How to Choose a Wireless Router

Let's face it: most routers look the same when you glance at their shiny boxes, right? And yet, some of them are very expensive, while others can be purchased for a measly 20 bucks, and sometimes even for less! Here's what you need to know if you want to pick a router that will get the job done without digging a hole in your pocket.

Router speed is one of the key features, because it can either turn your Internet browsing experience into a bliss, or into a nightmare! While the first generation of routers were only able to move data at speeds of about 1.5 MBps, the current versions, which utilize the Wi-Fi 5 communication protocol, can easily reach 100 MBps. And the new wave of Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) routers promise data transfer speeds that can go up to 1.5 GBps. This means that high resolution video streaming won't be a problem, and you should be able to download an entire movie in 1 second.

But don't just go out and purchase that fast Wi-Fi router! To make things work, you will need to have a fast Internet connection as well. Sadly, most of us have data plans that cap the speed 10 to 50 MBps. Take a good look at that upper-case B in "MBps"; Internet providers prefer to use the lower-case letter in their advertisements (b = bits) because that figure is eight times bigger in comparison with the real value (B = bytes). So, a connection of 100 Mbps can only move data at a speed of 100/8 = 12.5 MBps. This means that a 25 MB file will get transferred in two seconds over a 100 Mbps Internet connection, get it?

So, router speed really matters only if you've got a fast Internet connection. On the other hand, modern routers, which utilize the most recent Wi-Fi standards, tend to be more secure. Manufacturers have discovered new vulnerabilities along the way, and they have (hopefully) patched them all in their newest products. It's true that you can always install an open source router operating system, and then patch any old router without problems.

Router range is another essential feature. If you've got a large house, it is impossible to use a single router and have a decent wireless signal in each room. For larger areas, you should use a mesh network, which consists of multiple routers that are preconfigured to work together in harmony. Mesh networks will usually come with three different routers, and most manufacturers will allow you to purchase more routers (nodes) in case that you've got a huge house. And to make things even easier on your end, most manufacturers will also provide a companion mobile app, which will make network setup a breeze.

While mesh networks will fix most signal range issues, they are much more expensive in comparison with traditional routers. It's not a surprise, since you are actually purchasing three or more routers, and not a single one. And let's not forget that if you choose a mesh network, you will have to find the space to position all its nodes throughout the house. The alternative is to use a Wi-Fi range extender, which should provide plenty of wireless signal for small and medium-sized houses.

In the end, don't forget to check out at least one of the popular router forums, virtual places where people meet and discuss their experiences. My recommendation is to choose a product from a reputable company, which is known not only for its high-quality routers, but also for the support/patches that it has provided for its products throughout the years. Don't forget that an unpatched router will be vulnerable to all sorts of cyber attacks, and if you go for a cheap, unsupported product, you may risk losing your precious data and money in the future.