The most stable and powerful Wi-Fi router. Which router is better to buy? Which Wi-Fi router is better to buy? Criteria for choosing the shortest router for home Wikipedia

A router is a very foldable device without any technical characteristics. We focus on those that play an important role for the buyer.

WAN port type and connection protocols

The WAN (or Internet) connector is used to connect an Internet cable to the router. This is a detail, so I’ll build respect for the buyer when it comes to the buyer. It’s up to you to determine whether the router is working with your provider.

A typical router has a WAN port in one of two formats:

  1. DSL(ADSL, VDSL and other types) – to connect to the Internet via a telephone line.
  2. Ethernet- To connect through a special provider channel.

And universal devices that support a number of formats, including DSL and Ethernet. The stench becomes noticeable more often.

With popular fiber optic networks, access to the Internet is provided through a GPON terminal, to which the router is connected. Some routers have an output socket to connect the provider's fiber optic cable directly. This allows you to save money on the terminal, which often suffers from voltage cuts and gets stuck in the strap.

Confusion with the provider

Internet providers use different technologies to connect subscribers to different technologies. Some of them are widespread and are followed in all routers, others are less widespread and accessible not immediately.

For example, many postal service providers use the L2TP protocol, which does not work in the same router. Therefore, before purchasing, you should check with your provider’s support service to see if your router supports their network, so you can get it.

If instead of DSL and Ethernet provider you choose specific connection technologies that are rarely damaged, then choosing and possessing it is better to trust the facists.

Number and type of LAN ports

Computers, consoles, TVs and other stationary equipment that require stable wired access to Merezha are connected to the router’s LAN ports. Such a connection always guarantees maximum fluidity, so as not to be left behind by the code.

And the more such connectors a router has, the more devices can be connected via the wire. Make sure your router is equipped with LAN ports. If you don't have enough, choose a model with additional roses.

Depending on the type of LAN ports, there is a limit on the fluidity of data exchange between the router and other devices connected to it via a wire.

There are two such types:

  1. Fast Ethernet Provides speed up to 100 Mbit/s.
  2. Gigabit Ethernet- Up to 1 Gbit/s.

If your provider offers Internet access at speeds greater than 100 Mbit/s, choose a router model with Gigabit Ethernet ports. This is how you will get your channel back on track.

Standard Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi standard provides the maximum possible speed of data exchange between the router and a fleet of devices connected in a previously wireless way. There are two standards at a time:

  1. 802.11n- expanded, or even older version, which supports an absolutely larger number of gadgets. Speed ​​is possible – up to 600 Mbit/s.
  2. 802.11ac- The current standard will ensure the highest speed - up to 6.77 Gbit/s.

But don’t let the characteristics be too generous: the assigned values ​​are only theoretically possible within the framework of technology. Real indicators of fluidity are significantly lower.

Liquidity, as the grower indicates, is also practically unattainable. More than possible meanings without urakhuvannya will appear and change the code.

Finally, you can connect any gadget to a router with the 802.11ac standard via Wi-Fi. However, they only support 802.11n and older versions. To unlock the full potential of 802.11ac, both the router and all other drone-free devices must adhere to this standard.

Number of Wi-Fi bands

Several routers can operate simultaneously in different frequency bands. In this mode, the built router maintains not just one, but a number of independent Wi-Fi boundaries.


Many popular models can distribute data transmission between two bands. In this way, two waves are created at frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz in parallel.

  1. Frequency 2.4 GHz Ideal for connecting smartphones and office equipment.
  2. Frequency 5 GHz will provide a more stable connection and will be more suitable for multimedia devices that handle video and other important content. So, if you don’t have to connect a TV or set-top box via a wireless device, you can use Wi-Fi at a frequency of 5 GHz.

These borders can operate in parallel, without interfering with one another. But again, their total speed is not exceeded by the limit of assignments by the Internet provider.

In addition, not all gadgets support the 5 GHz frequency.

Strength and type of antennas

Despite the standard and frequency of Wi-Fi robots, the speed of drone-free coverage is limited to the number of antennas on the router. The more, the faster the exchange of data between connected devices and the router.

The Wi-Fi speed limit for the 802.11n standard for a model with one antenna is 150 Mbit/s. For two – 300 Mbit/s, for three – 450 Mbit/s. Then, with a skin antenna, the maximum possible bandwidth increases by 150 Mbit/s. And in the 802.11ac standard – at 433 Mbit/s.

Apparently, we are talking about theoretically possible benefits for ideal minds. In truth, these displays are richly inferior. In addition, do not forget that the natural speed of access to the Internet via Wi-Fi cannot exceed the provider's restrictions.

Antennas can be either internal or external. As practice shows, in the minds of a typical small apartment, the type of antennas is not so important. Contrary to the popular myth, the difference is great.

However, for large applications, it is still important to choose a router with external antennas, so as not to damage it. In addition, since the existing external antennas, if necessary, they can be replaced with stronger ones.


Availability of USB port

By choosing a router with one or a pair of USB ports, you can connect to a new additional device. For example, a USB storage device provides remote access to a shared file storage via any device connected to Wi-Fi. And a drone-free USB modem will become your backup method of access until the cable Internet stops working.

Brief instructions for choosing

Let's go over the key points of the statistics again. This check-arcush will help you find a good router.

  1. Find out about the provider's capabilities before the router: the type of WAN connector and connection protocols. After all, choose a model.
  2. If the Internet speed is more than 100 Mbit/s, purchase a device with LAN ports in Gigabit Ethernet format (1 Gbit/s). If the speed is less, install Fast Ethernet connectors (100 Mbit/s).
  3. If access to Merezha is required only for viewing websites and working with documents, you can use a router with one antenna and support the drone-free standard 802.11n.
  4. If you watch streaming video, play online games, browse a lot of wireless devices, often download large files and are not aware of it, choose a dual-band router with a variety of antennas and so on. 802.11ac streaming.
  5. Next, you can add a model with a USB port to connect to a new storage device or wireless modem.

A Wi-Fi router is required to distribute the Internet to a number of devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers, TVs) via a LAN or Wi-Fi connection. VID Yogo Viber to lay the square of the screech of the non -hub iznerteet in the apartment, Shvidki, the stubbinity of Roboti that is in the dodatkovikh: Merezhev’s siro, piroskorhennya IPTV, the storage of the homogenery, the print of the server, the gummer of the Merezh modemus.
WiFi router circuit diagram
In this article, we will look only at Wi-Fi routers that run through a standard Ethernet cable. The choice of devices that operate via ADSL (via telephone), fiber optic network or 3G is more specific. They are often seen by the providers themselves.

Router speed

  • 99% of current routers use the Wi-Fi 802.11n standard. The theoretical speed of data transmission reaches 600 Mbit/s (one antenna up to 150 Mbit/s).
  • The 802.11g standard offers a maximum theoretical speed of up to 54 Mbit/s.
  • The newest standard is 802.11ac, which has a theoretical speed of up to 1.3 Gbps.



The technical characteristics of the skin router indicate maximum data transmission speed. If 300 Mbit/s is specified, in practice check for speed 3 times less - 100 Mbit/s. Megabytes have a speed of 12.5 MB/s. It is suitable for surfing in the wild, watching online 1080p videos, listening to music, investing in a lot of gambling, downloading Full HD movies. To attract torrents from a few streams or copy files in the middle, it will not be enough. To work with wireless Wi-Fi, the laptop can support the wireless standard 802.11n or 802.11ac.


The characteristics indicate the speed of the wired LAN connection. The standard figure is 100 Mbit/s. Expensive routers can be used 10 times in swedish mode - at a speed of 1 Gbit/s. This speed is required for smooth file exchange in a local network.

As far as the router shares the Internet, you can recognize only real users. This is a subjective parameter; for each provider, the numbers will be different. If you have a 100 Mbit/s tariff, you will have 95 Mbit/s. Maximum speed will be reduced when connected directly to the computer card.
Provide technical support (to the technician, not the operator), and it is his responsibility to know how to handle this.

Frequency range

Routers operate in the 2.4 GHz frequency range. There are models that can operate simultaneously or later in the 2.4 and 5 GHz range. The 5 GHz channel is blue, since there are a lot of routers in your apartment that cause interruptions and reduce Internet speed. Therefore, the transition to 5 GHz can increase the speed and change the radius of the network. Not all devices support robot mode.

Stability of work

You will lose a lot of nerves because today the router hangs up 2-3 times. And you won’t re-engage the docks, the Internet won’t turn around. You can find out about the stability of the router's operation only by looking at it.

To reduce the risk of buying an unclear router, choose from popular manufacturers: ZyXEL, D-link, TP-LINK. They regularly update their firmware. It is not recommended to buy new models - the first generation has a lot of glitches after release.

You can find alternative firmware such as DD-WRT or OpenWRT to increase stability, speed and add new functions. If you install them, you can repair the router again.

Wi-Fi coverage radius

The real radius of the action can be determined in practice near your apartment. For an apartment of 60-70 m², install any router, such as D-link DIR 300.

If you want to gain coverage over a large area, buy a router with 2 or 3 antennas. They are to blame for the MIMO technology - multiple input-output. This allows you to increase the coverage radius up to 400 meters in open space, change dead zones and increase Internet speed.

Routers with built-in antennas have a low gain factor – up to 2 dBi. The best option is an external antenna. Antennas of 2-4 dBi are installed in the apartment or office. It will be possible to replace it with a tighter or straighter one, or put a rubber band on it.

Other functions

Some routers have a USB port. It is used to connect flash drives or external hard drives for virtual storage. On them you can download torrent files with your computer connected, create a home media server, and watch movies on smart TV.


This port is also used (not on all models) for connecting a 3G/4G modem. This is a manual function if you want to access a backup Internet channel. How many people take such routers to the dacha? These models can be built autonomously to distribute mobile Internet without electricity.


The presence of Yandex DNS in the router interface allows you to install a family filter with one click. Sites with illegal content, viruses, porn and bots will be blocked.
Devices vary depending on the size of RAM. The more, the better the productivity of the router. If you don’t know which of the two models to choose, marvel at the size of the RAM.

Price

The cheapest router can be bought for 600-1500 rubles. Here's what to do for slow-moving users: 2-3 devices with low connection speed and radius. If the tariff is set at 30–50 Mbit/s and you want to pay more for unnecessary functions, you can choose the economy option. It makes no sense to overpay for additional functions. The maximum reasonable price for a router in an apartment is 3–4 thousand rubles.

Design

In addition to the beautiful appearance, the design may be thought out and handmade.



The best Wi-Fi routers

The table contains a list of 21 of the largest models of routers for the home that you can immediately find on sale.

ModelUSB3G/4GWi-Fi standardWi-Fi speedPort fluidityAntennaAverage price
ZyXEL Keenetic Start 802.11n150 100 1 unknown 2 dBi1397
ZyXEL Keenetic Lite III 802.11n300 100 2 unknown 3 dBi1754
ZyXEL Keenetic 4G III1 + 802.11n300 100 2 unknown 3 dBi2187
ZyXEL Keenetic Lite II 802.11n300 100 2 unknown 3.5 dBi2760
ZyXEL Keenetic Viva1 + 802.11n300 1000 2 unknown 3 dBi3060
ZyXEL Keenetic Extra1 + 802.11n600 1000 2 unknown 4 dBi4000
ZyXEL Keenetic II2 + 802.11n300 100 2 significant 5 dBi4107
ZyXEL Keenetic Giga II2 + 802.11n300 1000 2 significant 5 dBi4862
TP-LINK TL-WR740N 802.11n150 100 1 unknown 5 dBi1151
TP-LINK TL-WR841N 802.11n300 100 2 unknown 5 dBi1390
TP-LINK TL-WR841ND 802.11n300 100 2 significant 5 dBi1551
TP-LINK TL-MR34201 + 802.11n300 100 2 significant 3 dBi1890
TP-LINK TL-WR842ND1 802.11n300 100 2 significant 5 dBi1990
TP-LINK TL-WR941ND 802.11n300 100 3 significant 3 dBi2190
ASUS RT-N11P 802.11n300 100 2 unknown 5 dBi1705
ASUS RT-N12VP 802.11n300 100 2 unknown 5 dBi1853
ASUS RT-N12 802.11n300 100 2 significant 5 dBi2085
D-link DIR-300 802.11g54 100 1 significant 2 dBi1194
D-link DIR-6201 3G802.11n300 100 2 unknown 3 dBi1680
D-link DIR-615 802.11n300 100 2 significant 2 dBi1794
NETGEAR JWNR2000 802.11n300 100 2 internal antennas1333

A Wi-Fi router allows several devices to support the exchange of data using Wi-Fi technology and deny access to the Internet. In other words, a router is a network device that connects to the Internet and distributes similar capabilities to other devices that connect Wi-Fi or LAN.

Which Wi-Fi router is shortest: select a router

The main role of choosing a router, of course, is its characteristics. However, no less important indicator of its value and reliability is the manufacturer. Therefore, you can buy devices manufactured by such companies as: TP-LINK, ASUS, D-link, HP. These companies produce some of the latest models of routers.

Today there are several types of cut-off standards.

  1. 802.11 a – bandwidth up to 54 Mb/s
  2. 802.11 b – speed up to 11 Mb/s
  3. 802.11 g – speed up to 54 Mb/s
  4. 802.11 n – bandwidth up to 600 Mb/s
  5. 802.11 ac – bandwidth over 1Gb/s

When choosing a Wi-Fi router, please note that it is suitable for models that comply with the 802.11 n and higher standards.

Our Top Wi-Fi routers:

1. Wi-Fi router Zyxel Keenetic 4G III

It is available in cooperation with over 70 USB modem options, which includes the most popular 3 and 4G formats for working with mobile Internet. The current router operates in 4G LTE using the CDC-Ethernet and NDIS mode.

In this case, there is no need to install special microprograms and additionally adapt the devices. You only need to connect the device to the USB port by selecting a mobile device. This will provide Internet access to all computers and devices connected to the router: via Ethernet and Wi-Fi.

If the modem crashes or freezes, it will automatically restart the connection: for which you can re-engage with your life plan.

Thanks to the Mediatek MT7620N 580 MHz processor, which has a hardware edge processor and the new NDMS 2 operating system, the router can handle mobile communications at speeds below 100 Megabits per second.

2. Wi-Fi router TP-LINK TL-WR841N

A suitable solution for work in small office spaces and cubicles. 2T2R MIMO technology makes it possible to form a boundary, which ensures high-speed information transfer. This allows you to continuously stream videos online: the brightness is not high. You can launch border games. In addition, IP telephony performs at its best.

The device supports the IEEE 802.11n standard, so you can set the wireless connection, speed and range of the signal to fifteen and five times greater than the original devices that work beyond the 11g standard.

With the help of an additional router, the speed of information transfer is 300 Megabits per second. Due to SSA technology, the likelihood of conflicts occurring during the transfer process is reduced. This results in increased productivity from the connection. The use of WPA/WPA2 encryption technologies allows for increased levels of information security.

Your building device supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup. The device has a button, next to which you can select the device for adjusting the security – QSS. The zahist can only be placed on the dartless line without pressure alone. Then WPA2 security will be automatically installed. This is an additional benefit: there is no need to remember the password.

In addition, the IP QoS function of the network can increase the capacity of the building, and rationalize traffic according to the user's instructions. This is separated by programs that are currently of less importance, so that the stench does not overwhelm the boundary.
The installation and configuration of the network is available, subject to the following information: the router package includes a disk with clear instructions on how to perform the manipulation.

3. Wi-Fi router Asus RT-N12 VP

The purpose of the richly functional droneless router Asus RT-N11P is a robot in home and small office spaces.

This will help ensure high-speed transmission through a drone-free connection. This speed allows you to comfortably play online games, stream video, and use Internet telephony.

The device is easy to set up, and there is no evidence that the user has any evidence of it.

4. Wi-Fi router TP-LINK TL-WR941ND

Before installing the Zyxel Keenetic III Internet center, you must ensure reliable and manual connection of home devices to the Internet, IP TV, services provided by providers through video lines with any connection types: IPoE, PPPoE , PPTP, L2TP, 802.1X, VLAN 802.1Q, IPv4/IPv6.

The device will provide the new Swiss regime at tariff ranges below 100 megabits per second, the type of connection and the nature of the connection are not significant.

Thanks to the use of proprietary technologies Link Duo and TV Port, one-hour access to the Internet and local services is possible.

The device can be connected to dozens of USB modems in 3G/4G formats. You can use a DSL modem, a provider's PON terminal, an Ethernet port, a provider's Wi-Fi hotspot, or anything else.

5. Wi-Fi router Apple AirPort Express (MC414RU/A)

This building device will save power, connected to the molding of dart-free hems for home or small office spaces.

The router works best with Wi-Fi. This possibility is provided by the support of current Wi-Fi standards: 802.11 n at two frequencies – 2.4 and 5 GHz. You can immediately vikoristovat insult two ranges. The device allows you to create a separate guest network: the password for the main network will be revealed to the owner.

It is possible to organize a separate access and border printer. It is necessary to add the necessary equipment to the rosette before installing it.

Possible sleeping access that connects computers on tables, portable drives and digital media.

What you need to pay attention to when choosing a Wi-Fi router

2. Router and DHCP server. The router will provide access to all connected devices to the Internet. In this case, the DHCP server assigns its internal IP address. This allows multiple connected devices to access the Internet using the same external IP address.

3. Radius dii. When choosing a router, you need to pay special attention to the radius of your router. It’s up to you to stay where you can access the Internet device. However, it is necessary to ensure that the data on the radius of the device, as determined by the generator, are far from accurate and may differ from the actual capabilities of a number of times. This is due to the fact that developers demonstrate the capabilities of the router, focusing on ideal external minds, which are actually practically impossible to achieve. Factors that affect the radius of the router without a person, starting with the partitions and walls of the apartment and ending with home furniture. It is necessary to restore them for the greatest possible future development of the structure.

4. Anteni. The effectiveness of the router depends on the number of antennas installed on the new one. The larger the antennas, the greater the speed of the Internet. So, a router that has only one antenna, behind it, both receives and transmits data. In this case, when third-party devices are connected, the transmission speed will inevitably drop in order to ensure the normal operation of the router. The presence of two antennas allows the device to use one of them for receiving and the other for transmitting data. In this case, the Internet connection speed is no longer consistently high. If I install three antennas, then two of them are directly used for data transmission, and one is used for reception. The maximum number of antennas on the device can be up to 6. It is important that the selected router has the ability to replace antennas with larger ones. In this way, you can operate your Internet connection more and more quickly, using more powerful types of antennas.

5. Encryption of data. Encrypting data is the most important part of keeping your Internet connection secure. Unauthorized connections before the limit can significantly reduce Internet speed. Almost all modern routers use two methods of data encryption: WPA and WEP. The most important of them is WPA.

6. USB slot. The manifestation of this possibility is not obligatory. You can use Vicoristan to connect various devices to the router, such as a printer, flash drive, or hard drive. It is therefore possible to transfer files on these devices to other users connected to Wi-Fi.

7. Connecting a 3G modem to a Wi-Fi router. The USB interface does not yet guarantee the ability to connect to a router or the ability to connect to a G-modem. Not all routers have this capability. The need obviously lies in the inability of some clients to connect to a landline provider. In addition, 3G is an insurance option in case of problems with standard connections.

8. ADSL connections. If you are connected to ADSL Internet, select a router that supports this type of connection. In this case, there is no need to install an ADSL modem to gain additional functionality.

9. Number of ports on the router. The largest access point includes 4 Ethernet ports. This makes it possible to connect a number of devices to the Internet using additional dart monitoring. Such devices could be a receiver, a desktop computer, or a TV. At the same time, this will result in the loss of the ability to use vicor and drone-free connections. However, if you need to remember that connecting to an additional cable is more reliable and faster. Therefore, for stationary buildings it is better to use this same look.

10. Fluidity of ports. Providers generally provide Internet speed up to 100 Mb/s. However, the time is just around the corner when this display will amount to hundreds of Mb/s. In fact, it’s better to buy that device that supports gigabit limits. So then choose a router whose port speed is set to 1000 Mb/s. Let us not allow ourselves to be deprived of what is needed and relevant for another hour. This recommendation is given only to those koristuvachs who use the Internet to the maximum. Others may be satisfied with the completely bad 100 Mb/s. Web-interface This will help you set up the device using an additional browser. This means that the customized menu will look like a website.

11. Router firmware. The possibility of firmware is practically available for all router models. This ability allows you to eliminate obvious problems in the robot, as well as improve the efficiency and handiness of the device. Therefore, when choosing a router, pay attention to how easily it can be reflashed and how often new firmware is released for it. When choosing any router, you need to carefully consider the selection of great minds. The models of routers that are included in the top may simply not be suitable for the specific situation in which the smell is encountered. It is also necessary to remember that it is better to buy an inexpensive router that is of high speed (as a rule, it is sufficient for basic work on the Internet), but will ensure stable and reliable work. The shortest router is definitely guilty of the security and safety criteria of unauthorized connections to the limit.

Video about how to choose the right Wi-Fi router:

The flight is fast and it used to be “cool” if you have a stationary computer and an Internet connection, but now it’s already a daily occurrence. Most everyday homes are already without electronic devices, such as laptops (netbooks), edge-to-edge TVs, tablets, smartphones, edge printers. This is why the question “How to connect all your devices to the Internet?” and the continuing question “How to choose and buy a Wi-Fi router for your home?” comes up very early on.

Most people go to the store and buy the cheapest devices, but are immediately faced with a number of inconveniences that we have never even thought about, for example, the router is less fluid, constantly freezes, gets very hot, and the post lags. It’s really torn, or it’s burning, the provider is encouraged to connect this device.

We will try to help you choose the right router for your home, depending on what characteristics you need to pay attention to.

What kind of device is a “router”?

A router (English router, Russian translation - “router”) is an electronic device that combines two or more layers and handles the routing process. On the basis of information about the topology of the network and the establishment of rules, decisions are made about the forwarding of network layer packets between different segments of the network. In our case, the router is responsible for connecting two networks – the global Internet network and our local home network.

It should be noted that the name “router” is used in popular searches and, apparently, in everyday speech it is used much more often than “router”.

What do you need to know about Wi-Fi before choosing a router for your home?

Most home devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.) can be connected at least via a Wi-Fi interface, so we are talking about a Wi-Fi router.

Let's look at the main Wi-Fi standards.

The capture of data behind the Wi-Fi standard can be in several ranges. The main ranges are presented below:

  • 2.4 GHz (the most popular, because in most cases there are strong variations, which can negatively affect the speed of data transmission. At the same time, the work in this range is supported by most current gadgets. When the device is labeled vikorista "2");
  • 5 GHz (less popular. Many providers use this band to supply the Internet, so it’s impossible to work behind a wired interface. Some current devices support this range. I’ll install a band before the marking time. "5" is used).

There are also devices for operation in other ranges (for example, 3 GHz or 900 MHz). But 99% of home devices do not support such frequencies.

Data transmission via Wi-Fi follows the latest standards. The table shows the main characteristics that you need to consider when choosing a Wi-Fi router:

Standard Range Maximum transmission speed, Mbit/sec Features
channel is real
802.11a 5 GHz 108 40 sensitive until the end
802.11b 2.4 GHz 11 5 use old devices
802.11g 2.4 GHz 54 24
802.11n 2.4 GHz,
5 GHz
150 55 with 1 antenna
300 110 with 2 antennas
450 165 with 3 antennas
600 220 with 4 antennas
802.11ac 5 GHz 433-6770 over 200 lie under several antennas.

The remaining standard (802.11ac) began to be introduced in 2014. We need to register first to connect to the provider. Although, regardless of this, some top models of phones and tablets already support it. Most phones and tablets that support the 802.11n standard require only one WiFi antenna, so their maximum real speed is 55 Mbit/s.

The table of standards is presented in the order in which they appeared. New standards may turn into madness, then. If your laptop uses the 802.11b standard, you can normally connect to an 802.11n Wi-Fi router, but in this case the speed of data exchange will be no more than 11 Mbit/sec. Make sure that at this time the entire access point switches to this mode, then. All subscriber devices will use the 802.11b standard.

WiFi speed is not at the expense of Internet speed, otherwise the router will “reduce” the speed. Please note that if the WiFi speed of your laptop (tablet) is lower than that of your WiFi router and the Internet, then your device will have a problem with reduced speed. Wired speed (via Lan port) is equal to lower WiFi.

Does your Wi-Fi router need an external antenna?

Every WiFi router uses one or more antennas, but they can be external (with a gain factor of 1.5-5 dBi, more often – 2 dBi) or internal (with a gain factor of 1-1.5 dBi). Please note that when the device is connected to the WiFi router, 2 transmission channels are created - from the router to the device (Rx) and from the device to the router (Tx). Most often, the problem lies in another channel, since the transmission effort to the device is significantly less, and the signal, for example, from the smartphone simply does not reach the router.

The WiFi signal is very weak when passing through the walls, and there may be such a situation that the smartphone router “blows up”, but we cannot connect (another channel is not created). This should be taken into account when choosing the installation location for the WiFi router - if installed correctly, the WiFi zone will be throughout the entire apartment.

Following on from the above, when choosing a WiFi router for a wake-up call with an external antenna or an internal difference in the speed of the Internet, you will not be disappointed, only with an internal antenna it will fit better into your home internet. r. It’s important to choose the right place for the router.

Routers can also support MIMO technology when multiple streams are created to increase the throughput of drone-free traffic. In practice, there are devices with MIMO 2x2, at least 3x3 and 4x4. It should be noted that all the bandwidth (either roughly or quickly) is shared between all subscribers, such as connections. MIMO technology is superior and significantly increases the speed with a large number of subscriber devices.

In the simplest way, the total strength of Wi-Fi (Y) of the device is calculated using the formula:

Y dB = P dBm + G dBi,

de P dBm - transmission intensity in dBm (lower in the table it is converted from mW).
G dBi – antenna gain coefficient in dBi.

mW 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 200 300 500 750 1000 1500
dBm 10 13 14.8 16 17 17.8 18.5 19 19.5 20 23 24.8 27 28.8 30 31.8

For example: TP-LINK TL-WR841ND has external antennas with a gain factor of 5dBi and a transmission of 100 mW, the total gain is 25dB. MikroTik RB951G-2HnD has internal antennas with a gain coefficient of 2.5dBi and a transmission of 1000mW, the total gain is 32.5dB.

At the same time, the router with an internal antenna has a larger radius than the external one. Please note, most Wi-Fi routers have a connector for connecting an external antenna.

Wi-Fi protection

The radius of this fence is not limited to your apartment, which allows other people to deny access to your fence. To protect your network from attackers, you need to configure your router accordingly.

Most routers use the following data encryption standards:

  • WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), a global standard. Merezha already has a lot of programs for evil Wi-Fi, stolen by the CIM standard;
  • WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) – keys for encryption up to 128 bits are selected (TKIP technology);
  • WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access version 2) – encryption keys up to 256 bits are selected (AES technology).

For greater security, you can choose to filter the MAC address or the received SSID mode. Most routers have these methods.

Some models may have the WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) function (on TP-Link devices it is called QSS (Quick Security Setup)) - setting up a drone-free system with this technology takes a minimum of an hour and costs only I don't want to get stuck in setting up the router.

There are 2 types of connection for this function:

  • hardware - the WPS button is pressed for a few seconds on the router and on the device that is being connected, and after a full hour (up to 2 minutes) the devices themselves connect. From now on, connections will be made automatically;
  • program - when connected to the device that is being connected, you need to enter the PIN code that is on the router label, and let the connection wizard perform all the necessary setup itself. Finally, you will need to remember (or install your own) WPA2 key. You will use this key when connecting other devices to the access point.

Previously, in the first versions of this function, the security level was even lower. Now it has been further examined and, as their authors sing, for the evil one to spend close to fate. Before using this feature, be careful and only show your PIN to people you trust. If this PIN code becomes visible to a third party, then disable this function and set up the drone-free system manually, as required.

Eco-friendly Wi-Fi

To date, the impact of Wi-Fi on the human body has not been monitored, but there is a lot of information about this problem. To change the flow, use the function to change the transmission tension. Most routers have a transmission intensity level set to high, medium, low. In Mikrotik routers, you can adjust the transmission intensity, which allows you to ensure the least effort of transmission and at the same time a stable Internet.

What do you need to take care of when connecting your router to a global network?

Depending on the interface connecting to the global network (WAN port), routers can be divided into:

  • xDSL Wi-Fi routers (connections to the provider's network are part of the xDSL family of technologies, for example, the Ukrtelecom operator uses ADSL technology. The maximum transmission speed for the ADSL2+ standard is 24 Mbit/s)
  • 3G/4G Wi-Fi routers (draft-free connections are supported. Maximum connection speed to Intertelecom using EVDO-B technology is 14 Mbit/s).
  • Ethernet Wi-Fi router (when connected to the Internet, a twisted pair cable is used. Maximum bandwidth when connected to the Fast Ethernet standard is 100 Mbit/s, Gigabit Ethernet - 1 Gbit/s)
  • SFP Wi-Fi routers (connections are via fiber optic cable and bandwidth can reach 1 Gbit/s)
  • EPON/GEPON/GPON Wi-Fi routers (connections are supported by the PON measure. The technology for connecting the private sector, villages and cottages is rapidly developing. Widthiness with vicarious EPON technology (GEPON/GPON) is up to 1 G bit/s, 10GEPON - up to 10 Gbit /With)
  • DOCSIS Wi-Fi routers (connection can be made via TV cable. Maximum bandwidth with the selected EuroDOCSIS 2.0 technology: data reception 50 Mbit/s, transmission – 27 Mbit/s)
  • Wi-Fi router (connection to the provider is made through a drone-free interface).
  • universal Wi-Fi routers (which allow you to connect to a variety of technologies).

Let's take a closer look at the Ethernet Wi-Fi router. This is due to the fact that with other technologies, the provider supplies its own devices, and the subscriber chooses from specific models. Most often, and at the most reliable, the subscriber is given a subscriber device without Wi-Fi with 1 Ethernet output (for example, GEPON network is supported by XDK E8010U-B and ZTE F401) and the subscriber connects the Ethernet Wi-Fi router to this device .

It is important to remember that the “twisted pair”, when the cable passes along the street, is even vulnerable to the influx of atmospheric factors (thunderstorm, static) and even often during the hour of a thunderstorm the WAN port burns out. Most routers have only 1 such port, so the router is sent for repair or repair. To protect the port, we recommend using a lightning protector for twisted pairs.

It should also be noted that in Mikrotik Wi-Fi routers for the home you can select either a WAN port or a number of ports, which allows you to simultaneously connect to several providers to increase connection speed and stability news on the Internet.

Router hardware.

A router is the same minicomputer. The main characteristics to be considered are the processor frequency and the amount of RAM. As when choosing a computer, the greater the characteristics, the better, and the higher the price.

If you need the Internet with a speed of up to 50 Mbit/s, you don’t crave torrents too much, don’t spend a lot of hours in intensive games, then you can use up the processor frequency of 300 MHz and 32 MB of RAM. Otherwise, you will need a stronger router.

Most routers have a number of LAN ports for connecting wired home devices. If you have a fast Internet (over 80 Mbit/s), or you like to play games over a local network, or just want a gigabit network, then you need a router with Gigabit Ethernet ports (for example, MikroTik RB951G-2HnD). Otherwise, Fast Ethernet ports (up to 100 Mbit/s) will be sufficient.

Router security software.

Each router has a special software program installed, often called “firmware”.

Є 2 approaches to PZ routers:

  • for the skin model, you create your own security program (available on most routers);
  • Security software is created for an entire line (series) of devices.

The skin approach has its advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage of the first approach is that it allows for the most efficient allocation of resources. Let us know that new protocols, opportunities, and amendments to the PZ are constantly emerging, so they may be updated from time to time. These same providers will soon switch to new protocols. It often happens that the distributor has new promising models and the software of older models needs to be developed (refined, upgraded), and the subscriber needs to buy a new router. We can help you with alternative firmware, which is often more feasible, but remember that choosing alternative firmware will void the warranty on the router, and may also cause problems with the device (be sure to read the instructions about firmware). Before speaking, the popularity of the model can be judged by the availability of alternative firmware and the frequency of updating the original firmware. Versions of original firmware can be viewed on the manufacturer’s website in the “Technical support” section. To find out if alternative firmware is available, search for “alternative firmware [model name]”. There are a large number of alternative firmwares that talk about the problems and wastage of the original software.

The advantages of the other approach are that the security software is constantly updated and is more functional. So, for example, the routers of the company MikroTik have a proprietary operating system, RouterOS, which allows you to use routers of the cob level (for home, such as MikroTik hAP lite, Mikrotik mAP 2n, MikroTik RB951 series). news of professional ownership.

Most current routers support all popular protocols and can work with any provider. Before purchasing, we recommend that you find out about your provider so that you can purchase one, since there is no smell with these models.

Additional functions and capabilities of WiFi routers.

Additional functions and capabilities of WiFi routers can be added:


Don’t marry the useless function of your router, because you may not be victorious at all, and the price of a richly functional device is significant. Moreover, this function creates additional pressure on the router, which reduces the productivity of the router.

What else do you need to pay attention to when choosing a Wi-Fi router for your home?

The router needs to fit in well with your home internet. For example, the Mikrotik mAP 2n WiFi router has an elegant appearance and compact size (less igniter). What a wonderful solution for the apartment.


P.S. Mikrotik is a Latvian company (the head office is located in Riga), which was founded in 1995 to develop drone-free routers and ISP systems. Installation of Mikrotik is highly sensitive and is supported by Internet providers, companies and individual providers around the world.

Copying of the material is subject to the presence of active submission to the site.