Choosing a router for your home

One of the issues I see most in my consulting practice is users suffering from poor networks in large homes. I see 4000 plus square foot homes with cheap and inadequate routers way too often. As with anything else these days, there is a plethora of choices when it comes to buying a router. From the 30 dollar basic router to the 350 dollar powerhouse and everything in between. So what to choose?

First off, look at your current setup. If you are using a router embedded in your modem which was provided by your service provider, this is the worse case scenario. If you are replacing an existing router then look at how old it is and what features it has. The idea is to improve your current setup.

Then you need to look at the different bandwidths offered by today’s routers. There are two main technologies available on the market today. Wireless N and Wireless AC. Wireless AC has speeds that rival those of wired connections, provided that the device connecting to the Wireless Network also has a Wireless AC receiver. My personal recommendation is to stick to Wireless N if you are buying an entry-level or mid-range router. If you are spending more than 200 dollars on a high end device then by all means future proof and buy a Wireless AC capable device. One important aspect is to see if the device offers dual band connectivity, which is used to better manage wireless traffic on networks with multiple wireless connections.

Next, you need to look at the antenna situation. Some routers have embedded antennas that you do not see and cannot adjust. This type of router is good for small or open spaces where positioning of the device will not affect the quality of the connection. On the other hand, you have routers that have one or more external antenna that you can rotate and therefore adjust the direction and signal strength. Also, most modern routers have 2, 3 or even up to 6 antennas. Another clear advantage is that these antennas can be replaced with stronger ones with long cables to ensure optimal placing.

Once you choose your connection type and strength you need to look at the wired connections on the device. If you do file transfers between wired devices or if you have a media server, then you will want to make sure that your new router has Gigabit Ports embedded into it to ensure fast file transfers between devices. Also, you may want to have usb ports if you intend to share printers or storage devices across your network and use the router as a server.

So what about brands, there sure are a lot of them. From the mainstream ones such as Linksys and D Link to TP Link, Asus, Netgear and Trend NEt to name a few. Currently, Linksys and Asus seem to be offering the best combination of features, performance versus the asking price.

So there you have it, a short guide on how to choose a proper router for any situation in a residential environment.