Buyers' Guide: Routers

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The router is at the heart of any home network. Costing less than £100, they are an inexpensive way to exploit the advantages of being able to share information
between the computing devices in your home.

A router is a simple networking device to which you connect your PCs and notebooks using a network cable. They often include built-in firewalls and other security measures, making them ideal for protecting your PCs from intruders.

The router connects to your broadband modem, as long as your modem uses an RJ45 Ethernet connection – most routers don’t support USB modems. Special broadband routers, also called ADSL gateways, come with built-in ADSL modems. If your broadband is provided via a cable company’s set-top box, you should buy a standard router without a built-in modem.

Once hooked up, your devices can share the broadband connection as well as swap data and let you play networked games. Wireless (Wifi) routers are increasingly popular in the home market, allowing devices to remotely connect to the Internet
and each other without the need for cables – but wireless routers also usually have ordinary network (Ethernet) ports to let you connect non-wireless devices.

Wireless standards

802.11b This was the first and, until recently, the most common wireless variant used. With transmission speeds of just 11Mbits/sec it is also the slowest. It also used the 40bit Wireless Equivalency Privacy (Wep) security protocol, which
was found to have a number of holes. An updated version of this, 802.11b+ boosted speeds to 22Mbits/sec.

802.11g This is now the mainstream standard in use, offering more respectable data transfer speeds of up to 54Mbits/sec – although in reality speeds are much lower. It also uses the more robust Wifi Protected Access (WPA) security protocol. Both ‘b’ and ‘g’ products can work together, which is handy if you have older 802.11b kit you still wish to use on your home network.

802.11n This is still in the process of being officially ratified and will not arrive in its final form until next year. It promises real data transfer speeds of 100Mbits/sec
and, theoretically, up to 300Mbits/sec as well as increased range. At the moment
there are two competing groups battling for supremacy. There are already numerous ‘Pre-N’ or ‘Mimo’ routers available that offer significant data transfer speeds over ‘g’ routers.

Recommended Routers

Wireless/Modem

Netgear 108 ADSL Router
If you need a Super-G router with built-in ADSL modem, this offering from Netgear is great value
Read review >
Check prices >

Ozenda 11g ADSL Router
Ozenda has come up trumps – wireless ADSL doesn’t get any easier than this
Read review >
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3Com Office Connect ADSL Wireless 11G
A wireless ADSL router that’s good for Soho environments and simple to set up and configure
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Wireless

Linksys WAG54G (wireless)
This 802.11g wirleless model offers advanced features for home and professional users
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D-Link DSL-G624M
Super G won’t suit all environments, but the extended coverage is a real bonus
Review >

Netgear WGT634U
Good design, high quality and easy configuration make this a great wireless choice
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Belkin Wireless Pre-N router
Excellent coverage and easy installation and configuration make this a great product
Read review >
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VoIP

Intertex IX66+ ADSL Airsip GW (wireless VoIP)
For a small business needing multi-user VoIP telephony, the Intertex IX66+ is hard to beat

Zoom Zoomtel X5V
For a no-fuss VoIP solution at home, the Zoomtel X5V is worth considering
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Draytek Vigor 2500V
A great wired router for those wanting to reap the benefits of VoIP telephony
Check prices >

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