How to Pick the Right Wireless Router

The current market for wireless routers admits to significant diversity of capability and feature sets. Before you shop for your next Wi-Fi router, assess your specific needs in light of the technology standards and hardware design that each major model offers.

Wireless routers advertise their speed in megabits per second (Mbps). The first consumer Wi-Fi models offered 11 Mbps, followed by mid-range 802.11g routers at 54 Mbps, 802.11n routers anywhere from 150 Mbps to 600 Mbps, and now 802.11ac routers offering above 1 Gbps.

Don't look only at routers with the highest Mbps rating. The actual performance you'll achieve in practice typically averages lower than the maximum rating shown on the package.

A high-speed router can't speed up a slow ​internet connection. For example, if an ISP provides 25 Mbps service, a router that delivers speeds exceeding 1 Gbps will only work at 25 Mbps (the maximum speed provided by the ISP).

The maximum speed of a network is determined by the router and the speed provided by the ISP—whichever is slower. So, if a router delivers ultra-fast speeds and your ISP provides a small amount of bandwidth, that lesser amount will be all that the router will deliver. The same is true in reverse (that is, a slow router will deliver slow speeds even if you have fast bandwidth).

To maximize the speed of your wireless network, buy a router that delivers speeds at least as fast as what your ISP provides.

Does your router need to reach a few rooms on one floor, or throughout a three-story home and a garage? This feature determines the strength of the router you need.

Some standalone routers that come with one unit may or may not be able to deliver Wi-Fi throughout a whole home (depending on how big the house is and how powerful the router is). However, if you have a large area to cover, consider a long-range router, a mesh network with several routers bundled into one, or a Wi-Fi repeater/range extender.

If you're new to setting up a network or unfamiliar with technology, choose a router with an interface optimized for casual home buyers. In general:

• Older types of routers provide access to its settings by typing the router's IP address into a web browser. This procedure is a difficult way for beginners to manage a network because you have to remember the password and be at home when you make changes to the network (such as changing the Wi-Fi password and other settings).
• Smart routers are managed from a smartphone using a special app that connects directly to the network from anywhere you are, even if you're far away from home. The initial setup involved with these routers is straightforward and can be completed in minutes.

Choose the first type of wireless router if you want something cheap, because the convenience of the other kind is usually what brings its price up. Also, mesh Wi-Fi network systems usually use a mobile app, whereas routers that use the IP address method are often seen only with standalone devices.

Years ago, it was commonplace to purchase external network adapters with routers. Networking vendors sometimes added proprietary extensions to their products that resulted in slightly higher performance when brand-matched. Vendors may also thoroughly test compatibility with their own equipment.

If you own some consumer electronic gear, brand-matching your Wi-Fi router might make sense. Otherwise, research the available brands and pick one you trust.​