What is a router and why is it needed? Router - what is it and where is it used?

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 the Internet.

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 input signal point from the provider, is currently achieved using a router or router.

Photo – Networking with multiple paired devices

The router itself is a 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 features, including:

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 transmitting a Wi-Fi signal, a power supply for connecting to the mains, patch cords (patch cords).

Photo – Equipment and connection of the router

A standard router is capable of organizing a network by connecting 4 PCs via a wired connection, as well as 5-10 devices for which Wi-Fi signal channels will be allocated. However, experts do not recommend completely loading the router, especially if it is not an expensive model of this device. Otherwise, the router may freeze and cannot withstand heavy loads.

Some router models may be equipped with USB ports for connecting a flash drive 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:

to organize a 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, the use of the sender address or upper-level header protocols. 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 setting up the router software. 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 go to the administrative interface of the device by entering the combination of numbers in the address bar of the browser: 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 to directly configure the Wi-Fi connection. If the router is equipped with a quick setup function, 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 the Wi-Fi module itself directly. 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 router you are connecting. 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 network card to your PC or laptop and use the device’s internet connection. On a laptop, you need to make sure that the special key that turns on Wi-Fi mode is pressed. If this operation is completed, you must connect the device to the network.

Photo – Network indicator

To do this, right-click on the network icon on the desktop toolbar, select the name of the installed network from the menu that opens, and click the “Connect” button.

Photo – Context menu with installed Internet networks on the device

The connection is made in a similar way for Windows 8; for other systems, the device is put into operation according to a similar scheme.

How much does a router for a computer cost?

Today, the electronics and computer equipment market offers its customers a wide selection of routers, which differ from each other both in the manufacturer and in some of the functional features of the device. 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, taking into account the functionality of the device, the cost of the 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.

Nowadays it is difficult to meet people who do not have a computer. Nowadays, many smartphones have hardware no worse than desktop computers five years ago.

Therefore, given the large number of computer devices used by ordinary users, there is a need to create a single network from these devices with Internet access. The easiest way to connect your “gadgets” into a network is to use a network device with several names - router, router, router. It’s just that router is the English name for this device, and router is Russian. Let's take a closer look at what this device is and how to work with it.

What it is

Purpose of routers

A router is an electronic device that can connect to the Internet, and also performs the process of sending data packets between networked computer devices, providing these devices with access to the Internet.

Router operation

Modern routers can protect your network from hacker attacks, be responsible for regulating user access to certain Internet resources, can distribute IP addresses to connected devices, encrypt traffic, and much more.

Standard router view

Classification of routers

Based on their main characteristics, routers can be divided into four groups:

Wired routers - these routers connect network computers using a cable connection (Ethernet).
Wi-Fi routers – here network devices are connected using Wi-Fi wireless technology.
Dual-band router is a wireless router capable of operating in two frequency bands, 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, which helps increase network speed.
3G router – there is a built-in 3G modem through which network devices access the Internet.

Features of routers

Features of routers may include a built-in hard drive. This makes it possible to implement your own home server with storage for your files.

Some routers may have a USB port, which expands the capabilities of your router. You can connect any storage medium, turning the router into a data server. You can connect a 3g modem and use the Internet if you don’t have cable access. You can also connect a printer to the router and print from any computer on the network.

Working with a router

Basically, working with a router consists of initially connecting it to a computer and configuring its basic parameters via the web interface. Then the router will manage the network itself, and you can adjust the necessary settings only if you wish.

The initial connection is best done through a cable connection (although some models also support a wireless connection). Take a router, connect one end of a twisted pair cable to any LAN input, and insert the other into the computer’s network card. Turn on your computer and supply power to the router.

Please note that the router must have factory settings, i.e. if the router was not purchased in a store, then it is better to “reset” it to factory settings (press the RESET button and hold for five seconds).

Now we check that your network card is configured to automatically obtain an IP address. On your computer, log in to: Control Panel - Networks and Internet - Network and Sharing Center - Change adapter settings - Local Area Connection - Properties.

Connection properties

Select – Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4), click – Properties. Make sure that the boxes for automatically obtaining the address and server are checked; if not, then set them to the machine.

Automatic address acquisition

Click – Ok. The router should now automatically assign an IP address to the computer.

Login to the router

Login to the router settings is standard. In any browser, enter – 192.168.1.1, log in (enter login/password – admin/admin). There may be other values; the manufacturer usually indicates them on the side of the router itself. Click – Ok, and you will be taken to the main router settings menu.

Router menu

In this menu you can make all the settings for your network. For example, let's take the Russian-language menu of an ASUS router.

Router menu

Typically, the main menu items are located in the left column. By clicking on them, additional submenus may open. The central part of the menu is reserved for entering the parameters of the menu item that is selected.

Setting up an Internet connection

In the left column, select the item - Internet. The main thing here is to select the item – WAN connection type (selected from the drop-down menu, there can be five types). This type is specified in the contract with your provider, and further WAN connection settings will depend on it.

Setting up Internet access

Each WAN connection has its own separate settings, so read the contract carefully and enter them into the required menu items.

If there is a binding by MAC address, then do not forget to inform the provider of the new MAC address. If desired, you can clone it from an old network connection, but it is better to provide a new one.

Do not forget to save the settings, otherwise the router will not accept them.

Setting up a Wi-Fi network

Go to the menu - Wireless network, tab - General.

To create a wireless network, fill in the following fields:

SSID – network name. Enter any. You can hide it if you wish.
Wireless network mode – set to Auto.
Channel – set to Auto.
Channel width – 20/40 MHz.
The extended channel is also automatic.
The authentication method is more resistant to hacking WPA-Auto.
WPA encryption - select TKIP+AES.
WPA Preshared Key - Create a password, the more complex the better. After all, then it will be more difficult to hack your network.

Wi-Fi setup

Setting up IPTV

If IPTV television is broadcast on your network, then to view it on the router you need to enter some settings. Go to the menu – Local network, submenu – IPTV.

Setting up IPTV

Here you need to specify the port on which you will connect IPTV. Other parameters should be obtained from your provider.

In principle, this is all the basic settings of the router. Even if you missed something or entered it incorrectly, don’t be afraid, you won’t break the router. You can always go back to the factory presets and reconfigure everything again.

How to open ports on a router

Today, most devices are equipped with specialized radio modules that can communicate with various other devices using Wi-Fi technology. But the main purpose of this module is to access the Internet at high speed.

Despite the development of modern technologies, providers still provide Internet via wired technology. That is why wired routers have been replaced by routers using Wi-Fi technology. These devices provide simultaneous access to one Internet channel for multiple devices.

Router Definition

A router (or router) is essentially a kind of mini computer. It performs the function of distributing Internet channel resources. The coverage area of a Wi-Fi router can be very different, it all depends on the model and its type.

The router is used as an access point that performs the following functions:

forwarding data packets between individual segments of the same network;
connects different networks to each other (each network may have its own architecture);
can forward various information based on the topology of the network architecture.

There are some similarities between a router and a hub. It lies in the different network layers at which these two devices operate. The router operates on the 3rd network model called OSI. The hub operates on the 1st level or on the 2nd.

Purpose of the router

A Wi-Fi router is designed to organize network space. Moreover, it is used not only as a bridge to create a connection between an Internet provider and various network devices, but also as a connecting link between various local network devices.

There are three main purposes of a Wi-Fi router:

How the router works

The operating principle of all routers of various types (portable, home, wired and wireless) is practically the same. It consists of finding, using a special table contained in the router’s memory, the address of the recipient of the transmitted data. If the required addressee is missing, the packet is simply not processed and is reset.

The routing table looks something like this:

Information can also be transmitted in some other ways, using:

sender's address;
protocols of various levels;
contents of network packet headers;
various other information.

Many routers can perform the following operations:

broadcast addresses of both recipient and sender;
filter the transit data stream;
encrypt and decrypt data.

Review of routers

There are many models of routers of different types.

Conventionally, all of them can be divided into the following categories:

Routers are also divided by connection type:

A home router is the most common hub option. This network equipment has slightly larger overall dimensions than other types (internal, mini and automotive).

But they have a number of advantages over their counterparts:

large coverage area;
ease of setup;
ease of use.

An excellent home router model with a compromise price is the TP-Link TL-WR841N. Its operation is quite stable and the cost is low.

Photo: optimal price-quality ratio

Car routers are the smallest of all varieties. They are extremely compact in size. Also, quite often, manufacturers equip it with a shockproof housing. The disadvantages include a small coverage area. Power is usually supplied from car wiring - where a voltage of 12 (V) is present.

One of the most common models of 3G routers is the UMTS ZTE MF60. It is compact and holds a battery charge for quite a long time.

Mini-routers have very modest overall dimensions. They allow you to use it even in places where the amount of free space is very limited. This type of network device is also sometimes called a pocket Wi-Fi router.

Routers for TV are highly specialized equipment designed to connect to a TV. Used with various models that are equipped with the ability to connect to the Internet.

3G Wi-Fi routers are hubs that have the ability to connect to a cellular network using 3G technology. They are equipped with a special radio module that allows communication through a regular SIM card of a cellular operator. One of the most popular routers of this type is the H25A 3G WiFi.

External Wi-Fi routers are all routers located outside of a personal computer. Internal routers are usually small boards that fit inside the system unit of a personal computer. In terms of functionality, they are practically the same. In some cases, internal routers are more convenient because they can be easily placed inside the case. And they don't take up space on your desk or anywhere else.

Routers cannot be globally different from each other in any way. The operation of all devices is based on the same principle.

Router cost table

Routers are divided into different categories not only by type, but also by cost. This makes choosing the right model much easier - you can easily choose either a very expensive model with many additional features or the cheapest one.

Functions and characteristics of routers

To work comfortably at home or in the office, you need a Wi-Fi router that can support a fairly wide channel and also have good performance characteristics:

One of the most important characteristics of routers is support for standards such as IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n. In the first case, data exchange is possible at a speed of 54 Mbit/s through the gateway, in the second case – up to 600 Mbit/s;
It is desirable to have a USB port and the ability to use 3G technology to connect to the Internet. This will make it possible to avoid having a large number of different wires under your feet;
It is desirable that the router supports protocols such as L2TP and PPTP. Otherwise, working with some Internet providers will simply be impossible (for example, with Beeline).

Video: review of Wi-Fi router “Upvel UR-309BN”

Features and differences of routers

A Wi-Fi router has many features:

Most models have the ability to connect not only using Wi-Fi, but also using a regular network cable (twisted pair). This allows you to combine PCs into one network to exchange data between them;
the router assigns a personal IP address from the DHCP server to each network device;
the Internet channel from the provider can connect to the router using the WAN interface;
Many routers are equipped with USB connectors.

Also, some routers may differ from their counterparts in the presence of various additional features:

The VoIP module allows you to use IP telephony services (there is a special connector on the case for connecting a telephone line);
The presence of a USB connector allows you to connect various devices directly to the router.

Typically, the more expensive the router model, the more capabilities it has. Many people do not know how to use various additional functions - all the necessary information is available in the accompanying documentation of the device. Every year, the manufacturer is increasingly simplifying the technology for setting up and using its devices, thereby making Wi-Fi Internet more and more accessible to the masses.

Most even not very experienced users have long known what the phrase Wi-Fi router means. Since the Internet and wireless communication technologies have already entered our lives very tightly. That is why most modern houses and apartments have a device that performs the function of distributing the Internet between individual devices.

Gone are the days when there was only one personal computer in the house. The average family, in addition to a PC/laptop, has a couple of smartphones, a tablet, and a smart TV. How to connect all this equipment to the Internet if the Internet provider cable can only be designed for one device? A specialized computer - a wireless router - comes to the rescue.

What is a Wi-Fi router and what is it for?

Any home user sooner or later comes to the idea of connecting all their devices into a local network. This will allow you to organize network storage for music and movies, provide shared access to a printer or scanner, and even build a home video surveillance system. Although the main task will remain to ensure shared access of devices to the provider’s Internet channel.

Sooner or later, every user comes to the idea of combining all their devices into a local network

To create a home local network and provide shared access to the Internet, the industry has long been producing specialized single-board computers - routers or routers. They are able to receive data from the Internet provider and distribute traffic across all available devices. Routers equipped with ports for connecting wired clients and a Wi-Fi wireless module will easily connect all your gadgets into a single network, and after initial setup they will be able to work for months without turning off.

How a wireless router works

The principle of operation of a wireless router is to receive traffic from an Internet provider and distribute it to home network clients. The router software distributes traffic evenly to avoid speed dips for each connected user. Using the settings, you can limit the access of any connected client to certain Internet resources (black list) or allow access to the network at a strictly defined time (relevant for child users). All router settings are made through a graphical add-on to the software - the web interface. It opens in any internet browser like a regular website.

AsusWRT is a visual shell for ASUS routers

Appearance of the router, purpose of connectors and ports

A router is an autonomous device in a closed case with external or internal (hidden in the case) antennas. Most of the service connectors are located on the back panel of the router:

Also on the rear panel there may be power buttons and factory reset buttons. The button for creating a secure wireless connection is usually located on the front or side panel of the case and is equipped with an LED activity indicator.

For clarity and ease of operation, the WPS button can be located on the side or front panel of the router

Types of routers

Currently, an Internet provider can provide an incoming channel using a wide variety of equipment. This could be traditional twisted pair UTP-8, copper telephone line noodles, coaxial television cable, or modern fiber optics. There may not be a cable at all if your provider is a mobile operator. Depending on the type of incoming channel, different types of routers are used.

ADSL modem routers

Among cable networks, telephone networks confidently lead in popularity, because There are wired telephones in the most remote and remote corners of the country. It would be unwise for Internet providers to ignore such an extensive cable structure. As a result of this, ADSL technology was born, which allows you to transmit at high speed not only the audio signal of a telephone line, but also data over a pair of copper wires. The data channel is asynchronous - the reception speed (about 20–30 Mbit/s) is almost an order of magnitude higher than the transmission speed (about 3–5 Mbit/s).

DLINK DSL-2650 shows speeds of up to 30 Mbit/s over a telephone line, has two USB ports and excellent Internet sharing via Wi-Fi

Routers designed to work with such lines have a built-in ADSL modem and a corresponding port for connecting a telephone line. These can be either very simple and cheap devices that are not equipped with a wireless communication module, or mid-range 2-antenna devices that allow you to connect to a wireless network at speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s. ADSL routers are not represented in the premium segment, since the communication channel itself is very average in terms of speed characteristics, and a high-performance router will work “idle”.

Routers with twisted pair connections (Ethernet)

The largest family of routers are routers operating with a twisted pair connection (Ethernet). The ability to transmit data at speeds of up to 1 Gbit/s, the low cost of cable and the ease of installation make twisted pair networks the most common. Therefore, you can choose a router for such a connection to suit every taste and budget.

The most inexpensive models are equipped with one non-removable antenna and provide wireless network speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s, allowing you to connect up to 10 clients (in theory) and 2-4 computers over the air using twisted pair cables at speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s.

TP-LINK TL-WR740ND is equipped with one non-removable antenna and provides wireless network speeds of up to 150 Mbps

Advanced routers are equipped with three or four high-gain antennas, and support for 802.11 b/g/n and ac data transfer protocols allows you to achieve maximum wireless data transfer of up to 900 Mbps. The ports for connecting using twisted pair cables on such devices are gigabit, both for connecting clients and for connecting to the provider. An integral attribute of such routers are one or more USB 2.0 ports for external hard drives, 3G modems and other peripherals.

TP-LINK TL-WR1043ND is a powerful three-antenna router with speeds up to 450 Mbps

3G/4G routers

In places where there are no Internet providers providing cable services, the only way to connect to the network is mobile Internet from one of the cellular operators - MTS, Beeline or Megafon. To work with 3G Internet, manufacturers produce specialized routers into which you can install a SIM card and distribute the Internet via Wi-Fi to several clients. Since such routers are often used on business trips or far from civilization, most of them are self-powered from a built-in rechargeable battery, allowing them to work for several hours without recharging.

The 3G router fits easily into a trouser pocket and can run for several hours on the built-in battery.

Connecting to 3G Internet can also be done using a combination of a 3G modem and a wireless router with a USB port. This hardware solution will allow you to combine the performance of a stationary router and the advantages of mobile Internet and is perfect for a summer house, country house or field camp.

Routers with GPON interface

Despite the fact that most “last mile” cable routes (the wiring from the client to the Internet provider switch) are implemented using 8-core twisted pair Ethernet, more and more new routes are being laid by providers using fiber optic cables. Optics are cheaper, practically unaffected by moisture and corrosion, and most importantly, insensitive to electrical interference.

It’s no secret that during a thunderstorm, electrical noise in the cable network can damage not only the provider’s equipment, but also computers in the whole house.

Fiber optic cable is resistant to electrical interference, is not subject to corrosion and has enormous bandwidth

To connect to a fiber-optic Internet channel, you can use either a media converter to which a regular router is connected, or a router equipped with a GPON port - an interface for connecting optics. Setting up such a router is no different from setting up a classic router with a twisted pair connection. The whole difference lies in the physical interface of the incoming channel.

The ZTE-F660 router is installed for clients by the MGTS provider

Video: what types of routers exist

How to choose the right router for home, office or travel

Before buying a router, you should outline the scope of its use. This will avoid unnecessary costs and a situation where the device cannot solve problems due to its low performance.

Router for home

When choosing a router for an apartment in a multi-storey building, it is worth considering several points. There are many other routers working in an apartment building, because the neighbors also have Internet. To minimize the impact of other devices on your router's signal, you should give preference to a device with internal antennas of sufficient power.

They will provide coverage inside the apartment without receiving signals from other people's routers. The ideal option would be to purchase a 5 GHz router. This signal fades faster, and the standard provides more free channels than the 2.4 GHz standard. The absence of external antennas will make the router less vulnerable when interacting with children and pets.

For a router used in an office, the performance and power of the wireless interface are of paramount importance. It would also be useful to have USB ports to provide shared access to the printer. To ensure that your wireless connection is stable and your speed does not drop, choose tri-band models equipped with high-gain antennas.

The ASUS RT-N66U router will provide stable wireless communication in any corner of your office

Travel Router

For field work and business trips, you will need a 3G router with the ability to operate autonomously from the built-in battery. The router model is secondary here, because the speed of the mobile communication channel will be able to “digest” any mobile router released in 2017–2018. In order not to overpay, it makes sense to take the router for which the mobile operator will have the maximum discount when concluding a contract.

Sign a contract with Beeline (or another mobile operator) and receive a 4G router as a gift

5 GHz routers and their advantages over 2.4 GHz routers

Squeezing 300 Mbps out of a 2.4 GHz router if it is operated in an apartment building or office building with a large amount of wireless equipment is an almost impossible task. Routers interfere with each other's work, the data transfer speed drops by 2 and 4 times (from the theoretically possible).

The electronics industry has proposed a solution in the form of a new data transmission standard, 802.11 AC. Equipment of this standard operates at a higher (twice) frequency - 5 GHz. This provides more channels over which the router transmits and receives data. At 5 GHz, routers can operate simultaneously without interfering with each other.

Increasing the broadcast frequency causes the signal to attenuate faster and pass through walls less well. Such a signal spreads freely throughout the area of your apartment/office, but does not reach your neighbor’s “possessions”.

Before purchasing an 802.11 AC router, be sure to make sure that all your other equipment (smartphones, tablets, laptop) can also operate in this frequency range. Otherwise, the router will operate in compatibility mode at the 2.4 GHz frequency and all its advantages will remain only on the paper of the advertising brochure.

Popular Wi-Fi router manufacturers and reviews

The three largest manufacturers of home routers include Asus, Zyxel, TP-Link. Each manufacturer has devices to suit every taste and budget, and even junior models will be equipped with branded features that make the brand recognizable.

Zyxel

The company has been producing communications and network equipment for decades. In the 90s, Zyxel was famous for its excellent performance and uncompromising quality of telephone lines. At the moment, the company is not giving up its positions.

The company's product range includes ADSL routers, repeaters, access points, and managed switches. But the Keenetic series wireless routers are a source of special pride.

For inexperienced users with low requirements, Keenetic Start routers are produced - single-band routers with a maximum wireless network speed of 150 Mbit/s. The number of wired ports is 4 or 2 (depending on the generation of the router). The use of a processor with low speed characteristics has a pleasant side effect - the router practically does not heat up during operation, so it can be safely used in hot summers or in rooms with difficult climatic conditions.

Keenetic Start is an entry-level router, but has a number of advantages that older models cannot boast of

For buyers who want to provide Internet access to a small office or a multi-level private home, it makes sense to choose the Zyxel Keenetic II model. External antennas with a gain of 5 dB, wireless network speeds of up to 300 Mbps, as well as two USB ports will provide users with high-speed Internet and allow them to share network storage, printers and scanners.

Keenetic II provides high-speed Internet and will allow you to share network storage, printers and scanners

The premium segment is represented by the powerful Keenetic Giga router. The dual-band, four-antenna router is capable of reaching wireless network speeds of up to 900 Mbps and connecting computers over twisted pair cables at 1 Gbps. A high-performance dual-core processor and 128 megabytes of RAM allow you to simultaneously serve a large number of connected users without reducing speed.

Keenetic Giga allows you to simultaneously serve a large number of connected users without reducing speed

Wi-Fi router Zyxel Keenetic - great idea and software, but crappy hardware. ADVANTAGES: programmers and firmware, website and technical support, unparalleled capabilities of the Kinetic series router. DISADVANTAGES: IRON. Where do you buy such filthy microcircuits? A little over a week later, the Wi-Fi module died (my netbook can see the ZyXEL access point, but cannot get an IP address from Kinetic). Everything is fine with the other router, the netbook is 100% working. Resetting, flashing and all sorts of Wi-Fi settings did not help. True, the rest of the router (via twisted pair cable) works like a charm, but I still took it and returned the device for warranty (despite the fact that another 2 weeks had not passed, Svyaznoy refused to return the money). I think it's just an annoying hardware defect. Everything is good with ZyXEL: programmers and firmware, website and technical support, unparalleled capabilities of the Kinetic series router... BUT HARDWARE. Where do you buy such filthy microcircuits? Sad to the end! Now we have to wait a month or so for a replacement...

http://otzovik.com/review_296931.html

Wi-Fi router Zyxel Keenetic Giga III is a productive router with support for IEEE 802.11ac. ADVANTAGES: productive, reliable, simple and convenient settings, wide functionality, powerful signal. DISADVANTAGES: prohibitive price. The Zyxel Keenetic Giga III router has a lot of functionality. And what’s even better is that you don’t have to load your device with unused tools. The firmware is modular, that is, after enabling the required feature, its support is loaded and control settings appear. Comfortable. All three buttons can be programmed at your discretion. It more than covers all my needs (dual-band, port forwarding, DMZ, strong signal, MAC address filtering, FTP, DLNA, USB3 for external HDD). About the bad - the price is steep, but I got it practically for free (I accumulated bonuses from a network retailer).

https://otzovik.com/review_3077684.html

ASUS

ASUS Corporation produces a wide range of electronic and computer equipment. And although routers are not at the top of this list, the line of routers includes worthy models that are not inferior and even in some ways superior to competitors’ products. True, this applies to most models in the premium segment.

The budget segment is represented by the ASUS RT-N10 and ASUS RT-N10LX models. By today's standards, these are extremely low-performance devices with little RAM and a slow processor. Their older brother ASUS RT-N12 differs only in the presence of a second antenna, providing wireless network speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s. Routers are very “hot”; their operation in the hot summer without additional cooling is fraught with interruptions in operation, or even failure of the devices.

ASUS RT-N12 features a second antenna that provides wireless network speeds of up to 300 Mbps

The ASUS RT-N14U router can be called a classic representative of the middle segment. A router with an attractive design. It will fit perfectly into both the interior of an apartment and an office. Two internal antennas allow you to reach wireless network speeds of up to 300 Mbps, and the USB 2.0 port allows you to connect external hard drives, printers and 3G modems. The AsusWRT firmware is unified with the older line of routers and allows you to flexibly configure the router to suit your needs. Disadvantages include increased power consumption (a 12 V power supply with a current of 1.5 A is used) and high heat generation. When installing the router, find a place for it away from direct sunlight and with air flow, otherwise interruptions in operation may occur.

ASUS RT-N14U has a nice design and good performance

Premium ASUS devices are at the peak of progress: a large amount of RAM, 4 antennas for two bands and an active cooling system allow such routers to work 24 hours a day for months, providing the Internet and a local network for a medium-sized office. Such devices would also be useful at home for avid gamers, web developers, coders and all those who need a fast and stable Internet channel. Users who want to purchase a top-end router and save money should take a closer look at the ASUS RT-N66U. Despite its venerable age by modern standards, this three-antenna dual-band unit can still satisfy 99% of the needs of a sophisticated Internet user.

https://otzovik.com/review_1985797.html

Wi-Fi router Asus RT-N66U is a high-speed router for a home network. ADVANTAGES: brand, quality, power, signal strength, good software, many additional features. DISADVANTAGES: price, heating of the case. This is the second router that appeared at my home to replace the broken one, also from Asus. The fact is that the first one had a rather low data transfer speed, and my husband and I decided that there was no point in repairing it, it was better to take a high-speed one. So, based on reviews, we settled on the Asus RT-N66U router. The Internet really was flying, for almost six months. And the router is quite sophisticated in many respects. How one fine day the Internet began to fail. I started looking for the reason in the provider, they like to turn off our Internet. But this time the reason turned out to be in the router. We tested the router from both sides together with the network configurer and it turned out that the Internet was slowing down the router. He turned it on for two seconds and cut it off. Fortunately, we had a guarantee, we took the router to be repaired. I don’t know what happened to it, but they returned me a completely new, sealed router, which I’m glad about. It's better than having it repaired. I hope that the new Asus RT-N66U router will last me more than six months :)

Koala2014
https://otzovik.com/review_1374681.html

TP-LINK

The TP-LINK company, entering the market of the former CIS countries, set itself the task of offering customers routers at a price lower than competitors, but with similar technical characteristics. This was partially successful, especially in the budget segment, where the user counts every ruble. In the mid-price niche, the gap is no longer so obvious, and some functions are added rather for show. As an example, we can cite the TL-WR842N router. It is equipped with a USB port, but the standard software allows you to connect only a printer to it. However, TP-LINK routers are reliable and unpretentious. It’s no wonder that Internet providers buy thousands of them for installation to their clients.

The budget segment is represented by a “classic of the genre” - the TP-LINK TL-WR741N router. This is a simple single-band device equipped with a 150 Mbps wireless module and four twisted pair ports. The memory capacity and processor speed allow you to distribute the Internet to 4-5 clients without reducing the speed, so this router is bought not only for homes, but also for small offices. For users who will not connect more than two devices to the router (computer + smartphone), a simplified version of the router has been released - TL-WR720. It has only two wired ports, and the antenna is internal.

TL-WR741N is bought not only for homes, but also for small offices

The middle price category includes routers of the eighth and ninth series (841N, 842N, 941N, 942N). All devices are dual-band. The eighth series is equipped with two antennas (access speed up to 300 Mbit/s), and the ninth - three (its speed is one and a half times higher). The best model in the segment is the TL-WR942N router. The increased amount of RAM and expanded software allow you to flexibly use the built-in USB port both for network storage and for creating a backup Internet channel in conjunction with a 3G modem.

TL-WR942N is a balanced solution for home and small office

The line of premium routers is represented by TP-LINK Archer. The routers will provide you with high-speed Internet (1 Gbit/s) and allow you to work with wireless networks in the 2.4 and 5 GHz range, and also create a backup channel using a 3G modem. Depending on the model, routers can be equipped with three, four or even six highly efficient antennas, which will allow the wireless network to operate stably even in the littered air of an office center or apartment building. And the use of energy-efficient processors from Mediatek as the “heart” of the router allows the router to remain cool even in hot summers, operating steadily and without failures.

Archer C3200 is a combination of advanced technical solutions and futuristic appearance

Wi-Fi router TP-Link Archer C1200 - reliable Internet access and more. ADVANTAGES: reliable operation, versatility, upgradability, price. DISADVANTAGES: minor when operating at 5 GHz. A router is a very important home device; Internet access, which is necessary for all home devices, depends on its performance. If the router does not work or malfunctions, then every member of your family will notice. Therefore, choosing a router should be approached as carefully and carefully as possible. The device must be reliable, functional and, if possible, inexpensive. Many of the features of professional home routers are unnecessary and have a negative impact on the price. We have been adherents of D-Link technology for many years, but despite its high functionality and its inherent bells and whistles, it is very sensitive to comfortable working conditions. The previous D-Link router very often went into reboot in the winter when the central heating was on, so it was decided, along with replacing the desktop computer, to also change the router. And this time they chose another company, TP-Link, and for more than two months of daily work it showed itself to be excellent. I have never restarted, even after replacing the computer with a more powerful one, which also heats up more intensely. The TP-Link Archer C1200 router itself also has a non-critical warm case temperature, which does not cause performance problems in the sense of freezes and unauthorized reboots. What was particularly missing from the previous D-Link router were power on and off buttons. When it froze, I had to pull out the power connector, but this is wrong. There is a special convenient button, but restarts are not needed on this reliable equipment. And if you are going to do this for some reason, then on a normally working device it is better to do it through a program. The router provides good DDNS support. When changing a dynamic IP address, you can always contact and find your personal computer or any other device on your home network on the vast expanses of the Internet using a standard Internet link. I often use this to transfer photos from my smartphone to my Intel NUC BOXNUC 7i7BNH Mini Computer. TP-Link Archer provides parental controls. It allows you to restrict Internet access to any device on your home network by a specified time and day of the week. For example, you don’t want your child to play on the Internet in your absence instead of doing homework on weekdays of your absence; to do this, set the restriction parameters and sit quietly at work. You can connect a wireless modem in case the wired Internet suddenly turns off or is not there at all. But the manufacturer does not guarantee stable operation with all wireless modems. If you obviously need a wireless Internet connection, then it is better to immediately take another device that is 100% suitable for this type of connection, containing a built-in modem that only needs to insert a SIM card. A flash card inserted into the TP-Link C1200 router becomes viewable from any home device and serves as a so-called media center. But we don’t really need this, because our network has a more advanced device, namely the D-Link network storage with greater capabilities and volumes of stored information. You can connect a printer to the router, which makes it possible to print from any home device, but here you need to separately check the compatibility of devices in the list on the manufacturer’s website. Supports two WI-FI network bands at once: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Of these, the newer 5 GHz network is good because its channel is not occupied due to the fact that it has not come into widespread use; few people still use it. However, it is sensitive to obstacles - this is both a plus and a minus at the same time.

Kirill2013
https://otzovik.com/review_5839613.html

Review: Wi-Fi router TP-Link TL-WR720N - light router - easy Internet. ADVANTAGES: price, weight, simplicity. DISADVANTAGES: short LAN cable. If you don’t want problems with the Internet, buy a router. Now there are so many different models to suit every taste and budget. I chose the cheapest one, I confess. In addition, an additional advantage for me was the absence of antenna horns on this model. The internal antenna does the job quite well. The box with the router contains almost all the information about the product. By turning it in all directions, you will learn everything about the model. In addition, there is a guide for quickly connecting the router and an installation disk with a Quick Setup Wizard. The Russian language is presented in the manual (as well as on the disk). Quick connection is not a common word in the manual. The whole process took me literally a couple of minutes. The step-by-step instructions do not allow you to turn anywhere. Here it is, my router, working at full speed, cheerfully winking with LEDs and shoveling megabits and gigabits of information. Connection ports on the back: one WAN port, two LAN ports. Some may think that this is not enough. I have enough for one laptop (there are no two here at the same time). And the tablet uses Wi-Fi. There is also a power socket and a reset button, surprisingly, not recessed, but tight. You won't reset it by accident. The lower part contains only information about the model and loops for mounting the router on the wall. But they haven’t gotten around to it yet. Let's summarize. An absolutely gorgeous router model for such a price, even though it was made in the Middle Kingdom. Fast, easy and convenient. The only negative is the short LAN cable, but this can easily be fixed by switching the laptop to Wi-Fi.

Misha_bear
https://otzovik.com/review_388648.html

Connecting and setting up a Wi-Fi router

Thanks to the user-friendly software of most routers, setting them up is simple and accessible even to an untrained user. Let's look at connecting a router using TP-LINK devices as an example:

Configure your computer's network card to automatically obtain a network address and DNS addresses. The easiest way to do this is by entering the command “netsh interface ip set address “Local Area Connection” dhcp” in the Command Prompt.
Connect the provider cable to the socket marked WAN or Internet, and connect the laptop or computer using a patch cable to any free socket marked LAN.
For initial setup, the provider cable must be inserted into the socket marked WAN or Internet, and the PC/laptop must be connected to the socket marked LAN
By entering 192.168.1.1 in the address bar of your browser, open the router’s web interface. From the list of sections on the left side of the window, select “Quick Setup”. On the first screen, simply click the "Next" button.
The Quick Setup Wizard will be the best connection option for an inexperienced user
On the next screen, select your country, city, ISP name, and WAN connection type from the drop-down lists. If your provider is not in the list, check the “I did not find suitable settings” checkbox and click the “Next” button.
The type of connection to the provider can be selected from the list
Enter the username and password from the agreement with the Internet provider. If your tariff plan includes a digital television service, additionally select the type of secondary connection: static address or dynamic. Click "Next".
The login and password for accessing the Internet can be found in the agreement with your provider
If your provider provides a connection bound by the MAC address of the network card, clone the address of the computer's network card into the WAN interface of the router.
Be sure to clone the MAC address if your provider requires it
For routers equipped with a USB port, you can select a 3G modem as a backup channel. The router will switch to it if the main WAN interface is unavailable. Select your mobile service provider and fill in all fields in the dialog box.
Mark the ranges in which the router will be allowed to operate
Enter the name of the wireless network and its password, then click the “Next” button. If the router is dual-band, a similar settings window will open for the 5 GHz band.
Within two to three minutes, the router will apply the settings, connect to the provider’s channel and be ready for use.

Video: how to set up a TP-LINK router

The correct formulation of the question contains 90% of the answer. Having found out in advance the requirements of the Internet provider for client equipment, having decided where the router will work and what devices will connect to it, you can choose a router with balanced characteristics without spending a lot of money and ensuring your home network with stable and uninterrupted operation.

26. 06.2017

Blog of Dmitry Vassiyarov.

Router - what is it and where is it used?

Hello.

Every modern Internet user should know what a router is. After all, with its help you can connect to the Internet most quickly, conveniently and stably. You will find all the necessary information about this device, including its types, operating principles and selection principles, in this article.

A router is...

Through routers, humanity enjoys such a benefit as Wi-Fi. You will say that the connection occurs through a router? Right. So what is the difference between a router and a router? No. It's the same thing, it's just that "router" is a more rooted English word that means "router" in Russian.

In scientific words, it is a specialized device with two or more network interfaces, the task of which is to send data packets between different network segments.

It’s easier to translate this into understandable language using the example of what role it plays when connecting to the Internet. Therefore, read on.

What is it for?

Let's say you wanted to bring Internet to your house. The provider runs one cable into your home. But you use not only a computer, but also a smartphone, tablet, and want to organize a wireless connection with the printer. Theoretically, you can connect a cable to each device. However, this will not only be expensive, but also wires will spread throughout the house, which does not look aesthetically pleasing. What to do?

It is necessary to connect the cable to one access point, which will distribute the Internet to all devices. The router plays its role. Thus, its purpose is to distribute the Internet over the air, which it receives through a provider cable or mobile network.

In particular, a broadband router allows two or more computers to receive data packets from the Internet under one IP address at once.

The functions of the router are not limited to this. It is also necessary for organizing a wireless local network. That is, thanks to it you can exchange data via Wi-Fi between gadgets and control them remotely.

For example, you don't have to use a USB cable to download photos from your phone to your laptop or command the printer to print a document from your computer. All this can be done wirelessly, but provided that each device has a Wi-Fi adapter.
You can also organize a bridge between two access points, but not all models are suitable for this purpose, but only those with support for this option. This is necessary to expand the range of routers.

Operating principle

Do you want to know how exactly the router distributes the Internet? The essence of the work lies in the name of the device. It assigns data flow routes to connected devices, distributing speed evenly among them.

Technically, this happens like this: in the internal memory of the router there is a routing table in which the most optimal paths to gadgets are selected. To do this, the router periodically sends test requests to each of them, thereby calculating the time it will take for the data packet to reach the recipient. This is how DHCP servers, the most popular dynamic routers, work.

But there are situations when it is necessary to register paths manually in order to set the exact address for a certain equipment. This helps to avoid errors in table synchronization, and thereby ensure a more stable and secure connection. This way of working is called static routing.

Types of routers

First of all, routers are distinguished by the Wi-Fi connection standard. At the moment there are 5 of them. The name of each begins with 802.11, but differs in the letter at the end (a, b, g, n, ac). The difference between them is the data transfer speed. This is also influenced by the number of antennas.
For example, the fastest and most modern is the 802.11n standard. If it has 1 antenna, the speed will be 55 Mbit/s, 2 - 110 Mbit/s, 3 - 165 Mbit/s and 4 - 220 Mbit/s.

As for other standards, then:

“a” is used primarily by providers;
“b” practically never occurs anymore, since it has a low speed;
“g” works faster, but by today’s standards is no longer relevant;
“ac” has just recently begun to be implemented, but it is also only used by Internet providers.

When purchasing, keep this rule in mind: the speed of the router should not be less than that provided to you by your provider. Otherwise, you will only get the one that your device allows you to work with, and you will pay more.

Other characteristics

Knowing the basic parameters that routers have and, in fact, differ, it will be easy for you to choose the right one for yourself. So:

Range of data reception and transmission. For home and office use, 2.4 GHz devices are purchased, which are marked with the number 2. Less popular are 5 GHz devices (standards “a” and “ac”). They are often used by providers to supply the Internet when it is impossible to install wires. Such devices are marked with the number 5. There are routers that support both of these bands or others, for example, 3 GHz.

Data encryption standards. Often, modern routers support standards such as WEP (the most vulnerable to hacking), WPA (includes 128-bit encryption keys), WPA2 (the size of the keys is 2 times larger than the previous version).
Number of LAN ports. The router can distribute the Internet not only over the air, but also through cables. There are special connectors for them, the number of which varies. Desktop computers and equipment such as a printer, scanner, etc. are usually connected via wires. Depending on how much of it you have, choose the number of LAN interfaces.

Signal strength. If you live in a large house and plan to install the router behind several load-bearing walls from the place where you often spend time on the Internet, you need to take a device with an antenna of at least 5 dBi.
Network connection type. Are you going to access the Internet via a mobile network? Then you will need a 3G/4G/LTE router. For a cable connection (twisted pair), you need an Ethernet model - this is the most popular option, and optical fiber is connected through SFP devices. In villages and the private sector, EPON/GEPON/GPON routers are used.
Less common models are xDSL - works through a telephone cable, DOCSIS - through a television cable, and simply Wi-Fi, which connects to the provider wirelessly.

Additional functions

Routers can also have advanced functionality, namely:

Built-in Firewall. Protects the connection from hacking.
Availability of a USB port. Through it you can use external drives, peripheral equipment, or a mobile modem as an additional access point.

IPTV support. To watch Internet TV channels.
Built-in torrent client.
Traffic Shaper. Sets priorities in the distribution of data channels.
VPN tunnel support. Thanks to it, you can create a virtual network with a remote office.

I think now you will not have a problem choosing a router according to your individual needs.