Wireless Router is a network device that works for the wireless local area networks and they join the wired and wireless network together. The basic function of a router is to connect two logically and physically different networks and it operates at the network layer of the OSI model. Wired and wireless routers filter the traffic by means of the IP addresses. Router uses IP address, packet header and the routing table to sort out the packets and determine the best shortest possible path for a packet to be delivered to the destination. A typical WLAN router has four built inn Ethernet ports and 802.11 access points. A WLAN router can be used for the multiple purposes such as IP address sharing, connect multiple networks, improved network performance, improved network management and enhanced security features.
How Router Works
Router communicates based on the IP addresses. Every network device or computer that is a part of the local or wide area network is assigned a unique IP address. The router routes the packets towards the destination based on the IP address of the destination device or computer. Router has the built-in software called the routing table, which contains the information of the source and destination devices (next hop). A router can filter any message that is sent through the network. Routing table may have a huge collection of the IP addresses, but router decides that where the message is meant to and only sends the message to its destination. As the number of number of routers and switches in network or the number of networks grow, the routing table also populates but the basic function of the routing table remains the same i.e. sorting of the message and deliver of the message only to the destination. Internet is a largest network in the world and it uses thousands of routers to connect with each other and then form a huge network.
Configurations
1. Connect your desktop PC with the Ethernet port of the router via Ethernet cable.
2. Connect your DSL cable to the WAN port of the router.
3. Turn on your PC, DSL Modem and Router.
4. On your computer open the web browser and type the router’s default IP address. You can find this IP address in the router’s manual.
5. When you see the routers configuration screen, you can set the SSID (service set identifier), WEP, DNS and DHCP settings.
6. Set the SSID administrative login/password to a non-default value to improve the security.
7. Enable DHCP so that wired and wireless clients as well as network devices such as switches, Routers, PDAs, Printers, PC and laptops can get IP address from the router.
Wireless Router Reviews
Some of the best wireless routers are as following.
1. Linksys WRT54GS Wireless Router
2. Belkin (F5D7230-4) Wireless Kit (F5D7230V4SNPDQ)
3. Linksys WRT54GL Wireless Router
4. Linksys WRT54GC Wireless Router
5. Linksys Wireless-G WRT54GX4 Router (WRT54GX4-CA)
6. D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G
7. Buffalo G54 AirStation