Our Picks for the best wireless router

Apple Airport Extreme

Our Rating:

Voted Best Wireless Router For Mac’s by Gean-Edwards.com

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Linksys E3200

Our Rating:

Voted Best Wireless Router For Windows by Gean-Edwards.com

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Netgear N600

Our Rating:

Voted Best Budget Wireless Router by Gean-Edwards.com

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The basics behind wireless routers, features, and what to look for:

Wireless Routers is the technology that makes places like Starbucks and other small “Hotspots” so popular. The wireless router is a device that wirelessly routes the internet to any device plugged into its network, with the latest standard being 802.11n (or Wireless-N). To some, the name “Wireless Router” is considered to be deceiving because the entire device isnt wireless. In most cases the device needs to be connected via ethernet to some sort of source with a modem (unless that router has its own built in modem).

What to look for:

1. Range – Try to find a Wireless-G router. They have more range than that of Wireless-N routers, which basically means that the farther your device is away from the Wifi base, the stronger the connection will be.

2. MIMO – MIMO is an acronym for: Multiple Input, Multiple Output. This type of router is common in most local coffee shops, and households. They are equipped with multiple antennas to reduce the amount of “dead spots” (areas that don’t have a good signal).

3. Price – Look to spend about $100 on a solid Wireless Router. While you can get some for cheaper than that, consumers have complained that the cheaper Wireless-N routers suffer from alot of “dead spots” and dropped connections which resulted in them spending an additional $100 for a better Wireless Router.

4. Speed Expectations – Keep your expectations realistic. Just because you purchase a high end router, it isnt going to make your connection any faster than what your current ISP (Internet Service Provider) provides.

5. Network Requirements – Each computer that is in your network will need an adaptor of some sort in order to be able to connect. In some cases laptops (and even some desktops) already have an existing wireless networking adapter, but in most cases they don’t. If you need to purchase an additional adapter, try to buy one that is from the same manufacturer of the wireless router to keep things as compatible as possible.

6. Network Interference – Its possible to receive interference from electrical devices. Microwaves, Cellular Phones, Cordless Phones, Pacemakers all have the potential of creating interference. Check to see if your desired wireless router has dual band so that it can work well with other electrical devices without suffering from interference.