In a previous article, we discussed modems and their essential function for accessing the internet. In this article, we will talk about routers, modems’ internet connection cousin, and how they help you get all of your devices online and talking to other devices on the world wide web.
A router, in the simplest manner of speaking, routes information between devices. They are, for all intents and purposes, the air traffic controllers of the internet. Routers ensure that information reaches its final destination. Routers perform this function using Internet Protocol, or IP, addresses. The discussion on IP addresses can be a long one. For the function of this article, it is really only important to understand that an IP address is unique within a network. Your smartphone, printer, computer, smart TV, tablet, desktop computer, all have a unique IP address that your router uses to send and receive information.
Here is a simple diagram of where the router sits with respect to the other devices withing your home network. Keep in mind, this is all a two-way street. Your smartphone, TV, and computer request information (your Facebook news feed, a Netflix stream, and a webpage, respectively), and the internet, so to speak, returns it:
The important thing to know here is that your home devices are connecting directly to your router, and vice versa. When you connect to a wi-fi network on your cell phone or computer, you are connecting to your router!
Wired vs. Wireless Routers
In 2021, almost every router can deliver internet via both wired and wireless connections. If you want to connect a device via a wired connection, you will need to physically connect an ethernet (internet) cable to your device. With the advances made in wireless router technology in recent years, the advantage of plugging-in devices has decreased, however, there are still a handful of devices we connect to our router in our personal networks. For example, Admin connects his smart TV, video game consoles, and desktop/gaming PC via wired connections to get the most out of his internet in those devices. Smartphones, laptops, printers, and everything else are connected via wireless internet.
How to Connect a Modem to a Router
Unless you are using a gateway, which has both a modem and a router in a single device, you will need to use an ethernet cable to connect your modem to your router. Most routers have a port on the back labeled Internet or WLAN (which is another name for the internet), and sometimes it is even colored yellow to indicate where to make this physical connection.
Chances are, your modem will only have one port where the internet cable will physically plug into. Here’s a simple diagram from one of our favorite Motorola modems:
Connect to your Router What is an SSID or Network Name?
SSID stands for Service Set Identifier, but it really is just a fancy way to say, “your network’s name.” All routers will have pre-configured network names, usually one for each network (band) the router supports. Usually, a default password will be shared and used for all the router’s networks, assuming it is a multi-band router. You can find this information on the back or side of the router.
The best part is, most routers these days are smart enough that if you plug in an active internet connection and their power cord, you can login to one of the networks using the SSID and password on the router and off you go!
Which Network Should I connect to, 2.4 or 5 GHz?
There are two predominant bands in wi-fi, 2.4 and 5 gigahertz (GHz). The two bands have two key differences – range and speed, respectively. The range of the 2.4 GHz band far surpasses 5 GHz and has the ability to pass through solid objects like brick walls. The trade-off is speed, where 5 GHz internet has a big advantage. The maximum theoretical speed of the 2.4 GHz band is around 750 Mbps. The 5 GHz band can achieve up to 1300 Mbps. Keep in mind, though, that these are theoretical speed limits, and the observed speeds are lower.
Another advantage of 5 GHZ is less interference. On the 2.4 GHz band, there are 11 channels. The most used channels are 1, 6, and 11, because they don’t overlap with other channels, which means less interference. But your router isn’t the only device vying for attention on the 2.4 GHz band. Bluetooth devices, baby monitors, garage door openers, and yes, even your microwave operate on the 2.4 GHz band. Here’s an interesting article on that.
5 GHz, on the other hand, has very little non-wi-fi interference, and 24 non-overlapping channels. Without getting too far into the specifics, more channels equal more speed and less interference. Good things, right?
Single- vs. Dual- vs. Tri-Band Routers
When we say band here, we’re talking about signal bands, also known as radio wavelengths or frequencies. Routers that are single band can only broadcast in either 2.4 or 5 gigahertz (GHz) frequencies, though these are becoming less common. Today, most routers are dual band, which means they broadcast two separate networks, one in the 2.4 GHz frequency and another in the 5 GHz frequency. A dual-band router will work great for everyone except niche users or businesses. At the upper end of router price points one can find tri-band routers. These devices broadcast 3 separate networks simultaneously, typically in a configuration where there are two 5 GHz bands and one 2.4 GHz band. A tri-band router would only be necessary if you need to have a lot of devices connected to a single wi-fi router, such as an office setting.
What do the AC0000/AX0000 Letters and Numbers Mean When Shopping?
Those letters simply indicate that what version of router you are buying. 802.11AC is the standard for Wi-Fi 5 and is the most common wireless internet standard in the US. When shopping, you may also notice that some routers are being listed with the letters AX before their number. AX refers to 802.11AX, and its common name is Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 6 is considered the next generation of wireless internet communication standard. It’s unclear how long it will take Wi-Fi 6 to become predominant, but it’s a safe bet that it will be within the next 1-2 years.
Now for the numbers. The numbers refer to the maximum speed, in megabits, of the router in laboratory settings, and is the sum of ALL the router’s bands. An AC1200 router might have 1000 Mbps maximum speed for its 5 GHz band, and 200 Mbps on its 2.4 GHz band. In theory, the higher the number, the faster the router, but real-world speeds are often below what is advertised, and devices can only connect to a single band at time. An AC3200 will almost certainly be faster than an AC1750 router, but how much faster it will be is hard to tell.
A good example of this would be a tri-band router rated at AC4000. Each of the 5 GHz bands can go up to 1,625 Mbps for a total of 3,250 Mbps, and the 2.4 GHz band is rated up to 750 Mbps. These three bands add up to a total of 4,000 Mbps. But here is why you’ll never see 4,000 Mbps in real life:
- You don’t live in a lab. You can’t control for interference, completely eliminate walls, and use only premium equipment in testing.
- No matter how fast your router’s total rating, devices can only communicate on 1 band at a time. This means the maximum you can achieve on any single device is 1,625 Mbps.
- Your internet will on be as fast as your internet plan and your modem allows. Most internet service providers don’t offer anything faster than Gigabit (1000 Mbps) internet, which is already less than a single channel of 5 GHz (1,625 Mbps) on our sample router.
Beamforming Explained
Beamforming is an important concept to understand when shopping for a router, because not all routers currently support it. Traditionally, routers would blanket an area with a signal. In all directions, the strength of the signal and its effective radius would be equal. The closer you were to the source of the signal, the stronger it was, the faster the internet. As you move away from the source of the signal, the signal strength decreases and so does the speed of the internet. This will always be true, no matter how advanced routers or wireless technology becomes. Beamforming is a relatively recent technology, circa 2006, that can physically detect where a connected device is and direct more signal power in that direction, greatly increasing the radius of traditional routers. Different manufacturers call it different names, likely thought up by their marketing departments, but they all refer to it as some type of beamforming. To get an idea of what this looks like, here’s a photo from Network World:
Where to Place your Router in Your Home
Let’s face it, most people buy routers because they blanket your home in the warm glow of wi-fi. In fact, we’re going to wager a guess that most households don’t have any devices connected via wired internet. Let’s assume, like most people, that you want to maximize your wi-fi coverage in your home without buying TOO much router. There are a lot of factors that go into where to place your router in your home. We’ll try to cover as many as we can, without going too far down the rabbit hole.
1. Figure out how large a space you need the wi-fi to cover. If you live in a 500 sq. ft. studio, then just about any router is going to get the job done. This logic works until your home exceeds more than one story or is more than 1,000 sq. ft. Basically, the more walls, floors, and distance the signal needs to cover, the more expensive your router will need to be, which also affects where you place it. Ideally, you should place your router as close to the center of your home as possible, and away from other technology to limit interference.
2. Figure out where you live. Do you live in an apartment building where everybody else’s router will be competing with yours? If so, then a 2.4 GHz router might not do the job due to congestion on its frequencies. Does your internet service plan only go up to 50 Mbps? The theoretical speed limit of the 2.4 GHz band is around 750 Mbps, so a tri-band router with an overall speed of AC4000 Mbps is probably overkill.
3. Figure out your budget. More money means a router that supports quicker speeds and more powerful antennas to broadcast your wi-fi to that far away corner bedroom without a significant loss in speed. Also, newer routers support newer security features such as WPA3, and newer connection technologies like Wi-Fi 6/802.11ax. Keep balance in mind, though. Just because a router supports all the newest technologies don’t mean that your existing devices can take advantage of the advances. Unless your iPhone is an 11 or newer, it does not support Wi-Fi 6/ 802.11ax. Also, many smart TV’s do not currently support Wi-Fi 6, so it may be advantageous to wait for more mainstream adoption before splashing the cash.
4. Figure out your level of comfort with technology. Mesh wi-fi systems are catching on. Mesh wi-fi means that you broadcast a single wireless network across your home using multiple devices as repeaters. Because the devices are spread out, the signal covers more area, and these solutions are marketed for homes up to 5,800 sq. ft. Admittedly, our experience with mesh wi-fi is limited. Generally, these systems are either suspiciously cheap or very expensive, which is a sign to us to stick with traditional routers until mesh wi-fi technology matures.
So, Which Router Should I Buy?
Since early 2021, AC routers have fallen in price drastically while AX routers take their place. At the time of writing, we are seeing some seriously powerful routers that far outpace most people’s use cases for great bargains. Tech Topics Explained loves a great deal, so while most of our recommendations below are from the AX, Wi-Fi 6 class of routers, be on the lookout for deals. A top-of-the-line AC router that is deeply discounted will easily keep pace or outperform most AX routers for a few years to come until the price premium of having an AX router falls in line. Having said as much, a top-of-the-line AX router will run laps around a top-of-the-line AC router, if your budget allows.
While our online store isn’t setup to recommend individual products, it will be soon, so keep an eye out. For now, use these rough guidelines:
1 Person, Normal Use, 3-5 internet connected devices, 500-1200 sq. ft. apartment or house – AC1750 dual-band router, budget $50-$70
2 People, Video Streaming and Non-Intense Gaming, 6-10 devices, 500-1300 sq. ft. apartment or house – AX1800 dual-band router, budget $80-$100
3 People, Video Streaming and Non-Intense Gaming, 9-15 devices, 1000-2000 sq. ft. apartment or house, 1-2 floors – AX3000 dual-band router / AC2400-3000, budget $100-$140
4 People, Video Streaming and Non-Intense Gaming, up to 40 devices, up to 2500 sq. ft., 3 floors – AX4000+, budget $140-$200
More than $200 is going to get you a serious router if you are a gamer, rely on heavy internet usage, or you just want one because it’s cool.
After these points, the calculation becomes a little bit tougher. If you have a large family and a large house, or are into gaming and require the latest and greatest, you will likely need to spend more money. Another alternative is to physically connect your gaming console or PC to your router, which will save you some money because your router’s wireless capabilities won’t need to be as intense, and provide a better gaming experience overall because no matter how good wireless internet gets, it will likely never catch up with the speed of an ethernet cable.
We hope you enjoyed this article! It is a huge topic, and this just scratched the surface. We hope to go into more depth in future articles, but we needed to lay the groundwork for router basics. Please let us know if there are specific topics you would like to see expanded upon and we will try to get to those first!
-Admin