ARouterpronounced commonly as Row-ter (Row pronounced as cow),is a device that forwardsdatabetweencomputer networks. A router is connected to two or more data lines from different networks. When data comes in on one of the lines, the router reads the address info in the packet to determine its ultimate destination. Then, using information in itsrouting policy, it directs the packet to the next network on its journey. Simply speaking, Routers perform the “traffic directing” functions on theInternet.
In todays Internet era, Each individual has a need to stay connected, be it their home, office or business place. Thus, the installation of good quality Router is a must, as it is not a practically possible to devote a separate network line for each individual.
There are a plethora of routing devices available in the market, and it is a difficult task to choose the one that suits you the most. This article will help you zero down upon the one which suits your requirement from the best available in the marketplace today by giving you a quick overview on them. Read on.
Price Starting from : $127
Pros:
- Stylish and compact
- Reliable and long range performance
- Intuitive web interface
- Well thought out storage feature.
- Comparatively fast and convenient to use.
Cons:
- Sluggish interface
- Does not support the new industry standard triple stream 450 Mbps wireless speed.
The bottom line: The Asus RT-N56U is arguably one of the best true dual-band 300Mbps home routers on the market.
Price Starting from : $99
Pros:
- True dual band router
- Fast throughput
- Gigabit Ethernet
- Long Range
- Good web interface
- Intuitive software design promotes ease of use; suitable for home users
- Aesthetically pleasing design
Cons:
- Built in network storage function lacks speed.
- Limited usability of the guest networking feature
- No support for USB printers
- Media server does not suit large video files.
The bottom line: The Linksys E3000 is the one of the first advanced routers that’s also easy to use for novices. It boasts of superb wireless performance and has a good set of useful networking features. But, its below par NAS performance and limited guest networking feature make it significantly less than perfect, however.
3. Netgear WNDR3700 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router
Price Starting from : $99
Pros:
- True dual Band
- Pleasing wireless performance
- Great bunch of available networking features
- Innovative features set includes guest zone, network storage and a traffic monitor.
- Intuitive web interface.
Cons:
- Network storage function lacks speed
- 5Ghz performace not as good as wed like.
- Traffic meter feature is not robust.
The bottom line: The Netgear WNDR3700 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router is a great dual-band router for networking enthusiasts who also want a quick and easy network storage solution.
Price Starting from : $155
Pros:
- True dual band with blazing speeds of upto 450 Mbps on the 5Ghz band;
- Fast throughput;
- NAS functionality;
- Good web interface;
- Ample set of networking features;
- On board software application, Cisco Connect, helps home users to set up and manage their home wireless connection without glitches.
Cons:
- 450 Mbps throughput not available on the 2.4 Ghz band.
- The included desktop application doent allow users to tinker with all of its settings.
- Requires live internet connection for Initial startup.
- The router gets hot and is bulky as well.
The bottom line: The Linksys E4200 Maximum Performance Dual-Band Wireless-N Router is the first advanced router from Cisco that will please both novice and advance users, thanks to its easy-to-use desktop application, comprehensive Web interface, nice design, and robust performance.
Price Starting from : $78
Pros:
- True Dual Band support
- Blazing wireless performance and a long range network
- Useful networking features such as Guest zone, network storage, traffic meter and USB external hard drive support for network storage.
- Good looking
- Affordable
Cons:
- No Gigabit ethernet
- Network storage performance has room for improvement.
The bottom line: The Netgear N600 Wireless Dual Band Router WNDR3400 is a awesome dual-band router that fits the bill for home usage at an affordable price. But, Its lack of Gigabit Ethernet might steer enthusiasts away, however.
Price Starting from : $120
Pros:
- Fast wireless performance
- In-built network storage
- Innovative photo frame feature
- Comprehensive list of networking capabilities
- Intuitive and responsive web interface.
- The offers fast wireless performance, built-in network storage, photo frame, and a comprehensive set of networking features. Its Web interface is responsive and intuitive.
Cons:
- Prohibitively expensive
- LCD photo frame is too small
- Lacks a hard drive.
The bottom line:The D-Link Xtreme N Storage Router DIR-685 is a very good single-band Wireless-N router; however, its extra features hardly justify its price.
Price Starting from : $58
Pros:
- True Dual Band
- User friendly Web interface
- Easy to use
- Aesthetically pleasing Design
Cons:
- No support for gigabit ethernet
- Network storage function cannot write to external hard drives formatted with the NTFS file system.
- Limited customizability of the web interfaces settings and features.
The bottom line:
The Vizio XWR100 Dual Band HD Wireless Internet Router is arguably one of the best sub-$100 wireless routers on the market, and it’s a must-have for those with network-ready home entertainment devices from Vizio.
Price Starting from : $132
Pros:
- Compact and stylish
- Stellar performer
- Good web interface which also includes Cisco Connect
Cons:
- Doesnt support the new industry standard; three stream 450 Mbps Wireless N.
- Initial setup requires live internet connection.
- Cisco connect software although a boon for home users has limited capabilities and customization features.
The bottom line: The Linksys E3200 is an excellent high-performance Wireless-N router for both novice and experienced users.
9.Linksys E1500 Wireless-N Router with SpeedBoost
Price Starting from : $69.75
Pros:
- Compact pleasing design
- Affordable
- Includes Cisco Connect
Cons:
- Lacks advanced features like Dual-band, Gigabit Ethernet and support for USB devices
- Guest networking feature can only handle a maximum of 10 users at a time.
- The bottom line: Relatively fast and very easy to use, the Linksys E1500 Wireless-N Router with SpeedBoost is a good fit for home users, especially those with little networking know-how.
Price Starting from : $84
Pros:
- HomePlug AV powerline technology supported
- Fast wireless throughput and long range
- Easy of use is something to be liked by novices and home user.
Cons:
- Only three LAN ports and no support for Advance features like Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band wireless or the 500 Mega bits per second power line standard.
- Scope of improvement in throughput and range.
- Bulky design.
The Bottom line:
Its an ideal router for a home network that favors flexibility over performance and boasts of user friendly features like Wireless-N and HomePlug AV. Its lack of support for Gigabit Ethernet, dual-band wireless, and the 500Mbps power-line standard, however, limits its purpose for those who need to share or stream a large amount of data.
Make sure to bookmark this article for the time when you wish to buy a new router or to upgrade to a better one. All the best !