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How to choose a wireless router

Posted on 22 Jun 2009 at 15:08

The world of wireless routers is a baffling one. Both manufacturers and retailers use a hideous number of abbreviations that can make IT experts as bewildered as newcomers. Here, we attempt to provide the advice you really need when choosing a wireless router.

When choosing which wireless router to buy, you'll find yourself bombarded by acronyms and standards: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, draft-n, MIMO, WEP, DHCP, WPA, WPA2... the list goes on and on.

To a certain extent, you can ignore all this. Unless you're buying for use in a business environment, any modern wireless router will support the most recent standard of 802.11n (which technically isn't a standard - but you can see more about that in the Glossary) and provide all the security you need.

Instead, you should read our reviews and look for comments and results on the range and speed of each router in our tests.

Don't mix and match

The simple answer is buy a router that matches the rating of your laptop or desktop PC. If you buy an 802.11n router and you own a laptop that has only an 802.11g radio inside, then it won't make your connection any faster than an 802.11g router.

Ideally you should buy an 802.11n router that has three aerials; they will either be mounted internally or externally. However, this is only of any use if the wireless radio inside your laptop also has three aerials.

speed should definitely take a back seat

How much attention you give to speed will depend on what exactly you want your router for: if all you’ll be doing is sharing an internet connection (of virtually any speed), speed should definitely take a back seat.

If you’re building a multi-PC home network complete with a few media-streaming devices, pay close attention to PC Pro’s testing to make sure your router will be capable.

In truth, with the fully-ratified version of 802.11n still some way off, those with particularly grand designs will be better off with a network at least partly given to powerline networking.

If you’re looking to share an internet connection, you can do away with your existing ADSL modem altogether and buy an ADSL router, which does both jobs at once. Some ISPs prevent users from using their own hardware by locking an account to a MAC code (a code specific to a single piece of network hardware). Many routers allow you to clone a MAC code, however: check with your ISP as to whether it’s locked your account to a MAC code, and then check that the router you want allows you to spoof a different MAC code.

Virtually all routers come with WPA encryption; if you find one without it the only advice we can offer is not to buy it. Otherwise, you’ll be looking for the features that suit you. Many routers come with DMZ options to allow you to connect to a PC within the network from the internet at large. Most routers come with a firewall: check that yours allows port-forwarding if you intend to make use of online gaming or VoIP applications, as many firewalls will prevent this kind of traffic.