Wi fi router selection according to parameters. Choosing a router for your home network

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Who and why might need a reserved Internet channel at home? For example, if you have “ smart House"or simply a server and video surveillance cameras, security and engineering sensors (water leaks, gas leaks), the status report of which you would like to receive guaranteed, regardless of whether it is working in currently 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 more than one is used to ensure a large coverage area (a multi-room apartment with “impenetrable” walls or a large private house). wireless router, 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 prerequisite The way such a scheme works is to use 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 necessary to have in a home router: providers are offering increasingly higher speeds, and all of our stationary devices have switched to the standard Gigabit Ethernet. So there’s not much to discuss here - soon there will simply be no devices left with 100 Mbit/s ports.

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 home Wi-Fi router A.

It's no secret that today there are a lot of manufacturers 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 Wi-Fi hotspot access. 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 points access are designed to increase network coverage area. That is, it will not be possible to organize a full-fledged network using an access point (there are no necessary ports). WiFi router(aka router) is the same wireless point access, 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 network cable(). What is this network ports, we'll show you now. 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 Various types 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(main three varieties of this protocol in Russia - PPPoE, L2TP or VPN) works over a network cable, if in network card your his home computer or laptop is connected to a cord from the provider, which means 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 home WiFi routers say that it makes no sense to overpay for expensive router models, while the latter say that cheap routers are defective, quickly break down, 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, which are present in more expensive router models. But if you look at the essence and take a closer look at specific models, then 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 model range, which includes both expensive router models and relatively budget options. The latter may not be the most 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 might run into defective goods. Zyxel- produces a whole range of models for the home, which 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 the reviews and specifications, then this probability can be greatly reduced. Hardware and software capabilities are what you need to know if you want to choose a decent wifi router for your home. In many ways the price of a certain model depends on the capabilities the router can provide. But are advanced capabilities really needed in everyday home life? using 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 are 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 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:

The ability to encrypt the channel with all available encryption types - WEP, WPA, WPA2.
Ability to work on all wireless standards wired communication — 802.11b, 802.1g, 802.11n. N mode provides the fastest speed wireless connection. 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.
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.
It is advisable that the router have a removable antenna. This will increase WIFI zone coverage if it turns out to be insufficient.
Quantity external antennas- the more there are, 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.
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.
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 WiFi setup router:

- how to connect a Wi-Fi router using the example of a router Trendnet.
- even more detailed instructions on 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.

What is the best Wi-Fi router for home?

So, if your eyes run wild and you just can’t decide which wifi router to choose, then here are a few popular models who have everything necessary functions for use at home. To begin with, routers cost up to 1000 rubles. We warn you that these devices have weak hardware and can reduce the outgoing and incoming speed from the provider. Such routers are suitable for use with a slow channel in a small house or apartment:


730 rub.	1030 rub.	949 rub.	990 rub.	780 rub.	955 rub.

Here are a few router models that you can buy within from 1000 to 2000 rubles:


1118 rub.	1540 rub.	1811 rub.	2150 rub.	1540 rub.	1310 rub.

Popular router models from 2000 to 5000 rubles. In addition to advanced functionality, such routers allow you to operate over a channel from 600 Mbit/s to 900 Mbit/s, as well as use the 2.4/5 GHz bandwidth of Wi-Fi devices (except ZyXEL Keenetic Giga II).

Today, perhaps, you will no longer meet a person who does not use a computer or does not have a PC at home. In addition, more and more services and programs necessary for work and leisure work when connected to the Internet.

also in Lately The situation is becoming increasingly popular when an apartment, house or office has not one device, but several (PCs, tablets, communicators, smartphones, etc.), each of which requires its own separate connection to the network.

The ability to connect several devices to the internet, while having one input signal point from the provider, is currently achieved using a router or router.

Photo – Networking with multiple paired devices

The router itself is a network device, the purpose of which is to transmit packet data between devices paired with it and the access point - the service provider. In addition, more expensive routers are equipped with a number of additional features, including:

the ability to set restrictions on access to sites that are potentially dangerous for software;
connectivity firewall;
the ability to encrypt network access and traffic distribution;
ordered distribution of traffic across access points, etc.

A standard router, which can often be found both in a private home and in a company office, public places ah, is a small-sized equipment consisting of a hardware unit, an antenna for Wi-Fi transmission signal, power supply for connecting to the electrical network, patch cords (patch cords).

Photo – Equipment and connection of the router

A standard router is capable of organizing a network by connecting 4 PCs via a wired connection, as well as 5-10 devices for which Wi-Fi signal channels will be allocated. However, experts do not recommend completely loading the router, especially if it is not an expensive model of this device. Otherwise, the router may freeze and cannot withstand heavy loads.

Some router models may be equipped with USB ports to connect a flash drive to them or hard drive. This feature will allow you to use the equipment as file server, print server, etc. Besides, individual models They also boast support for 3G modems.

What you should pay attention to

When choosing a router, you should consider the following features and operating parameters of this equipment:

to organize a home connection or a network for a small office, a regular (non-professional) router from the mid-price range will be sufficient;
device support for IEEE 802.11g and IEEE 802.11n standards is required will provide data transfer speeds via Wi-Fi up to 600 Mbit/s;
installation must support PPTP or L2TP, which will provide access to Internet communications from almost any provider.

How a wireless Wi-Fi router works

The principle of operation of the equipment is based on receiving and converting the recipient's address, which is “written” in the header of the information packet for its transmission, then the path along which the information is addressed is determined using the routing table. If the routing table does not provide any address, the information is not accepted and discarded.

Photo - Example of a user network working with a router

In practice, there are some other systems for transmitting data to devices paired with the router. For example, using the sender address or protocols upper levels headers. There are also cases when the router’s operation is based on the transmission of addresses of both the sender and the recipient, as well as filtering the transit stream of transmitted data.

How to install a Wi-Fi router: step-by-step instructions

In order to connect and configure the router yourself, you need to do the following:

The first thing they do to install the equipment is to connect all communications from the router to the PC and to the Internet signal transmission unit from the provider. To do this, insert an Internet cable into the connector called WAN, and insert the cable that comes with the router into one of the remaining ports; its other end is intended for the Ethernet connector on the back panel of the PC. After this, turn on the power to the device.
Next move on to configuration software router. The equipment setup is not standard and may differ depending on the router model and connection settings from the provider. Configuration can be done through any browser installed on your computer ( Google Chrome,Opera, Internet Explorer, etc.). To do this, you need to log into the administrative interface of the device by entering address bar Browser combination of numbers: 192.168.1.1. After pressing the Enter key, the equipment administration window should pop up. If this does not happen, then you should check the cable connection, make sure that the connection is running, and then try again.
The next step is directly Wi-Fi setup connections. If the router is equipped with a quick setup function, then you need to start the “Quick Setup” service and follow the prompts of the installation wizard. Among the setup steps there will be a selection of the following parameters: - type of preferred connection;
— type of Internet connection;
Next you need to connect directly Wi-Fi module. To do this, the installation wizard offers the following menu.

Photo - Wi-Fi signal connection module

After these steps, the Internet connection should already be working. However, if the Internet speed is low or constant signal loss occurs, experts recommend choosing a specific channel (from 1 to 13), saving the settings. It is also worth taking care of the access password to the signal of the connected router. Otherwise possible unauthorized connections, which will also reduce traffic and make the router work slower.

After the router is connected and configured, all that remains is to connect the work network card on a PC or laptop and use the device with the internet. On a laptop, you need to make sure that you press special key, enabling Wi-Fi mode. If this operation completed, you need to connect the device to the network.

Photo – Network indicator

To do this, on the desktop toolbar on the network icon, click right click mouse, select a name from the drop-down menu established network, click the “Connect” button.

Photo - Context menu with Internet networks installed on the device

The connection is made in a similar way for Windows 8; for other systems, the device is put into operation according to a similar scheme.

How much does a router for a computer cost?

Today the electronics market and computer equipment offers its customers a wide selection of routers that differ from each other both by manufacturer and by some functional features devices. These could be routers for a home network with a few connected devices or industrial equipment to provide access to the Internet for public places and large offices. Accordingly, taking into account the functionality of the device, the cost of the devices will vary significantly. By visiting a store or online store of electrical goods, the client can choose the appropriate equipment that will meet the requirements for it. At the same time, he will need to deposit an amount of money ranging from 1 thousand rubles. for a standard model up to more than 25 thousand rubles. for professional multifunctional devices.

A Wi-Fi router is one of the most popular devices among Internet users today. The market offers a wide range of routers for every taste. Which router is better to choose for home use? It is quite difficult to give a definite answer to this question. In this article we will look at different types of routers, discuss the main factors that you need to pay attention to when choosing a home Wi-Fi modem, and also present to the reader a rating of the five best routers that are presented on our market.

Basic rules for choosing a home router

A router or router is a device with which a computer, smartphone, tablet or other equipment is combined into a common wireless network and then connected to the Internet. Choosing a good and at the same time inexpensive router is quite difficult, since it is necessary to take into account several criteria for choosing a modem. The main criterion that is usually advised to be taken into account when choosing a router is the price.

The reason for this is often the fact that almost all modern routers are practically the same, and accordingly, if there is no difference, then why pay more. But in reality, such reasoning is a widespread misconception. Cheap routers are equipped with cheaper components that have a shorter service life and lower performance key parameters etc. Therefore, the best wi-fi router, by definition, cannot be the cheapest. But here, too, there are exceptions to the rules, when even among routers in the lower price range there are decent models.

When choosing a router, of course, you need to pay attention first to the brand. There are several brands whose routers are time-tested. However, even among proven brand models there are modems that are not always different good quality. So, for example, the D-Link brand is widely known, producing a large number of budget modems. However, not all routers in its line can boast of impeccable quality and reliable operation. Unlike D-Link, very good and high-speed routers are produced under the Linksys brand. But for the quality provided by this brand, you will have to pay a significantly higher amount.

Have proven themselves very well Zyxel routers(not the cheapest routers, but with highest quality and reliability) and TP-Link (engaged in the production of inexpensive, but very high-quality modems). It’s up to you to decide which Wi-Fi router is best to buy for your home, but before making a decision you also need to pay attention to the technical characteristics of the modems.

Technical characteristics of routers

The first thing you need to pay attention to is RAM modem, it must be at least 64 Mb and a processor with a speed of 300 MHz. The router's FLASH memory must be at least 16 Mb. In addition, you should pay attention to the power of the modem and the number of available antennas. Next, you should take a look at the protocols supported by the modem (PPTP, L2TP, PPPoE). The main thing is that it supports the protocol that your provider will use. The best high-speed routers support most of the protocols used.

In addition, routers differ in the WAN port through which they connect to the network: Ethernet, ADSL, USB 3G. Be sure to pay attention to this parameter when choosing a router, because if you fail to connect the cable to the router, then your money will be wasted.

Which Wi-Fi router is better also depends on what Wi-Fi standard it supports. The newest standard currently is Wi-Fi 802.11n. This standard supports maximum speed connections, unlike the 802.11b or 802.11g standards.

Below are three modems that have different types of network connections:

Router with ADSL port

Router with Ethernet port

Router with USB 3G port

Consequences of choosing the wrong router

For the average user, it is difficult to understand all the characteristics of the router, so he simply goes to the nearest store and buys a modem after consulting with the seller. This approach is fraught with disastrous consequences: after all, a consultant in a store cannot know all the parameters of your network and the provider whose services you plan to use. Therefore, even if you buy the best wifi router, you do not guarantee yourself an ideal connection to the Internet. Moreover, there is a danger that this router will not be able to work at all on the network of your chosen provider. For example, a modem may not have enough power if it is designed for use within one room. Consequently, the signal will not pass into the next room, which is behind the wall. One simple piece of advice: don’t skimp on power, even if you don’t currently need a 100-meter coverage area. The best router is one that has sufficient power reserves.

An incorrectly chosen router can underestimate Internet speed indicators. Your ISP can provide speeds of up to 10 Mbps, and the router can support a maximum speed of 8 Mbps. Therefore, be sure to check what speed the router you are planning to buy can provide. In addition, a low-power router tends to constantly freeze or reboot.

In any case, if you don’t know which Wi-Fi router is better, and there’s no one to get advice from, look through the forums on the Internet and compare user reviews. Do not trust reviews in online stores too much, which often sin by adding messages on behalf of users in order to increase the number of sales of a particular router model. Now we present to your attention a rating of the best routers. The WiFi router rating was compiled based on the results of a user survey for 2012.

Rating of the three best Wi-Fi routers

The Zyxel Keenetic router opens the “best Wi-Fi routers” rating:

Zyxel Keenetic router

WAN port: Ethernet, USB 3G
Availability of interfaces: RJ-45 (10BASE-T/100BASE-T) – 5 ports; USB 2.0 type A – 1 connector; RP-SMA (connection of external Wi-Fi antennas) – 2 sockets
Supported protocols: PPTP, L2TP, PPPoE.
IPTV support: +
Number of antennas: 2 pieces (removable)
Security features: built-in firewall (SPI) with DoS protection and DDoS attacks. Ability to block Internet access by MAC address, IP address, URL, TCP/UDP port.

The average price of Zyxel Keenetic is 2000 rubles. According to numerous expert estimates, in terms of price-quality ratio, Zyxel Keenetic is the most best router for home use at the moment.

Linksys E3200

Availability of interfaces: 1 WAN – port; Gigbit Ethernet – 4 ports; USB 2.0 – 1 port
Standard wireless network: IEEE 802.11n
Number of antennas: 6 (built-in)
VPN function: VPN pass through
Security feature: WEP, WPA, WPA2 data encryption
Firewall functions: built-in firewall, NAT
Additional functions: ability to connect a 3G modem.

The average price is 4500 rubles. It’s hard to say which Wi-Fi router is better; an individual approach is required here, but in terms of characteristics and functionality the Linksys E3200 has no competitors today.

TP-Link TL-WR841ND

WAN port: Ethernet.
Availability of interfaces: RJ45 – 4 ports, 10/100M WAN (RJ45 type) – 1 port
Wireless network standards: IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n.
Supported protocols: PPPoE.
Number of antennas: 2 (removable)
VPN tunnel support: +
Additional functions: maximum signal radius up to 270 meters.

The average price is 1000 rubles. TP-Link TL-WR841ND completes our router rating, being the cheapest of the list, it is of course slightly inferior to its more expensive counterparts. However, its functions are quite sufficient for the average user, and in the price range up to 1 thousand rubles it has practically no competitors.