What Kind of Wireless Router Do I need for Desktop Computers?: What Kind of Wireless Router Do I need for Desktop Computers?

If you would like to connect your computer(s) to the Internet wirelessly, you'll need to set up a wireless router. Wireless routers do not have to be expensive and, in most cases, you will not notice a correlation between cost and speed. Depending upon which type of computer you have, there are different wireless routers you should buy.

Check for a Wireless Card

If your computer does not have a wireless card, then you cannot connect to any router wireless. If you own an Apple Macintosh computer, then click on the Apple menu in the top left-hand corner. Choose System Preferences from the menu and click on the "Network" icon. There should be a Show menu; click it and choose the last option, which should be something similar to "Select Network Port Configurations." If you see "AirPort" listed under the port configurations, then you are good to go. If you're running Windows Vista, click the Windows button (it's round and has Microsoft's four-color flag symbol) and choose "Control Panel." From there, choose "Network and Internet," then "Network and Sharing." If you see "View Available Wireless Networks," you have a wireless card. For XP users it's much the same. Navigate to the Control Panel and click on "Network connections." If you see an icon for "Wireless Connections," you're ready to use the Internet. For Windows 7, go to the Control Panel and click "Network and Internet." Once there, click "Connect to a Network" to see wireless networks around you.

Routers for Mac Desktops

The Apple AirPort Extreme is the best wireless router for Mac computers. It syncs with Apple computers extremely well and offers many options for the advanced user. If you're not an advanced user, then the Apple AirPort Express is about $70 dollars cheaper and offers many of the same capabilities as the AirPort Extreme. These routers both allow Windows machines to connect as well.

Routers for Windows

For advanced users, one of the best routers is the Netgear WNDR3700. Consumersearch.com rated it as the "Best Reviewed Router" in January 2011. It is simple to set up and allows connections on both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bandwidths (dual band). The router allows hard-drive sharing (meaning you're allowed to write to another hard drive wireless) and is fast, especially when it's close by. It can be expensive, though, so the Cisco Valet Plus, which costs only around $85, is also an option. The Cisco Valet Plus doesn't offer dual-band connections, but it is fast and simple to set up.

Dual Band

Dual-band routers allow you to broadcast at either a frequency of 2.4Ghz or 5.0Ghz. 2.4Ghz is the most popular bandwidth, but many other wireless devices, such as cordless phones, also populate it. As such, some routers allow broadcast at 5GHz as well as 2.4Ghz with the theory being that connecting at 5Ghz will result in less interference of the signal. 5Ghz broadcasts tend not to go as far signal wise, and in some cases are not as fast as their 2.4Ghz companions, so it is not a must-have technology for now. Your computer may not even support 5Ghz connections. However, almost all routers that transmit at 5Ghz also transmit at 2.4Ghz, offering you options for the future should 5Ghz become standard.

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Tuesday, August 2, 2011

What Kind of Wireless Router Do I need for Desktop Computers?

Check for a Wireless Card

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