A router was earlier something that existed in offices but today many households have one, often wireless. What used to be something for highly skilled technicians can today be handled by most of us – even if a few settings have to be made on your computer. Connection speed is no issue for a wire connected router, but even if the wireless ones get faster and faster they still have their limitations. It is not only computers that can be connected: a printer, a scanner or an internet connection can be shared in a network – and many more devices. You just need a network connection in the device you want to connect, and if it isn’t one built-in it is easy and cheap to get one. There are even USB network flash drives that contain all necessary soft ware as well as wireless connection.

Routers can be divided into three main segments:

• Wire-connected routers. Used to be the only way to connect computers to each other. Is still a very cheap and safe way to do it, so if you can live with cables running all over the house it is a fair choice. Wire-connected system have limitations if you want to connect devices on other floors or in an outhouse in the garden.

• Wireless routers. A wireless router is of course more convenient, but not as safe as a wire-connected. So if you decide to get a wireless router do not use it without enabling one of the encrypting methods available. There have been some different standards over time, from IEEE 802.11a to IEEE 802.11g and more will follow as the demand for faster and faster connections arise. If you want to network, listen to web radio and download movies and/or music at the same time that will need a significant bandwidth. WiFi nets also have their limitations. For example, a micro wave oven and other electronic devices can disturb the network, and distance and/or walls between the transmitters weakens the signal. Normally up to 150 feet inside the house and 1 300 feet outside is no problem - but there are absolutely no guarantees.

• Routers with built-in modems. Some routers, wire-connected as well as wireless, have an internet connection, often as a dsl modem but other variations also occur. They have the same pros and cons as the ones without, but you need one less box in your system – and in my opinion it tends to too many boxes over time.

As routers come with a different number of connection sockets be sure to match it with the number of devices you want to connect. When you make the initial setting it is a good idea to disable all firewalls you have in your system.

After deciding which routers to choose between, read the tests of interesting models. If you go with a wireless system, be sure to check that all units comply with the same standard of transmission.

TIP:
If you got a printer with an Ethernet connection, and nowadays the often have one, you could make it available for the whole network via the router so that you can print from any point in your network.