... But for that the price is simply super.

6.2 Evaluation

• Powerful modern processor
• Wide range of options
• Trouble-free dual-band operation
• PoE power supply capability
• Small size and wall mounting

• Marky, not informative corpus

At the very beginning of the summer of this year, the Mikrotik company began selling its new product under the “hAp” policy - routers for home use. They had been waiting for it for a very long time, since the previous model of the family had already set the majority of workgroup administrators of small offices and branch networks on edge - and bad luck - the new gigabit Mikrotik hAp ac2 could not meet all expectations - therefore only 8th place.

There are many original technical and design solutions - the efforts of the developers should not be underestimated:

• Protective coating of the housing;
• New dual-band antennas;
• 4-core processor from Qualcomm coupled with 128-256 MB of RAM;
• Separate radio control chipset supporting MIMO up to 4x4 modes.

And the traditionally sophisticated RouterOS software offers a crazy range of options for interacting with backbone networks.

But this is where the dog buries itself; due to software flaws, the speed “over the air” is unlikely to exceed 500 Mbit/s even at a frequency of 5 GHz, and for a market price of more than $50, no microcircuits will cover such an oversight.

7.8 Evaluation

• Stylish design
• Possibility to mount the device on the wall
• Dual range operation
• Convenient KeenDNS service

• Small signal transmission radius

On the seventh line of the TOP is a very attractive router - Zyxel Keenetic Extra 2. Potentially, it should not be here at all - after all, routers with ports supporting a gigabit connection should be closer to the middle of the rating (here only 4xLAN 100Base-TX).

But rave reviews from ordinary buyers and a great price left us no choice - this is indeed almost the most powerful Wi-Fi router for the home in 2019 with the widest functionality.

Using it to organize a home Internet center is the most correct decision. The router is capable of providing uninterrupted Wi-Fi coverage thanks to 4 5 dBi antennas and a competent approach to the use of MIMO diversity of data streams.

When both proposed frequency ranges are loaded, a bandwidth of up to 1160 Mbit/s can be achieved.

The router is also “tailored” to pass traffic from a small telephone network in DECT or even ADSL formats, that is, it is also suitable for small offices.

For starters, Extra 2 offers the most complete set of options for building VPN and FTP servers, configuration via a mobile application and dynamic restructuring of route tables. What else do you need for 4000r?

8.2 Evaluation

• Pleasant harmonious design
• Gigabit Ethernet ports
• MIMO Channel Separation
• Remote access from a smartphone
• The lowest price

• No USB port
• No mountings for vertical position

Functionality similar to the previous representative, but for less money and already with two Ethernet ports capable of operating at a speed of 1 Gbit/s, is being brought to the masses by the Chinese giant Xiaomi. This time this is a continuation of the line of high-performance Mi WiFi Router 4th generation routers.

Xiaomi engineers did a great job on the appearance of the router: 4 non-removable antennas, a flat body and a single LED look quite harmonious.

There is also a “Mi” button for quick pairing with the manufacturer’s gadgets.

Performance is at a good level - after all, 128 MB of RAM, support for all known 802.11 bgn/ac standards and a fast processor do their job - the air speed reaches 1167 Mbit/s. The only disappointment is the missing USB port - earlier versions had it.

The more than modest price of this “hard worker” makes Mi WiFi Router 4 one of the most popular developments in the field of building reliable and fast wireless networks. At home or in the office, you will probably completely forget where it is - fortunately, the dust on the white case will be almost invisible.

8.4 Evaluation

• Stylish design
• Connect up to 32 devices
• 4G+ support
• Works with both built-in and external antennas
• Long range

• Can't be hung on the wall

The TOP routers for home 2019 continues with the monster from Huawei, the B525 router, in fifth position. The development is designed to satisfy a wide range of requests from both ordinary consumers and corporate groups and even communication service providers. For these purposes, there are two SMA connectors on board the B525 for connecting external 4G antennas.

The maximum data transfer rate available to the user via wireless protocols is 1300 Mbit/s - this is a completely different class of devices. It goes without saying that this requires high noise immunity when working together in two frequency ranges at once - 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Encryption is carried out using WEP and WPA(2) algorithms.

Among the interesting “bells and whistles” is the presence of an RJ-11 port for connecting an analog phone – a strange anachronism.

One way or another, the B525 performs its main function - supporting combined computer networks at high speeds - better than many others, and its cost ranges around $100.

8.2 Evaluation

• Improved radio characteristics
• SFP module slot
• Work with MU-MIMO technology
• New user-friendly interface
• Low price among "classmates"

• Average (as of today) bandwidth
• Design from previous generations of Keenetic

In addition to supporting simultaneous two frequency bands and a switch group on 4 gigabit LAN ports, which is relevant for routers with a claim to leadership, this router offers a direct fiber connection.

Of course, you will need an SFP module for this.

The work of Keenetic engineers in constructing antenna-feeder paths deserves special praise. Their slogan, obviously, was “Fewer joints - less losses” - it is true, although the antennas are not removable, but the quality of the coverage is simply excellent.

Beamforming algorithms help to target the resource use of wireless networks.

Cool Internet center for more than reasonable money. In addition to the listed GIGAbit capabilities, users will receive an updated web interface for quickly setting up the router, as well as 3 hardware control keys that can be reassigned at your discretion.

8.0 Rating

• Cool build quality and design
• Easy to set up and operate
• Brilliant performance
• Four-channel traffic diversity
• Full and remote control from a smartphone

• High cost of the device
• Lack of indication of ports and modes

The podium is opened (or rather, “kicks down the door”) by the powerful and uncompromising LinkSys EA8500 router. Possessing a typical appearance for the manufacturer and amazing functionality, seasoned with high reliability, for some reason this router failed to reach the top step of the rating - we’ll figure it out.

Inside the strict and very well-ventilated (for cooling) case hides a powerful processor from Qualcomm with 2 cores of 1400 MHz clock, as well as as much as 512 MB of RAM - you can’t find it anymore.

In addition to the built-in gigabit switch, there are two USB ports, one of which is combined with SATA, and the second is necessary for connecting 3G/4G modems.

Full support for MU-MIMO, all possible types of encryption and two independent coprocessors for RF signal conditioning - everything is here! The device complies with speed class AC1300.

So why answer the question “Which Wi-Fi router is best for home?” you won’t even think to answer: “LinkSys.” Yes, because few people will allow you to invite a router to their home for $700! The price doesn’t just bite, it devours you whole, but you have to pay for pleasure.

7.8 Evaluation

• Cool design
• All necessary interfaces on board
• Ease of use
• High-quality fast hardware
• Modern AIR technologies
• Quick control from a smartphone

• High price
• Impossibility of wall mounting

Every administrator knows that the best router is the one that is located in an unknown location. This trick will not work with the Asus RT-AC86U - it should be given the most prominent place in your home. The design of the router is simply gorgeous! The combination of scarlet inserts and black gloss looks just like the picture. But, of course, an attractive appearance is not all that helps it gain a foothold in second place in our rating.

RT-AC86U is one of the fastest existing routers for home use - it is assigned the AC2900 class. Three powerful antennas form a dense Wi-Fi coverage around the router, which can be intelligently shared between dozens of gadgets.

No one will experience “air hunger” - the load will be distributed between subscribers in an optimal way, based on the range, frequency of access to the router and the frequency range in which the consumer operates.

It is possible to connect in the 2.4 or 5 GHz bands and use WEP or WPA(2) encryption.