| No network can be accurately called a network if | | | | such a flexibility is what is most important to you, |
| the computers that make it up are not able to | | | | then the appropriate router for you will be a |
| share information with one another. So that | | | | wireless router. You will be able to connect your |
| networked computers can have the power to | | | | mobile device such as a laptop to your router as |
| exchange information among them, the network | | | | long as your computer is within the range of the |
| must have a central connection point--a heart, so | | | | wireless router's signal. The absence of wires and |
| to speak. That heart is the router. The best | | | | cables in a wireless network setup can let you |
| router that a network can have will always have | | | | save, too, because you won't have to buy them. |
| that as its primary function. After all, what makes | | | | However, the freedom of movement that you |
| networking possible is the router. | | | | experience with a wireless network is not for |
| Networks can be classified on the basis of the | | | | free. Wireless routers typically cost more than |
| kind of router that it uses for linking the | | | | wired routers, although a wireless router is also |
| computers together. One type is the wireless | | | | the ideal router for a network requiring no |
| network, which, as you may have guessed, uses | | | | hindrances from wires and cables. |
| a wireless router. The other type is the wired | | | | A wired network, on the other hand, requires |
| network, which uses cables or wires for linking | | | | physical connections from the computers to the |
| the computers in the network. If your goal is to | | | | router. In this scenario, the most appropriate |
| find the best router for your home or business | | | | router to use is a wired router. The data packets |
| network, knowing these two basic types of | | | | in this network setup travel around the network |
| networks and routers is very important because | | | | via data cables, which are more commonly known |
| each one has features that the other does not. | | | | as Ethernet cables or CAT5 cables. |
| Whether a router is wired or wireless, its basic | | | | The computers in a wired network environment |
| function remains the same. The most important | | | | uses the Ethernet protocol for communicating |
| function of a router is that of a traffic officer; it | | | | with each other. The speed at which data packets |
| regulates and controls the flow of information | | | | travel along the data cables is actually higher than |
| (technically referred to as data packets) among | | | | the data transfer speed in a wireless network. For |
| the computers within its network. Another | | | | example, if a standard Ethernet cable is used, the |
| important function of a router is that of a post | | | | data transfer rate can reach a maximum of 100 |
| office clerk or a postal delivery personnel; it | | | | Mbps. The data transfer speeds can soar ten |
| ascertains that letters (i.e., the data packets) are | | | | times faster (1,000 Mbps) if a Gigabit Ethernet |
| delivered to the right doorstep. A third important | | | | cable is used instead of a standard cable. Because |
| function of a router is that of a censor; it | | | | of its capacity for faster data transfer speeds, a |
| restricts or stops any data packet from being | | | | wired router is the proper router for use in a |
| sent to an unintended address. If you are looking | | | | network that frequently shares large amounts of |
| for the right router for you, your basic question is | | | | data across the network. Thus, playing network |
| not about having a router at all. Rather, your | | | | games and transferring or sharing large files such |
| foremost issue is whether to go wired or | | | | as videos and movies will be faster in a wired |
| wireless. | | | | network. |
| In a wireless network, the computers connected | | | | Wired routers may have blazing transfer speeds, |
| to the network communicate with each other via | | | | and they also cost less than wireless routers. But, |
| the router. The communication process makes | | | | the wires and cables can be messy and can easily |
| use of radio waves, which actually eliminate the | | | | clutter. If some cosmic chaos in the wires does |
| need for a physical connection to the router. In | | | | not worry you much, then the perfect router for |
| this kind of scenario, you can say that the | | | | you is a wired router. |
| perfect router for the network is a wireless | | | | When you buy either a wired or wireless router, |
| router. | | | | make sure that you understand the advantages |
| Since a wireless router does not use physical | | | | and disadvantages of each. That way, you can |
| connections (i.e., cables and wires) to link the | | | | wisely choose which one is the best router for |
| computers in its network, you can be flexible with | | | | your needs. |
| your movement around your working space. If | | | | |