WHICH ROUTER IS THE ROUTER FOR YOU?

5 years or so ago it would be a no-brainer - any wifi router that could connect you to the Internet would be fine. But at this point and time you have to really figure out what you want this router to do.

I would suggest:

• Determine what wireless devices are G or below



• Determine how many are "N" capable



• Put it down (on paper) along with the things you want to do via wireless, and then come up with a list of potential candidates.

Everything that is 1011.b - G operates in the 2.4GHz frequency band. "N" will work there as well, however, if your "N" devices are for streaming video content, you should consider what you really require.

Most wifi routers were only 2.4GHz, but recently almost any manufacturer that makes wireless routers also have (at the higher price spectrum) dual-band routers. These are great (IMHO) because it allows laptops, etc. to operated in the 2.4GHz range, while leaving the 5GHz "N" devices to wide open spaces that transmit further with little traffic.

My wife and I use a dual-band router for the exact reasons I just mentioned. We can connect to the Internet via "G" (2.4) with our laptops, while streaming video on the "N" (5) bandwidth, and everyone is happy.

The moral of this story is to do some homework before going out to purchase a wireless router so you can make a better decision.