Steven Goldmann Guide - How To Choose A Wireless Router
A wireless router is a device that connects to a home or office modem, so you can connect multiple devices at the same time, usually wired and wirelessly to your Internet connection. In addition to the basic wireless Internet configuration in the home or office, there are a number of additional features that should be considered when purchasing a new wireless router. See below for the most common features of wireless routers and read on to learn more about these features and how they can benefit you.
Range
The range of wireless routers is a measure of the distance traveled by the router signal, usually in feet. This measurement is usually determined in the lab type setting, so when you set one at home or in the office, the range you can usually expect is smaller. Many different things can affect the range of routers, from physical locations near walls or windows to interference from other devices such as wireless phones or baby monitors. Assuming typical family conditions, most good wireless routers can broadcast your signals within 150 feet of the room.
Some wireless routers like the D-Link DIR-655 have a signal range of up to 300 feet in your home - assuming perfect conditions. The range will also be affected by the type of antenna
the router uses to broadcast the wireless signal. For more information on how antenna design affects wireless signals, see the Antenna section below.
Single or dual frequency
When looking for a wireless router, you will come across two different types - single and dual. The "band" is the wireless frequency at which the wireless router outputs its signal at a frequency of 2.4 GHz (Gigahertz). As you may have guessed, dual-band routers will broadcast your wireless signals in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands to give you more powerful and better signals.
While dual-band routers allow you to offer more wireless signal options at home or in the office, there are some warnings about the 5GHz signal frequency. First, the 5GHz frequency will not let your wireless Internet signal propagate to the 2.4GHz frequency signal. Since most common household appliances do not work in the 5 GHz frequency range, you will experience less interference, which is good, but you will not be able to take advantage of this signal from too far. Another disadvantage is that not all wireless devices are capable of accepting 5 GHz wireless signals, so not every device you own can take advantage of the increased frequency.