Buying a Wireless Router can be a complicated task- such is the complexity of wireless communications standards, and the multitude of service providers.

Sounds like you’ve just about had it with all of those cords and wires hanging around your computer.  You finally want to start going wireless.  Okay, perhaps not.  Nonetheless, we’re going to take a look at what you should know before you go and purchase a wireless router.  We’ll take a look at what your computer needs to ensure you can get a wireless connection, what could interfere with a wireless connection, which routers you can choose from, and finally, the security of wireless networking.

What is wireless networking? How does a wireless router differ from a regular one?
Naturally, if you are interested in purchasing a router for the first time, then we assume that you are trying to set up a network in your home or office.  A router allows more than one computer to connect to the same internet connection, and in recent years, we have seen an incredible advance in wireless technology which now allows setting up with fewer cables.

One of the first wireless connections started with Wireless A or Wireless B (sometimes seen as 802.11a and 802.11b).  Unfortunately, both platforms allowed for minimal connectivity and poor signal strength, so when the far more refined Wireless G (802.11g), and now the very recent Wireless N (sometimes seen as Wireless Draft-N or 802.11n) were released, Wireless A and Wireless B pretty much vanished.  As a result, what will be discussed in this guide will be centered around Wireless G and Wireless N routers, as they are the most up to date, provide the best performance, and are the easiest to find.

Since wireless routers, as well as routers in general, are designed for a broadband connection, the one requirement in order to get a fully functioning network is to have high-speed internet (cable or DSL).  Those with a dial-up connection are unfortunately out of luck.  However, very few internet users these days use dial-up, so hopefully this requirement is already met.

Wireless G routers have been a standard method of wireless networking since 2002.  They are easy enough to find, and reasonably priced, depending on brand name.  The range of the routers can go from about 300 feet indoors, and a stronger 1300 feet outdoors, which gives you a strong signal in most homes.  The speeds that Wireless G routers offer is from 54Mbps (Megabytes per second), on certain models and more than 100Mbps on others: which makes it a standard in broadband networking.

Click here for Wireless G or N? What is your preference? (Part 2)