Choosing a Wireless Router and Access Point

Typical High Speed Wireless Router

Setting up a wireless local area network has many benefits. You can use your WLAN to share files, printers and a broadband Internet connection. To set up your network, you’ll need a wireless router and an access point for every computer on your network.

The wireless routers currently on the market connect to your computer either by Ethernet or by universal serial bus (USB). Ethernet will be the best choice for your networking needs in most cases, as it creates a dedicated networking connection for your router. USB bandwidth, on the other hand, must be shared between all other USB devices on your computer.

10Base-T Ethernet functions at up to 10 megabits per second (Mbps). While this is fast enough for many broadband Internet connections, it might not be fast enough for your wireless network. Fast Ethernet, which operates at speeds up to 100 Mbps will allow for faster transfers of data over the network. Gigabit Ethernet, which functions at speeds up to 1000 Mbps, is useful for those who plan to transfer large amounts of data. 10 Gigabit Ethernet is also an option, but is probably more than most home users will need.

There are four common wireless standards. Wireless B can function at speeds up to 11 Mbps. Wireless A and G can operate at up to 54 Mbps. Wireless A is not compatible with Wireless B. Wireless N can function at speeds up to 300 Mbps, and is backwards compatible with Wireless B and G standards. Wireless G has a better range than the A or B standards, and Wireless N has the widest range of all of them.

Typical Wireless Access Point

Getting a faster wireless router or access point will not speed up your Internet connection, but it can facilitate broadband Internet sharing. It can also help you to keep up with the advances in wireless technology which are likely to happen over the next few years. Typically, wireless routers function at speeds that are considerably lower than those advertised. Also, there may be interference with your network from other wireless devices. Keep these factors in mind when selecting devices for your home network.

Many wireless routers have security features such as a built-in firewall, stateful packet inspection and MAC address filtering. They also may have a storage link that can be set up with a flash drive or USB hard drive. Most routers support Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) encryption. Of these two protocols, WPA is the most secure.

Choosing a wireless router and access points may seem confusing when you’re faced with many options. However, if you consider all of these facts when shopping for a wireless router and access points, you will be able to make a purchase that meets your home networking needs.