Where to get a router. Which router is better to buy? Which WiFi router is better to buy?

Wi-Fi routers are one of the most common devices used to connect multiple devices to a network. The main advantage that networks have Wi-Fi standard in comparison with analogues, it is easy to set up, as well as the absence of the need to use a large number of cables.

The stability of the connection, as well as the list of available functions, is directly affected by the model of the router used. In view of this, it is necessary to think in advance which options will be in demand during daily using wi-fi, and which ones are frankly superfluous. In addition, it will be useful to study reviews to know some of the hidden features of the devices.

What is a Wi-Fi router?

Under the term router, means a special device used for routing wireless network and providing devices connected to it with Internet access at home or in the office. Among manufactured gadgets, such as laptops, smartphones, and other types of electronics, the vast majority already have a module in their design wifi reception signal, which allows you to access the created network.

However, a powerful Wi-Fi router can also serve to organize a home network without access to the Internet, which allows computers to communicate with each other. This feature allows you to share some peripheral devices, such as printers, and also play games. computer games.

Since when connecting in this format there is no need to connect all devices using a cable, it is noticeably more convenient to use. Besides, to one access point An impressive number of devices can be connected, which significantly expands the user's capabilities.

In order for the wi-fi router to work correctly and have the necessary functions, when choosing it, you should focus attention to technical parameters of the purchased product.

What to look for when choosing a router?

To choose good Wi-Fi routers for your home or office, it is recommended to study maximum values data transfer speeds for a specific model. Most budget solutions They assume a channel capacity of 8 to 35 Mb/s, which makes it relatively comfortable to access the Internet from several devices. Expensive analogues allow you to transfer data at speeds of up to 1 Gb/s, however, such values for the home are only needed if the terms of the Internet provider's tariff plan require such a high actual connection speed.

As a rule, the access speed of most providers is relatively low, which is why purchasing expensive models sometimes makes no sense. In addition to speed, you should take a closer look to the following parameters:

Connection standard used;
Device memory capacity;
Built-in processor speed.

The connection standard directly determines the speed of access and its support from connected devices. Standards such as IEEE 802.11b seem outdated and allow data transfer at speeds of no more than 11 Mb/s. Later variations, like 802.11g and 802.11n, have much greater throughput channel, however, they are in demand only in those cases when is the internet speed from the provider side corresponds to these values.

The power of the processor determines how quickly the router will respond to commands and interact with the hardware. In view of this, you should not purchase products from clock frequency less than 240 MHz. If we consider RAM, then 64 MB seems to be sufficient, which is enough for comfortable use of the router.

An important parameter The number of antennas is presented, as well as the signal strength. After all, if such indicators are small, devices will not be able to detect the connection or it will be unstable when moving away from the router. The brand of the device is not decisive, but the highest quality products are produced by well-known corporations such as TP-Link, Zuxel, Asus and others. The price of budget devices is $10-15, which makes them affordable for consumers.

Portable varieties

If there is a need for accommodation Wi-Fi networks In any non-standard place, such as a car or while traveling, it is recommended to use special portable routers. Similar type of routers, allows you to deploy your network anywhere, as it supports leading mobile data standards such as 3G and 4G, which is also reflected in the price.

Among the obvious advantages of this category of devices are: it is advisable to highlight:

In addition, this type of router is autonomous, which allows them to work certain time, powered by battery. At the same time, mobile routers also have a number of significant disadvantages. These include, first of all, comparatively weak signal, which does not allow access to the network over a long distance, as well as short battery life.

Similar disadvantages are somewhat leveled out if you give preference to more expensive models from well-known brands. As a rule, they are somewhat larger than their budget counterparts, but have more advanced characteristics.

Despite the fact that this characteristic is not one of the main ones, it also does not deserve neglect from users. After all, some of the device’s capabilities directly depend on their varieties and number. As a rule, any device for the home that costs $10 has at least 1 LAN port, through which Internet access is provided.

However, to use 3g Wi-Fi, USB ports will be required, which are not found in the most budget models. When connected to a flash drive like this, users will be able to share files on a hosted network, which is very convenient in a number of situations.

Within office network, it will be useful to connect the printer with via USB cable to the router, which will allow you to organize a kind of print server, access to which can be accessed by all network participants. This will significantly simplify the printing process and increase overall productivity.

Popular budget models

Considering the devices presented on the market, we can highlight a unique rating of the most preferable options for different conditions use. If the room in which you plan to use the router is small, and the speed of Internet access leaves much to be desired, Netis WF2411 or Tenda N3 may be a good solution. They can boast relatively good performance and low cost, however, their functionality is minimal.

From the budget lines of well-known manufacturers, you can take a closer look at the leaders in the rating: TP-Link TL-WR740N (ND), TP-LINK or TL-WR720N. They are somewhat more expensive than their analogues, which is explained by the high popularity of the manufacturer, as well as high stability of operation. In addition, these devices are relatively easy to operate, and there are many manuals on the Internet that will allow you to quickly become familiar with the most basic parameters.

Models of the middle and expensive segment

If planned use a router in a large apartment e or office, it is recommended to study models of a more expensive segment. After all, they usually have long range signal, and also boast impressive throughput. In addition, they usually have a much larger number of ports, which allows for more opportunities to be realized in comparison with budget analogues.

The Asus RT-N line from models 10 to 12 seems to be a rational choice for medium intensity Internet use. Such a router can cope with downloading large amounts of data, but with simultaneous intensive load from several devices, it may exhibit stability problems. This, of course, does not apply to surfing the Internet and everyday tasks.

There are a number of good routers, which are able to cope with fairly heavy loads:

TP-LINK TL-WR841N (ND) and 842 model;
ZyXEL Keenetic Start
Linksys E1200;
D-link DIR-615.

Similar powerful wifi routers, being kind of leaders in the rating, are suitable for everyday provision of Internet to several PCs, as well as mobile gadgets, which seems to be the best option for a home or small office. When choosing a specific model, it is recommended to study reviews, which will allow you to choose the most suitable model for the buyer's needs.

After the appearance of computers and laptops in almost every home, the number of clients from providers increased several dozen times, since modern world For many, life without the Internet is almost unthinkable.

To begin with, we used the usual protocol for transmitting information via telephone communication, then an increase in the volume of transmitted information required improving the quality and increasing the transmission speed. New ways to access the Internet have emerged.

However, as before, the ease of use of laptops was minimal due to the need to connect a cable from a modem. After this it was invented wireless way transferring a large amount of data over a fairly long distance, which is called Wi-Fi. In the modern world, in many large cities you can find points Wi-Fi access and anyone can do this if they have Internet access and a special router.

What is a Wi-Fi router for home?

Smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers can be used to obtain large amounts of data. In the case of tablets and phones, the situation is complicated by the fact that it is impossible to connect to the Internet to update software or other tasks via a WAN cable.

For the convenience of using the Internet at home, Wi-Fi routers began to be used. Such equipment differs from older versions in that it has a WI-Fi module that connects all devices in the field of its signal. The first models were equipped with an antenna; modern ones look no different from usual options execution.

The operating principle of this equipment is as follows:

A connection to the network is made through a telephone or Internet connection, as before.
The built-in module, which is configured via a computer when you go to the system’s IP address, connects to the created network and evenly distributes maximum speed between connected devices.

The router acts as an information distributor.

What types of routers are there?

The choice of router should be approached carefully, since the features of the created wireless network will depend on it. Conventionally, all Wi-Fi routers can be divided into the following groups:

ADSL – wireless router, which is connected via ADSL. It is used if there is a WAN port for a telephone connector. It is quite popular, since in many cities the Internet connection is via a telephone cable.
FTTB– the most popular version, which is connected via twisted pair.
CPON/CEPON/PON– a recently introduced version that allows you to maintain the maximum permissible connection and information transfer speed. You can use such a router only if you have necessary connection to the provider, which is called passive optical networks.
3G– routers that are capable of distributing when connected to the Internet via cellular communications. IN in this case There are no ports, there is space for installing a SIM card.
The most expensive and popular version is universal. It provides for the combination of several connection types.

When considering this issue, we note that in 99% of cases, routers are issued by providers, since they need to be correctly configured according to their connection protocol.

IN lately Wi-Fi routers are increasingly being installed, since they eliminate the need for long fiddling with laying cables to the required location.

Considering the fairly large radius of operation and the fact that the signal passes through walls, the router can be placed anywhere.

The only catch is that the computer or other device must have a receiver. All modern laptops have a built-in receiver for such a wireless network, but desktop computers standard don't have it.

There are several options for solving the problem with lack of Wi-Fi receiver on a desktop computer:

Usage external device, which can be connected via USB or WLAN port. It should be taken into account here that the USB connection has a certain limitation in the speed of information transfer. Therefore, if the router has a high-speed connection (due to the characteristics of the provider’s services), this method of organizing a home network is not recommended. The WLAN port does not have such a strict limitation.
If mother card provides the possibility of installing indoor unit network reception, then you can upgrade the system unit. However, this can be much more expensive than setting up a wired home network.

As a rule, the technician who comes to connect the Internet will recommend the most suitable option connections.

How to choose

Despite the fact that a representative from the provider will recommend the most suitable router option, in some cases you have to choose on your own. When choosing, you should pay attention to the following nuances:

Price– the spread of this indicator for equipment intended for use at home is very large. At the same time, the price corresponds to the filling: weak signal level, low reliability, small coverage range, and so on. However, there is no point in choosing a very expensive version for the home.
Availability of certain ports. In most cases, it is enough to have a set of FastEthernet ports. Ports that are designed to accommodate a gigabyte connection are often not needed, since the speed provided by the provider is often much lower. The only case is to create an extensive home network, but for domestic needs this is extremely rare.
Peculiarities Wi-Fi antennas very important. There are two types of antenna locations: internal and external. It is recommended to purchase with an external antenna, as it is possible to replace it with a more powerful version if necessary. It is also worth considering that to achieve high transmission speeds, the antenna must operate using the 802.11n protocol. To reduce the cost of construction, some manufacturers install other types of antennas that operate at very low speeds. The operating frequency determines the coverage radius.
Hardware filling– an important indicator that few people pay attention to. The type of hardware affects the operation of a home network in the same way as the installed hardware on the system unit.
Additional options for such equipment are very limited. Often these are additional connectors, as well as built-in servers for certain programs.
Brand. As for the brand, there is practically nothing to say here - all manufacturers have terrible and good models. For example, TP-Link and Netgear have many models with good performance. Asus rarely crashes. But all manufacturers have models that often bring big problems. Often this is a ruler budget options, since all manufacturers save as much as they can on their production.

Also, when choosing, you can look at the options that your friends have installed and ask them about problems with the Internet.

How to use it correctly

You can install the router anywhere. At the same time, it should not stand in a damp room, the temperature should be room temperature, exposure to direct rays from the sun is excluded. Installing this equipment is quite simple: you just need to connect the cable from the installed network and that’s it. But the setup is more complicated.

The creation of an access point is carried out through a computer, but the features of connecting to the Internet depend on the work of the provider. Setting up requires an administrator login and password, and the provider does not provide this information to protect its servers.

Review of the best models

The following models can be distinguished:

TP-LINK TL-WR740N– an inexpensive version that has a powerful antenna. The transfer speed is 150 Mbit/s. For most users, this speed should be sufficient. Cost – about 2500 rubles.
TP-LINK TL-WR841N– a more productive option, which has a speed of about 300 Mbit/s. Installed two powerful antennas. The cost is within 4000 rubles.

In conclusion, let's note what to do Wi-Fi at home Without a special router, it is possible only if you have a device with a built-in module that is capable of distributing, and not just receiving, a signal. Modern models Many laptops can become an access point, and if the computer has Internet access, the access will become visible to all devices. In some cases, a smartphone or tablet can become an access point.

Everyone has several gadgets in their home: TV set-top box, tablet, smartphone or laptop. To distribute the Internet you will need a router for your home. Present on the market various types routers, and the number of models is in the hundreds. Not everyone knows how to choose a router or which specific modem is best to buy. We will tell you in more detail about the technical characteristics, main parameters, and present several popular devices for home use.

Selecting the router type

Before considering which modem is better, you need to find out which device is suitable. There are several connection types, depending on which you should select a device. Check with your provider what connection is used (PPTP, PPPoE, L2Yp, IPsec, and so on). Not all models support specific operating protocols. It will be extremely disappointing if you order a device that is incompatible with the provider’s connection.

Then you should decide whether you need a router only for a computer/laptop or whether you intend to use mobile gadgets. In the latter case, you will have to consider a line of Wi-Fi routers for computers, which have a number of additional characteristics. For a PC, laptop and set-top box, a regular router will be sufficient, of course, provided that you run cables to each of the gadgets. Remember that a wired connection provides more high speed data transfer as well as stability. If possible, of course, connect to your home network via wire, since the signal when transmitted over the air weakens with every meter. Having decided on this, it is necessary to move on to the second important characteristic.

Types of WAN ports

When choosing a router for your apartment (including Wi-Fi), check the type of VAN port. In English, the abbreviation WAN stands for Wide Area Network. WAN is a global network, i.e. the Internet. It is into this connector that the cable “from the outside world” is inserted, with the help of which you will be connected to the global web. The following types of WAN ports are distinguished:

ADSL – connection via telephone line. The RJ11 connector is used. Outdated technology, but carried out by many in private homes due to the lack of alternatives.
Ethernet is a typical connector (also called RJ45). Twisted pair is used.
USB 3G is a router that receives the Internet from a portable 3G modem with a SIM card. 4G modems for the Internet can be used (depending on the model). Classical USB port(2.0/3.0) serves in this case as a WAN port.
SFP is a separate group of routers to which optical fiber is directly connected.

If the operator offers Internet via telephone cable, only devices with an ADSL port will suit you. There is no point in buying a gigabit router if the data transfer speed of the technology used does not exceed this indicator, for example, as for ADSL (maximum 25 megabits per second).

Main technical characteristics

As soon as key parameters everything has been decided, an analysis of the available assortment should be carried out according to technical specifications. Next, the main parameters that we recommend paying attention to will be discussed in detail.

Number of LAN ports

This parameter determines how many devices you can directly connect. Typically, typical models have 4 LANs. This is enough for a couple of computers, set-top box and one more device. More expensive models have 6-8 LANs. Focus on the number of computers you are going to connect to the network.

Data transfer rate

The important thing to understand here is that your wired connection speed is limited by the port type or metric your ISP provides. An inexpensive router for home has FAST-Ethernet 100 Mbps ports. When transmitting packets from a provider over 100 Megabit/s, it is recommended to buy more advanced devices with Gigabit Ethernet ports. They have a limit of up to one gigabit.

If we talk about wireless connection, then a common solution is a router with a speed of up to 150 Mbit/s. From the middle price category you can choose a router up to 300 Mbit/s, but if real speeds Internet of 50-100 megabits you will not feel the difference. You should not chase expensive models with indicators of 1000 or more.

Power

One of the key indicators for a Wi-Fi router that affects the range. Typical models have a 17 dBm transmitter, which is relatively easy to "pierce" one or two walls. Such models are suitable for one-room and two-room apartments. For a private house with 4+ rooms, it is recommended to buy a router with 20 dBm. In many countries, this figure is limited by law, so even if you find a more powerful model, it will be programmatically reduced.

Keep in mind that the signal weakens with distance. The speed in the other room will be half that required when insufficient power. Walls and other obstacles also affect the signal. It is recommended to place the router on the open top shelf of a table or cabinet to ensure better signal propagation.

Frequency

Most manufactured models operate at frequencies of 2.4 and 5 GHz. Five gigahertz routers have the following advantages:

they, thanks to shorter waves, are capable of high-speed transmission;
the 5 GHz frequency provides more channels;
ideal for long distance transmission;
less common, which means there won’t be any in the area similar devices that interfere with your router.

There are a number of disadvantages. Models at 5 gigahertz are more expensive, and many smartphones are not capable of receiving a signal at such frequencies. In stores you can find special devices that, through settings, allow you to select the frequency to use. Top routers provide a signal at both frequencies.

RAM and processor

Almost no one pays attention to these parameters, and manufacturers do not focus on them. When purchasing, you should choose a modem with a minimum capacity RAM 64 megabytes. The processor must operate at a frequency of 500 MHz. Devices with characteristics lower than those listed can be “stupid”, while regularly slowing down. Also pay attention to flash memory. It allows you to perform flashing, which can be extremely useful in some situations.

Antennas

One antenna is installed at the most budget models. For an apartment, it is recommended to buy a router with at least two antennas. One antenna will work at incoming traffic, and the other – to give out a signal. On the market you can find devices with 3, 4, 6 antennas, but for an apartment their purchase is unreasonable. Typically, they are used in offices and public places such as cafes, eateries and so on.

Light indicators

It is much easier to configure and diagnose a device if there are LEDs on the case that indicate the status of the Internet or other functions. This is not exactly a priority parameter, but we do not recommend taking a device without any light indicators. As a rule, a classic router should have lights for LAN ports, Internet, power and Wi-Fi signal (for Wi-Fi models).

Additional features

Also (depending on the cost) the following additions may be included in the router:

VPN. Allows you to create a virtual private network. Its traffic will be impossible to track.
IPTV. Support for television provided by the provider. With this feature, you can watch TV on your computer or laptop.
WPS. Technology for quick pairing of devices. With its help, the user can connect a smartphone or tablet to Wi-Fi without entering a password.
Repeater mode. The modem will amplify the signal from another router.
Parental controls. The function can block access through the router to specific sites or IP addresses. This is especially true for parents who want to restrict their young children’s access to the Internet.
Access control. Allows you to set a number of restrictions, including blocking access to the network by MAC address.

Most of these settings are intended for advanced users, but for home use they do not play a significant role.

Popular manufacturers

Let's find out which brand is the best. About ten manufacturers of network equipment are active in the market and have home devices in their line. The choice of brand rests solely on your shoulders. Some companies are giants in the industry, and accordingly, they are already increasing the price for the label, for example, ASUS. Other companies are just developing this segment, so they offer relatively high-quality products at affordable price. Before purchasing, read reviews on forums to evaluate the success of a particular model.

We will present a list of common companies whose products can be found in stores:

Cisco (Linksys) is a leader in the production of network equipment. Almost all enterprises and company offices are equipped with Cisco products. Relatively recently, the company began producing home modems under the Linksys brand. High quality, functionality, price above average.
D-Link is a well-known company with a wide model range routers. The products manufactured strictly comply with standards and specifications, therefore they are reliable and do not cause problems. The cost depends on the characteristics.
TP-link is a direct competitor of the previous company. The focus is on producing budget devices. There is a chance of encountering a problematic model, but unlike D-Link, the products are 10-20% cheaper.
ASUS is a company that produces high-quality products and offers premium solutions for any need. The price is quite high, and many routers are too sophisticated for residential use.
Huawei is a newcomer to the market, which is fiercely storming the rankings thanks to the affordability of its routers. Routers do not always have firmware with Russian language, connection problems are possible, but in general the products are high-quality and affordable.
MikroTik is a little-known company from Latvia. They produce reliable and functional devices with fine tuning. If you find products from MikroTik, do not hesitate to buy.

Each company’s line may have successful and problematic models, so when choosing, look specifically at the device.

Estimated cost

Choosing a router for your home depends on one more thing important indicator, which will be decisive for many, is cost. No matter how sophisticated the product is, if the price does not satisfy you, then high performance is useless. Three categories can be distinguished:

Initial – up to 2000 rubles. In the category you can find products with 2 antennas and speeds up to 300 Mbit/s.
Average - from 2000 to 5000 rubles. They are distinguished by increased quality, transmitter power, and a wide range of additional settings.
Top - 7000-14000 rubles. Best models on the market with maximum performance. As a rule, they are designed for distribution over large areas while withstanding high loads.

For an apartment, you should choose a modem from the first two categories.

Rating of the best routers for home

Let's move on to the most interesting part, namely, which inexpensive router to choose for home use. The rating will feature several routers that have received many positive feedback from users, while having best ratio price/quality.

TP-LINK TL-WR841N

One of the most popular routers. It has wide functionality, 2 antennas, ergonomic design and a theoretical transfer speed of up to 300 megabits. Typical solution for home. An important advantage is the low price.

TP-Link has minor disadvantages: 100 Mbit LAN ports and lack of USB input.

D-link DIR-300S

Stylish, compact and cheap. Designed with support in mind IPTV applications. Also supports all types of connections, including Dual Access. 300-S is relevant for small apartments where a couple of mobile gadgets are used. Built-in content filtering from Yandex is available.

It's hard to pinpoint any shortcomings at this price. Users note the glossy body, which retains fingerprints and the lack of a function for creating a guest room.

ZyXEL Keenetic 4G

Powerful router for USB modems. Maximum speed up to 300 megabits, support for IPTV in hardware and VPN, 4 LAN ports. Users note the compact size and easy setup without “dancing with a tambourine.” Works with most portable 4G modems.

The disadvantages include a small coverage area. Also, the router may slightly “cut down” the Internet speed, but this can be eliminated through finer tuning.

Asus RT-N56U

High-quality router with built-in antennas. Capable of operating in 2 frequency ranges: 2.4 and 5 GHz. Supports modern communication protocols, IPTV function and high-speed 3G Internet. All this is complemented by a magnificent view, thanks to which the device will fit perfectly into the most sophisticated interior. The only thing that may confuse you is its price, since it belongs to the “4 thousand plus” category.

Linksys E3200

Router with six built-in antennas. Light weight, support for USB modems and current protocols, four Gigabit Ethernet ports. All this makes the device from Linksys one of the best solutions. Its cost is about 6,000 thousand rubles, and this figure can be called the maximum for home use. Buying more expensive and sophisticated routers does not make sense.

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 internet networks.

Also, recently the situation has become 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 point input signal from the provider, is currently carried out using a router or router.

Photo – Networking with multiple paired devices

The router itself is 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 functions, among which:

the ability to set restrictions on access to sites that are potentially dangerous for software;
ability to connect a 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, is a small-sized equipment consisting of a hardware unit, an antenna for Wi-Fi transmissions 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 to it via wired communication, as well as 5-10 devices for which channels will be allocated Wi-Fi signals. However, experts do not recommend loading the router completely, especially if it is not 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 a file server, print server etc. In addition, some models 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:

for organization 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 the function quick setup, 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, unauthorized connections are possible, 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, right-click on the network icon on the desktop toolbar and select the name from the menu that opens. 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 turned on in a similar way.

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, considering functionality device, the cost of 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.

D-link - Almost any router from this company does not work out of the box in 99 percent of cases. It starts working either after dancing with a tambourine, or after updating the firmware to the latest version of the software (if there is one, but if this is a new product, then you will have to wait for the firmware) You constantly come across models in which the password for Wi-Fi and the router disappears after two or three days All the neighbors start clinging... And this means Internet slowdowns, calls to technical support, calling a specialist who will set the password again. Naturally, call a specialist for money. A good technician will reflash the router (this bug can only be cured by flashing it to the latest version of the software). A bad technician will simply forget the password and leave. And after two days, all your neighbors will connect to your router again... They also get very hot and freeze 3-4 times a day, a power reset helps. This began after 2012, when dlink began to be produced in Russia. Until 2012, long lengths were an ideal budget option.

Tp-link - price-quality ratio. If you don’t want to bother with firmware and dancing with a tambourine, but you don’t have enough money, then it’s better to take a tplink. Again - models 740 and 741 are very weak, they often freeze (but much less often than D-links, you have to overload the power supply 3-4 times a week) It is advisable to flash the latest firmware. The 840 model reduces the speed of both cable and Wi-Fi. It helps to update the firmware to the latest version of the software. No problems were noticed with 9xx models, but they are not bad. It’s much easier to buy for that amount....-->

Asus is a workhorse for the money, the price is about the same as tp-link. The RTN-12 model is generally the best. Set it and forget it. But this is with hardware versions D1 and B1... All new Asus are configured with a tambourine (especially rtn-11, 30-40 minutes), they often glitch, although very often there are models that work without jambs. Reboot your diet - 3-4 times a month, and sometimes not even once.

Zyxel - Beast machine. Set it up, forget it, get covered in dust, get lost. The speed does not cut, practically does not freeze, it works like a clock. The cost is one and a half to two times higher than Asus and Tp-link. Models that are on par with Asus and Tp-link (in price) can be buggy, but much less than Asus and especially Tp-link. No dancing with a tambourine. If possible, take Zuhel, the price and quality matches.

Mikrotik is a Latvian manufacturer of network equipment... Terminator of all routers. However, it is also configured through the winbox program like a terminator...system administrator skills are required. Understanding Nat, Firewall, DHCP, Default Route. This is for normal setup only. You can set up a speed limit both for an IP address (for example, your sister’s computer, which constantly pumps and clogs the channel), and you can set up a speed limit on the port. At least up to 32 Kilobits. But again, who knows? An indispensable thing when setting up several Internet channels is their differentiation. In general, a complete stuffing of functions. The price of a good Mikrotik starts from about 6 thousand rubles. Everything that is cheaper is quite weak and will not even support 6-8 computers. Model 2011UAS-2HnD easily pulls 32 computers. In general, I would take such a model for myself... you can make a real server out of it.

All other routers such as Upwell, Huawei, Tenda and the like are also quite good. There are definitely good models among them. But they are put on very few, very rarely. There are also failures with them, most likely they are at the price-quality level somewhere with TP-links and Asus.

All data is based on personal 8 years of experience working with the provider as a system administrator.