What is the best wifi router for home. How to choose a router: everything you can and cannot save on

Good fast Internet at home starts with a router. It is without this device that it is difficult to imagine a modern apartment or private house with access to the World Wide Web. Before purchasing such equipment, we recommend that you look at the ratings of routers to be absolutely sure that you will be satisfied with the purchase.

The variety of assortment makes one's eyes wide open

The niche of the modern market occupied by routers and routers is truly crowded. It is very difficult for an unprepared buyer to understand which router is worthy of his attention and will quickly recoup the funds invested in it. Therefore, before you part with your money and finally buy a good, modern router for yourself, it is worth studying the main characteristics by which you can determine whether this product is suitable for you or not, and, of course, evaluate the rating of WiFi routers, which describe best models.

Learning to choose a router

First, let's figure out what a router or router is. If we talk in simple words, this is a special device that provides you with access to the Internet from a computer, tablet or laptop, or even from a phone that has a WiFi function.

A good router does not have to be expensive; often the rating of routers suitable for use at home includes exactly those devices that suit the majority of consumers both in price and quality. It will be much easier for you to choose a router if you are familiar with their characteristics:

• Specifications: a good router for home should have enough random access memory(at least 64 MB), at least 16 MB FLASH memory and a modern processor from 300 MHz. If you want to install one unit of such equipment in a large apartment or house, choose a model that has more than one antenna, because the quality of access in rooms remote from the location of the router depends on the power.
• Price is an equally important indicator. Don’t think that there is no difference between the cheapest and more expensive routers. Cheap models not only have low-quality components, but also the created WiFi coverage area is quite miniature. But you shouldn’t try to purchase the most expensive model if, for example, you have a small apartment and the maximum speed from the provider is low.
• Manufacturer's name: Well-established brands produce routers in different price categories to meet the needs of customers with different ability to pay. But there are also brands, for example, D-Link, which offer only budget routers, the reliability of which is not as high as, for example, models from Linksys. Their price is comparatively higher than that of the above brand. The ranking of best-selling routers in our country also includes such manufacturers as TP-Link (offers budget but high-quality routers), Asus (one of the world leaders in sales, including products such as routers) and Zyxel (produces many models of different prices, some of which are superior in parameters to analogues in their price categories).
• Standards: There is such a thing as the WiFi standard. The newest standard is 802.11n. If you are offered a router with the 802.11g or even 802.11b standard, you should not buy such a model, because it is already considered outdated.
• Access protocols: A brand new router just brought from the store may not work with the Internet access protocol offered by your provider. Therefore, you need to clarify the access protocol with the provider in advance and use it to select a model that will support it.
• Technology for connecting to the World Wide Web: each router has a WAN port; it is to this that the cable that supplies the Internet to the house or apartment is connected. Compare the Internet cable and the input in the router before purchasing.

Different ratings with different criteria

• Rating of multifunctional WiFi routers, which are considered ideal for home use.
• Rating of the best routers depending on price:

a) the best budget models;

b) the best models at an average price.

• Rating of the best mobile routers.
• Rating of the best routers of 2016 from the most popular manufacturers:

b) decent routers from D-link;

c) the best TP-link routers.

“Multifunctional” rating of routers in 2016 that are worth purchasing for home use

Since modern houses and apartments have approximately the same characteristics (characteristics of structures used for construction materials), the models presented below that are included in the rating are suitable for both a private house and an apartment in a high-rise building.

WiFi mini

Modern, stylish, high-quality - this model deserves all these epithets. It was included in the 2016 router rating due to the fact that it supports the most modern transmission standards, can operate at speeds of almost 1200 Mbit/s, and you can even “rebuild” it to more functional firmware if desired. An external drive can be easily connected to it via a USB port, so even the download function to this external drive will be available to you. There are also disadvantages to this miracle of technology. So, according to reviews, the most inconvenient thing is the interface and instructions, which are offered to us only in Chinese. This model only has a couple of LAN ports, and the speed on them is limited to a hundred Mbit/s.

ASUS RT-N56U amazes not only with its original design

The model does not have external antennas, but this does not prevent it from transmitting data at speeds of up to 1 Gbit/s via LAN ports and 300 Mbit/s via WAN. Here we see a couple of USB ports at once, which attracts many advanced users. Setting up the device is so simple that most actions are performed intuitively. There are also disadvantages, although they do not prevent the model from being included in the rating of WiFi routers for an apartment or house, because they are not noticed by most users. So, the router begins to slow down and overheat if an external storage device with a capacity of a terabyte or more is connected.

So stylish TP-LINK TL-WA901ND

This modern “three-horned monster of the Internet” can even be powered via (the adapter is included). The antennas are removable, if you connect them all together, you can actually provide Internet to all gadgets at a distance of 270 m. But a gadget without a built-in adapter will not work with this model, because it has no LAN ports at all. But given the fact that today a negligible amount of equipment does not have a built-in WiFi adapter, this model has the right to be included in the 2016 WiFi routers for the home rating.

Best Budget Routers

It is not always possible to purchase even a mid-priced router. This is not a reason to be sad, but an excellent reason to study the rating of routers for the home, which will be affordable for everyone. The list below includes only those models whose work quality is quite high, that is, they can provide normal access to the Internet in your home or apartment.

Model TL-WR841N from TP-Link

A budget router that has nice features like parental controls or the ability to limit traffic. The TL-WR841N handles modern connection protocols.

The design of the model can be called classic for this manufacturer. In their reviews, many customers thank the brand for the fact that each of their routers can not only be installed on a table (or any other horizontal surface), but also mounted on a wall. The model practically does not overheat, because the manufacturer has equipped it with many holes for ventilation.

The router is budget, so actual data transfer speeds vary within hundreds of megabits, although the manufacturer has set a limit of 300 megabits. It also does not provide USB ports, like expensive analogues of the same brand.

D-link DIR-300S is also worthy of a place in this rating

It was not by chance that this model was included in the rating of Wi-Fi routers, because it supports all types of connections and even has functions parental controls and the content filtering function of the Yandex service, which is so relevant today. A pleasant addition is the modern glossy design and small dimensions of this router, although some buyers complain about the glossy case, because the dust that has settled on it is immediately visible.

The rating of routers in the mid-price segment should start with MikroTik RB951G-2HnD

Routers of this brand are popular not because of their advertised name, but because the manufacturer provides them with luxurious “filling”, so the number of supported functions is truly amazing. The model will appeal to advanced users who are well versed in personal settings, but for users who want to “press a button and go straight to the Internet”, it will seem too difficult to understand. The small RB951G-2HnD can be used not only in a house or apartment, but even in the office of a small or medium-sized enterprise, because the coverage area is large, and it is provided by a powerful transmitter.

Next on the list will be ZyXEL Keenetic 4G III

You can connect a USB modem to this router via a USB port and provide nearby devices with high-quality 3G or 4G Internet. The latest 802.11n standard is supported. The device has two powerful antennas, so the Internet can freely “fly” at speeds of up to 300 megabits. We are also pleased with the stylish design and as many as 4 LAN ports on the rear panel. But the wireless coverage area is small - this is a minus. Although, if you take such a router for a small apartment, there will be no complaints about its performance.

And inexpensive TP-LINK supports the latest 802.11ac protocol

A dual-band router that supports over-the-air speeds of up to 1.167 Gbit per second and is capable of independently providing high-quality coverage to even a large three-room apartment. Russian-language interface, ease of setup, signal resistance to any interference, plus a stylish design made this model one of the most popular in our market. But it also has disadvantages, and significant ones: a wired connection is only possible at speeds within a hundred megabits, and the built-in USB port is too slow.

Rating of decent mobile routers

Not all houses or apartments have the opportunity to connect to wired Internet, so we bring to your attention a rating of 2016 home routers that have a SIM card slot. These models are most often purchased for use in small towns and villages, where access to the Internet is possible only through mobile communications. Such devices form a fairly high-quality Internet coverage area.

"The smallest router" Huawei E5330

A tiny mobile router from Huawei can provide you with a pretty good WiFi signal in an apartment or house. For ease of use, the manufacturer has provided a liquid crystal display (all the most important data will be constantly in front of your eyes). Consumers do not mention interruptions in operation, freezing and braking of the model in their reviews, so we can say that the little one works stably. Why exactly this model topped the rating of WiFi routers 2016 for an apartment or house where there is no cable internet? It’s just capable of providing Internet access to a dozen devices at once! Of course, there are disadvantages: the E5330 does not work on a 4G network, and the battery is quite weak, so be prepared for the fact that you will have to regularly recharge the “little Chinese”.

And again TP-LINK! Model M5250

And this router only works in 2G/3G networks, unfortunately, but it works stably! The manufacturer cares about the buyer, so he provided an adapter for SIM cards and a USB cable (the router is charged through it). The case is non-marking and oversized, so you can easily take the M5250 with you anywhere! About the disadvantages: most often buyers complain about the lack of a display. The model is truly reliable and worthy of attention, which is why it was included in this rating of WiFi routers for 2016.

Ratings of the best routers from the most popular manufacturers

The best-selling router manufacturers are Asus, D-link and TP-link. Unfortunately, it is impossible to single out the best router in their line of models; a rating specifying the main advantages will be more informative for you.

Best of Asus:

• model EA-AC87 - the most powerful modern equipment with high-quality filling;

• the RT-AC66U model can simultaneously provide high-quality Internet to up to a dozen devices;
• model RT-N56U creates coverage that can cover a large apartment.

The best from D-link:

• model DIR-300A is the undisputed sales leader;
• the DIR-880L model amazes with its power;
• The DIR-850L model pleases with its high-quality filling.

The best from TP-link:

• the TL-WA901ND model is considered the best new product of 2016;
• the Arcer C2 model is top-end, that is, it corresponds to the latest technology;
• model TL-WR740N is an ideal budget option for a small one-room apartment.

How do you understand that you have a bad router and it’s time to change it?

Often, problems with Internet access are not the fault of the provider, but of a weak router that simply cannot provide all the capabilities offered by the provider.

So, the main reasons for purchasing new similar equipment are as follows:

1. The WiFi coverage area does not cover the entire apartment or house: modern, not very expensive routers, which have proven themselves well, according to customer reviews, can cover an area of ​​up to 100 square meters. If the signal from your router cannot even pass through the wall into the next room, it’s time to change it.
2. The router can “cut down” the Internet speed: it happens that the provider provides speeds, for example, 100 Mbit/s for downloading and uploading, and after checking the state of the Internet in your home, you get only 60 Mbit/s for downloading and even less for return. You shouldn’t slander the provider, it’s better to read the instructions for your router; perhaps such indicators are its maximum limit, and it simply does not support higher speeds. If this is the case, it’s worth being generous to buy a new router.
3. The router freezes or reboots regularly: such symptoms can be seen in the operation of cheap models that cannot cope with their responsibilities. Save your nerves and your time - buy a new router.

And finally

Your router will work much better if you do not allow it to be regularly overloaded, get dust or other dirt under the case, and if it is not placed in a damp room. Follow the updates, install the latest firmware, make custom settings that will maximize the comfort of your work on the World Wide Web. And may your home or apartment always have high-quality coverage and stable WiFi!

After two months of research and testing, I can say that the ZyXEL Keenetic Giga III router is the best WiFi router for most users (both advanced and not so advanced). It works in two ranges - this is very important! — it is fast, long-range, reliable and allows you to connect an external HDD via USB 3.0, thus creating a small network storage that operates at an acceptable speed. Plus, users have access to a fairly extensive and detailed help section on the manufacturer’s website, which greatly simplifies the resolution of many issues.

If for some reason Keenetic Giga III is not available for purchase, the next worthy candidate for the role of the best router is TP-Link Archer C7 rev.2. It is not inferior in speed characteristics and range, but has a worse interface, slower access speed to network storage and a worse approach to security. None of these shortcomings are critical, however, if the ZyXEL Keenetic Giga III is available for sale at a similar price, we would still recommend the giga.

If the price of about 7,000 thousand rubles seems excessive to you, then you should pay attention to the cost of 3,500 rubles. It is not inferior in “range” to Giga III, but has lower performance; gigabit ports have been replaced with 100-megabit ports, and together USB port 3.0 leaves only USB 2.0. In other words, it's a good compromise at a good price.

Why should you believe me

I've been tinkering with computer equipment for 25 years. Of these, the last 10 I have been actively publishing in a number of major computer publications. Moreover, on such a highly specialized resource as Habrahab.ru I was awarded the status of “legend” for articles, which was achieved by a little more than fifty users in the entire history of the site. And the audience there, I must say, is very, very demanding. So yes, I have a good understanding of technology and you can trust me. But, as is customary on our website, you are not obliged to take the word of a stranger, so I will provide links to other authoritative sources throughout the text.

Who needs a new router and why you don't need a cheap model

In a situation where you don’t have a router, everything is clear - you need to take it, because it’s convenient and sometimes simply necessary. But if you already have a router, then it may very well be time to change it to a modern model. And these are not marketing tricks.

Why your router may not work well

If your router is more than three years old and inexpensive, it most likely operates at 2.4 GHz. There are only thirteen channels on this frequency. Since your neighbors have the same simple router as you, most likely there are several more access points on your channel. Let me give you a simple analogy: each channel is a dedicated lane on the road. If only you use this channel, then the speed of movement is limited only by the capabilities of your car. In other words, if you can go 50 km/h, you are going that fast. If it’s 180 km/h, you’ll go as fast as you can. However, if someone else is sitting on your channel, this is tantamount to crossing an intersection. As soon as your neighbor's router starts transmitting information on your channel, a red light turns on for your car. Accordingly, when the light is green for you, your neighbors’ packages are sadly stomping around in line. And the more active the data transmission, the worse the traffic jams at intersections.

The picture above shows the channel loading in my house. My network (Keenetic-4223) has the highest signal level, the rest of the “hills” are the neighbors’ networks. As you can see, there is not a single free channel where my and my neighbors’ networks would not interfere with each other. Naturally, as long as I am near the router, I get more or less stable connection. But as soon as you move into the next room, fierce competition for the range immediately begins.

In the 2.4 GHz range, I repeat, old and cheap household access points work. Meanwhile modern devices transmit data simultaneously in two bands (in the old 2.4 and new 5 GHz), and in 5 GHz, firstly, there are more channels, and secondly, almost no one sits on them. There are two modern data transmission standards in the 5 GHz band: 802.11n and 802.11ac. You need a router that works according to the Wi-Fi standard 802.11ac, because the previous one, 802.11n, at 5 GHz does not help, since the signal in this range fades and is weakened by any obstacles. And 802.11ac, due to its initially higher theoretical speed (the basis for which, in turn, is a whole bunch of new technologies and algorithms), allows you to achieve acceptable real speed even taking into account strong attenuation.

Thus, if you are tired of dead zones in your home, you are not satisfied with the data transfer speed (for example, video is slow when transmitted to the TV), or your router cannot cope with the load of a large number of connected devices, it may be time to change it to a more powerful one.

Clarification: it is not a fact that a new Wi-Fi router will solve the problem of dead zones, especially since a 5 GHz network has less range than a 2.4 GHz network, but it is very likely that new model will be more powerful than the previous one. In addition, do not forget the simple rules of how to set up a router - we described them in the article about repeaters.

In addition to the standards, the box usually also contains a designation such as N600, AC1200, AC1750, and so on. This is the maximum speed at which the router's wireless network can operate. However, it works out in a clever way - by summing up the maximum connection speeds in different ranges. For example, the previous generation router, designated N600, has a 2T2R scheme and supports connecting clients in two spatial streams in the 2.4 GHz band at a speed of 300 Mbit/s (150+150) plus similarly up to 300 Mbit/s in 5 GHz. Total 600 Mbit/s. The AC1750 router typically has three streams in the 2.4 GHz band (150+150+150) and three in the 5 GHz band (433+433+433). The total is 1750.

Difficult? Not that word! But now we’ll get into even greater depths to make it clear why we need just such a router, what we chose and why it costs so much. If you find this boring, you can skip a few paragraphs and go directly to the model comparison section.

The first caveat: speaking about the AC1750 formula, we are, of course, not so much about the router as a router, and not even about its built-in Ethernet switch. The formula AC_how_much_is there characterizes only the built-in point Wi-Fi access. For some reason, few people think about where a router that only has a gigabit WAN port can output/pump 1750 Mbit/s. Likewise, there are plenty of routers with the AC750/1200 wireless formula, but even having a 100-megabit port for connecting to the Internet.

The second architectural caveat: the router cannot sum up the speed of the ACxxxx formula in any real task, because even in real routing (read connections with the Internet), even in switching (read transmission over home network) will always hit a bottleneck. Let's say we have a gigabit router (with a gigabit WAN port and an Ethernet switch) with an AC1750 formula on a gigabit Internet connection. The maximum speed from the Internet, provided that the wireless client ideally matches this formula (if you even find such a device that will work in 3 streams), you will get no higher than 1000 Mbit/s, similarly in local network. When transferring from one such wireless client to another, you can even theoretically expect only half as much as 1300 Mbps. And if you transmit between 2.4 and 5 GHz networks, the common denominator will be the client speed of 2.4 GHz.

The third caveat (usually already known to many Wi-Fi users): any declared Wi-Fi speeds are channel connection speeds in one pair of router (access point) - client (wireless adapter). This speed is included in the formula we are discussing, it is shown by the adapters and routers themselves in their interfaces, however, the real data transfer speed that can be felt in a speed test, downloading a torrent or downloading a file will usually be half as much (to simplify, consider that due to overhead protocol costs and inevitable interference). It is important to understand that Wi-Fi in the same band is a shared medium, and the channel speed is the maximum speed of this medium for the pair. If the access point has to communicate with two clients (for example, transferring from one to another), the actual speed drops by another half.

From here, for a moment, the right to exist for AC1200 models with a hundred-megabit WAN port becomes clear. Let's estimate the scenario for now and for the next 2-3 years: the TV pulls heavy content via Wi-Fi (say, a 4K stream from a network storage), while simultaneously backup, a couple of laptops are surfing the Internet and someone is downloading a torrent (I don’t even mention smartphones). The Internet here is a maximum of one hundred megabits, and the rest will be just 300 Mbit/s remaining from the 400 possible in AC867 5 GHz (TV, backup, taking into account the attenuation of the 5 GHz signal, it will generally be great if they can count on at least 100-150 Mbit/s), web surfing can also be connected via 2.4 GHz. Although, of course, having a NAS on a router with a 100-megabit switch is usually unwise. And the speed here is just right.

Tri-band routers

There are also so-called tri-band routers on sale. Now these are devices that essentially have three access points: one at 2.4 GHz and two non-overlapping ones at 5 GHz (yes, I know that models with a third 60 GHz band of the 802.11ad standard are already looming on the horizon, but that’s a completely different story , many users have never even seen 5 GHz). With an obvious increase in price, such a router provides an advantage only if devices between which maximum speed is required (for example, a high-performance laptop and a computer) are connected to different 5 GHz points. But even in this case, taking into account the above, you can not count on the promised “AC_ogogo” formula, but only on the maximum speed of one of them.

Usually these are the maximum according to the AC1733 standard (4x4), but now it’s time to ask how many adapters and client devices there are in nature that support at least 3x3, not to mention 4x4 (not to mention 802.11ad at all). Smartphones and tablets mostly have a 1x1 adapter, top models have a 2x2 adapter. Rare laptops, like the MacBook Pro, have 3x3 adapters. No less rare 3x3 USB adapters and PCI-E adapters designed for installation in 3x3 or 4x4 desktops are more expensive than many decent routers. Point AC1733, meanwhile, will only give them the speed they can handle. And yet, it’s a big mistake to think that a 4x4 AC1750 point can easily simultaneously “stream” 400 (real) Mbit/s onto devices simultaneously using two 2x2 AC867 adapters. Alas, classic Wi-Fi technology still provides clear timeOe separation when servicing client devices: the access point transmits (or receives) the required portion of data first from one client, then from another, etc. It cannot transmit to two at the same time. All this takes time, really high-speed clients do not receive enough speed, slow ones, it turns out, waste point resources in vain.

This could not continue, and for a couple of years now we have been talking about MU-MIMO technology, which, theoretically, should allow simultaneous transmission to several clients. But it stalls horribly. Firstly, it is full of its own limitations. For example, the maximum number of devices that can actually be served simultaneously is limited to four, and simultaneous postback from clients is not supported (hello torrent servers and surveillance cameras). Secondly, in many routers where MU-MIMO was announced, it never really worked. And thirdly - surprise! – it must be supported by the clients themselves. How many are there in nature? That's right, even less than it is unclear how there are routers that support it.

In other words, it’s not like getting ahead of yourself—there’s absolutely no need to even keep up with the locomotive of modern marketing technologies. Let's finally move on to the question of what to choose now.

How we chose

As we said above, we need a router that works according to the 802.11ac standard. We go to Yandex.Market and set up several filters: the presence of an AC standard, a connection speed of at least 1200 megabits (this is how we cut off older models; we discussed why this is important above), a gigabit network port, high user ratings. As a result, we get exactly two models that deserve attention.

• ZyXEL Keenetic Giga III
• TP-LINK Archer C7

Interestingly, many Western publications recognize TP-LINK Archer C7 as the best home router for most users. Moreover, when measuring signal speed and range, it confidently outperforms many of its competitors, for example, the same Asus RT-AC68U. Moreover, Archer C7 allows you to achieve the maximum connection speed of AC1750, while Keenetic only allows AC1200. On the other hand, ZyXEL Keenetiс is deservedly loved in the CIS, its firmware is perfectly adapted for the Russian market, plus, above we have already discussed the features of obtaining these formulas. Well, the more interesting it will be to compare both devices. So, we order and test.

Important point: The TP-LINK Archer C7 router must be of the second revision. The first was somewhat buggy, did not have Russian in the interface and allowed you to connect a smaller number of devices. The revision number can be found on the box.

Zyxel Keenetic Giga III or TP-LINK Archer C7?

In most cases, a Wi-Fi router falls into the “install, configure and forget” category. Therefore, there are only two main requirements for it - that it works quickly and stably and that it “finishes off” as far as possible.

Both candidates are in perfect order with stability - after two months of use, neither of them had any problems. As for speed and range, we will now demonstrate it.

So, the performance of both routers was compared under the following conditions: we have a room in which both devices are located. We turn it on and alternately test the signal level and speed on the end device. To measure the signal level, an application for Android WiFi Overview 360 is used, and to measure the speed, the iPerf3 program in server mode, launched on a computer connected by wire to the router via a gigabit port. And it’s in client mode, running on a laptop with a dual-band Wi-Fi adapter.

Measurement is carried out at three points: directly in the room with the router, in a room located around the corner through two main walls (a very difficult task for any router) and in a room located at the end of a long corridor 30 meters long.In each of the three cases, we measure the speed on both bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz).So, three measurements of the signal level: in the room with the router, behind two concrete walls and at the end of the corridor.

In the same room with the router, when measuring at the opposite end, we see that the signal level in the 5 GHz network is almost the same, but in the 2.4 GHz range the TP-Link router will be more powerful.

Measured through two main walls and at the end of a long corridor:

In both cases, we see that TP-Link has a better signal in the 2.4 GHz band, and Zyxel has a better signal in the 5 GHz band. In theory, 5 GHz is more important to us - in this range the data transfer speed is higher. However, let's see how things work in practice.

Measurements again, now speeds in three positions in each of the network ranges. First, connect the laptop directly with a wire and check the data transfer speed. We get 901 megabits from the kineticist and 902 from TP-link. As they say, close to the gigabit ceiling of the channel. Great, now we start taking measurements at the desired points.

No difference at all. The numbers are so close that their difference can be written into the margin of error. Moreover, please note that the difference in signal level, which we saw in the pictures above, has practically no effect on the data transfer speed.Of course, the laptop is partly to blame here - it can’t work on three spatial streams, like, say, Macbook Pro. If he had been able to do this, it is quite possible that TP-Link would have shown higher speed (after all, AC1750 versus AC1200 from Zyxel). However, we have a completely average AC chip operating at medium settings.

Theoretically, we can achieve a situation by going to a place where the kinetics signal of the 2.4 network will completely disappear, and TP-Link will still be barely warm. In practice, using the network in this place will be uncomfortable.

And if there is not much difference, then how to choose?

As I said above, if you have several top-end 2016 laptops at home that simultaneously pump a large amount of traffic through them, you may notice a difference in the performance of both routers. In practice, in the next 2-3 years, it’s unlikely. Therefore, you should choose a router based on secondary characteristics, such as interface convenience and additional functions.

So, the interface, ease of setup and additional functions. Here Keenetic confidently holds the palm. Firstly, everything is Russified, including the inscriptions on the ports on the back.

Secondly, its interface is more convenient and allows you to fine-tune everything. Compare:

To be fair, it must be said that alternative firmware can be installed on TP-link, which can significantly expand the functionality. However, it is unlikely that most users will do this.

And thirdly, upon startup, Keenetic immediately prompts you to set a password to access the router and immediately checks for new firmware versions (which, by the way, are released frequently). With TP-Link, to change your password, you need to know where to go. Well, changing the firmware requires going to the manufacturer’s website, finding the firmware from the router of the required revision, downloading it, and then ordering the router to update to it. In other words, most users will never do this. For this, Tp-Link receives a big minus in terms of security - holes in the firmware have not been canceled.

network storage

Modern routers are powerful enough to turn them into an analogue of NAS - network storage, which can be used by the whole family and all network devices in the house. Those. you can store movies, music and general documents there without taking up precious space on the hard drives of your personal devices. You can also dump it there backups important files, which are usually much more valuable than the devices themselves. In other words, this is a file dump for the whole family. Of course, it is better to buy a specialized device, but most people feel sorry for the money on it, especially since many people have external hard drives.

So, modern routers allow you to connect an external hard drive to them and provide round-the-clock access to files. Yes, this is an entry-level NAS, but it copes with simple tasks and allows the user to understand whether he needs it at all. I’ll say right away that it’s necessary (backup is above all!), but many people need to see this from their own experience.

Both routers in question allow you to connect an external drive via USB. However, unlike Tp-Link, Keenetic has USB 3.0 on board, providing high write/read speeds.

Let's compare these indicators in practice:

As you can see, thanks to USB 3.0 we have five times the reading speed of Keenetic. The recording speed is not that different. An important point: when measuring, we used a very mediocre screw from Silicon Power, which, frankly, does not shine with speed characteristics. The use of more “thoroughbred” media accelerates the reading speed to 80 megabits. However, it was decided to leave the graph exactly this way in order to illustrate the difference in speed even on mediocre hardware.

An advantage of Keenetic is that it has a software module that allows you to download torrents autonomously. Those. you give it a download command, and it writes the required file to the connected hard drive. Another plus in favor of the kineticist.

Another caveat: USB 3.0 operation can negatively affect data transfer in the 2.4 GHz range. Many manufacturers even have a special checkbox in the interface - disable USB 3.0. However, I did not notice any interference when working with the kineticist

Budget router with AC1200 formula

At the beginning of 2017, Zyxel released an excellent compromise router Keenetic Extra II, which replaced gigabit ports with 100-megabit ports, removed USB 3.0 and reduced the price to 3,500 rubles.

The result is an excellent budget router, which in terms of range is almost as good as the Giga III and Archer C7 (see ours). And considering that the software features in it are exactly the same as those of the Giga, we strongly recommend this router to all those for whom maximum performance is not important, but trouble-free operation at a reasonable price is very important.

conclusions

Based on the above, it may seem that TP-LINK Archer C7 is a bad router. Nothing of the kind, this is the best combination of price/functionality that I have ever seen (especially among routers in the AC1750 standard, we remember that there are never enough flows) and it’s not for nothing that the Western press loves it so much.

It's just that Keenetic Giga III is a little better. Moreover, this is best achieved through additional functions, which include both the above and excellent work with a zoo of printers, security with Yandex.DNS or SkyDNS, and finally connecting DECT handsets. True, the question remains: will the owner use it all?

In other words, TP-LINK is a router that you set up once and forget about for many years. He has this philosophy of use. But Keenetic, and this is clear, was made in order to work with it more often. Therefore, at the moment, I advise my friends to purchase it. On the other hand, if the TP-LINK Archer C7 is nearby and it costs less, you can safely consider it as a powerful alternative.

D-link - Almost any router from this company does not work out of the box in 99 percent of cases. It starts working either after dancing with a tambourine, or after updating the firmware to the latest version of the software (if there is one, but if this is a new product, then you will have to wait for the firmware) You constantly come across models in which the password for Wi-Fi and the router disappears after two or three days All the neighbors start clinging... And this means Internet slowdowns, calls to technical support, calling a technician who will re-set the password. Naturally, call a specialist for money. A good technician will reflash the router (this bug can only be cured by flashing it to the latest version of the software). A bad technician will simply forget the password and leave. And after two days, all your neighbors will connect to your router again... They also get very hot and freeze 3-4 times a day, a power reset helps. This began after 2012, when dlink began to be produced in Russia. Until 2012, long lengths were an ideal budget option.

Tp-link - price-quality ratio. If you don’t want to bother with firmware and dancing with a tambourine, but you don’t have enough money, then it’s better to take a tplink. Again, models 740 and 741 are very weak, they often freeze (but much less often than D-links, you have to overload the power supply 3-4 times a week). It is advisable to update to the latest firmware after purchase. The 840 model reduces the speed of both cable and Wi-Fi. It helps to update the firmware to the latest version of the software. No problems were noticed with the 9xx models, but they are not bad. It’s much easier to buy for that amount....-->

Asus is a workhorse for the money, the price is about the same as tp-link. The RTN-12 model is generally the best. Set it and forget it. But this is with hardware versions D1 and B1... All new Asus are configured with a tambourine (especially rtn-11, 30-40 minutes), they often glitch, although very often there are models that work without jambs. Reboot your diet - 3-4 times a month, and sometimes not even once.

Zyxel - Beast machine. Set it up, forget it, get covered in dust, get lost. The speed does not cut, practically does not freeze, it works like a clock. The cost is one and a half to two times higher than Asus and Tp-link. Models that are on par with Asus and Tp-link (in price) can be buggy, but much less than Asus and especially Tp-link. No dancing with a tambourine. If possible, take Zuhel, the price and quality matches.

Mikrotik is a Latvian manufacturer of network equipment... Terminator of all routers. However, it is also configured through the winbox program like a terminator...system administrator skills are required. Understanding Nat, Firewall, DHCP, Default Route. This is for normal setup only. You can set up a speed limit both for an IP address (for example, your sister’s computer, which constantly pumps and clogs the channel), and you can set up a speed limit on the port. At least up to 32 Kilobits. But again, who knows? An indispensable thing when setting up several Internet channels is their differentiation. In general, a complete stuffing of functions. The price of a good Mikrotik starts from about 6 thousand rubles. Everything that is cheaper is quite weak and will not even support 6-8 computers. Model 2011UAS-2HnD easily pulls 32 computers. In general, I would take such a model for myself... you can make a real server out of it.

All other routers such as Upvel, Huawei, Tenda and the like are also quite good. There are definitely good models among them. But they are put on very few, very rarely. There are also failures with them, most likely they are at the price-quality level somewhere with TP-links and Asus.

All data is based on personal 8 years of experience working with the provider as a system administrator.

Modern technologies make it possible to purchase a variety of devices that can make life much easier. This applies not only to amenities, but also to modified technologies in terms of Internet access. Yes, the global network has become an integral part of our lives and now every apartment and house has its own connection network. True, problems arise regarding what equipment to choose for your home. If with wired internet This is not so difficult to do, but wireless Wi-Fi requires special attention, since in this case it is necessary to take into account all the little details, subtleties and technical characteristics. But don’t worry, our article will allow you to analyze the market for available devices and make right choice for your home. Please note that we are considering devices that are suitable for a large home, and also take into account Wi- Fi for a cottage.

A powerful router is a victim of a marketing war

PowerfulWi- Fi will never be cheap or given as a nice gift. The fact is that it contains expensive technologies that you can’t just give away.

Equipment installation tricks

Powerful Wi-Fi router for home: budget option

Powerful routerWi- Fifor home allows you to get good functionality with inexpensive component modules.

• TP-Link TL-WR720N;
• Belkin Wireless N150 Router;
• D-LinkDIR-615/A.

Powerful Wi-Fi router: business class

Don’t think that only simple and inexpensive routers are suitable for home use. After all The most powerfulWi- Fi increases its performance and quality depending on its purpose.

• Linksys devices;
• Zyxel brand in the Keenetic line,
• TP-Link Archer;
• D-Link DIR-8xx series;
• ASUS series

Powerful Wi-Fi routers for the home: corporate level

It's no secret that the most expensive equipment is considered powerful routersWi- Fifor home, which is purchased for corporate communications.

• ASUS RT-AC3200;
• a series of routers from the Senao company.

By law, you will be considered a violator and your device may be confiscated, followed by an administrative fine. And it will be impossible to challenge this decision, since the Wi-Fi wireless network is regulated by special laws within the country.

A Wi-Fi router provides the opportunity for several devices at once that support data exchange via Wi-Fi technology, gain access to the Internet. In other words, the router is network device, connecting to the Internet and distributing a similar capability to other devices using either Wi-Fi or LAN.

Which Wi-Fi router is better: choosing a router

The main role in choosing a router, of course, is played by its characteristics. However, an equally important indicator of its quality and reliability is the manufacturer. Based on this, you should purchase a device manufactured by companies such as: TP-LINK, ASUS, D-link, HP. These companies produce some of the most best models routers.

Today, there are several types of network standards.

1. 802.11 a – speed up to 54 Mb/s
2. 802.11 b – speed up to 11 Mb/s
3. 802.11 g – speed up to 54 Mb/s
4. 802.11 n – speed up to 600 Mb/s
5. 802.11 ac – speed over 1Gb/s

When choosing a Wi-Fi router, you should pay attention to models of the 802.11 n standard and higher.

Our Top Wi-Fi routers:

1. Wi-Fi router Zyxel Keenetic 4G III

It is used in conjunction with more than 70 variants of USB modems, which are among those especially popular for working with 3 and 4G mobile Internet formats. The router is capable of operating in 4G LTE using CDC-Ethernet and NDIS mode.

There is no need to install special firmware or additionally adapt the device. You just need to connect the device to the USB port by selecting the mobile network. This will provide access to the Internet for all computers and devices that are connected to the router: via Ethernet and Wi-Fi.

If a failure occurs or the modem freezes, the device automatically restarts the connection: for this we can reboot in terms of power.

Thanks to the Mediatek MT7620N 580 MHz processor, which has a hardware network accelerator and the new NDMS 2 operating system, the router can operate in networks mobile communications at speeds below 100 Megabits per second.

2. Wi-Fi router TP-LINK TL-WR841N

The device is designed for use in small office spaces and at home. 2T2R MIMO technology makes it possible to form a network with ultra-high information transfer speed. This allows you to continuously stream video online: the quality remains high. You can run online games. In addition, IP telephony operates at a high level.

The device supports the IEEE 802.11n standard, thanks to which you can establish wireless connections, the speed and signal range of which are fifteen and five times greater than those of conventional devices operating according to the 11g standard.

With the help of a router, the information transfer speed reaches 300 Megabits per second. Thanks to SSA technology, the likelihood of conflicts occurring during the transfer of information is eliminated. This gives an increase in connection performance. The use of WPA/WPA2 encryption technologies allows for increased security of information.

The device is capable of supporting Wi-Fi Protected Setup. The device has a button that allows you to quickly configure the protection – QSS. Protect your wireless network with just one click. Then it happens automatic installation WPA2 security. This is an additional convenience: you don’t need to remember your password.

Thanks to the IP QoS function, the network has the best throughput, and traffic is streamlined depending on the user’s tasks. This limits applications that are currently of lesser importance so that they do not overload the network.
Installing the device and setting up the network is possible even if you do not have the relevant experience: the router package includes a disk that contains detailed, clear instructions on how to perform these manipulations.

3. Wi-Fi router Asus RT-N12 VP

Purpose of multifunction wireless router Asus RT-N11P – work in home networks and small office spaces.

With its help, it is possible to ensure high speed information transfer by wireless connection. This speed allows you to comfortably play games online, stream video, and use Internet telephony.

The device is easy to configure, even if the user does not have relevant experience.

4. Wi-Fi router TP-LINK TL-WR941ND

The tasks of the Zyxel Keenetic III Internet center include providing reliable and convenient connection of home devices to the Internet, IP television, the services of which are provided by providers through dedicated lines with any type of connection: IPoE, PPPoE, PPTP, L2TP, 802.1X, VLAN 802.1Q ,IPv4/IPv6.

The device provides full high-speed mode within tariffs below 100 Megabits per second, the type of connection and the nature of the loads do not matter.

Thanks to the use of proprietary Link Duo and TV Port technologies, it is possible to simultaneously access the Internet and local services.

The device is capable of connecting to the network via dozens of types of USB modems in 3G/4G formats. A DSL modem, a provider's PON terminal with an Ethernet port, a provider's Wi-Fi hotspot, or a personal one can be used.

5. Wi-Fi router Apple AirPort Express (MC414RU/A)

This device can eliminate issues related to the formation of wireless networks for home or small office premises.

The router works best with Wi-Fi. This opportunity is provided by support for modern Wi-Fi standards: 802.11 n in two frequencies at once - 2.4 and 5 GHz. Both ranges can be used simultaneously. The device allows you to create a separate guest network: the password for the main network will be known only to the owner.

It is possible to organize shared access and a network printer. You just need to connect the desired device to the built-in connector.

Shared access is possible, combining computers on tables, network drives and digital media.

What to look for when choosing a Wi-Fi router

2. Router and DHCP server. The router provides access to the Internet for all connected devices. In this case, for each of them the DHCP server determines its own internal IP address. This allows several connected devices to access the Internet at once using one external IP address.

3. Range. When choosing a router, special attention should be paid to its range. This is what determines the distance from which devices can access the Internet. However, it must be taken into account that the data regarding the range of the device indicated by the manufacturer are far from accurate and may differ from its actual capabilities several times. This is due to the fact that manufacturers indicate the capabilities of the router, focusing on ideal external conditions, which in reality are almost impossible to achieve. There are many factors that influence the range of a router, ranging from partitions and walls in the apartment to home furniture. It is necessary to take them all into account for the most successful location of the device.

4. Antennas. The efficiency of a router directly depends on the number of antennas installed on it. The more antennas, the higher the Internet speed. So, a router that has only one antenna uses it to both receive and transmit data. At the same time, when connecting third-party devices, the transmission speed will inevitably drop in order to ensure normal operation of the router. The presence of two antennas allows the device to use one of them for reception and the other for data transmission. At the same time, the speed of the Internet connection remains consistently high. If the device has three antennas, then two of them are aimed at data transmission, and one at reception. The maximum number of antennas in a device can be up to 6. It is advisable that the selected router has the ability to replace antennas with more powerful ones. In this way, you can make your Internet connection better and better by purchasing more powerful types of antennas.

5. Data encryption. Data encryption is a critical part of keeping your Internet connection secure. An unauthorized connection to the network can significantly reduce Internet speed. Almost all modern routers use 2 data encryption methods: WPA and WEP. WPA is considered the more reliable of them.

6. USB slot. This feature is not required. It can be used to connect to a router various devices, such as a printer, flash drive, hard drive. Thanks to this, it becomes possible to share files available on these devices with other users connected to Wi-Fi.

7. Connecting a 3G modem to a Wi-Fi router. The USB interface does not yet guarantee the ability to connect to the router; the ability to connect a G-modem to the router. Not all routers have this feature. The need for its presence lies in the inability of some users to connect to a landline provider. In addition, 3G is a safety option in case of problems with a standard connection.

8. ADSL connection. If you have an ADSL Internet connection, you should choose a router that supports this type connections. In this case, there is no need to use an ADSL modem to obtain additional functionality.

9. Number of ports in the router. The largest number of access points include 4 Ethernet ports. This makes it possible to connect several devices to the Internet via a wired network. Such devices can be a receiver, a desktop computer, or a TV. At the same time, it remains possible to use a wireless connection. However, you need to remember that connecting via cable is more reliable and faster. Therefore, for stationary devices it is better to use this type.

10. Port speed. Providers mainly provide Internet speeds of up to 100 Mb/s. However, the times are not far off when this figure will be several hundred Mb/s. That is why it is better to purchase a device that will support gigabit networks. So, you should choose a router whose port speed is 1000 Mb/s. This will allow him to for a long time remain in demand and relevant. This recommendation applies only to those users who use the Internet to the maximum. The rest can be content with a quite good 100 Mb/s. Web interface With its help, you can configure the device using a browser. This means that the settings menu will look like a website.

11. Router firmware. The ability to flash firmware is available in almost all router models. This feature allows you to eliminate existing errors in operation, as well as improve the efficiency and ease of use of the device. Therefore, when asking which router to choose, you should pay attention to how easily it can be flashed and how often new firmware is released for it. When choosing any router, you must strictly adhere to the selection criteria listed above. Even the top router models may simply not be suitable for the specific environment in which they will operate. It is also important to remember that it is better to buy an inexpensive router, no matter what speed it has (usually it is enough for normal work on the Internet), but one that provides stable and reliable operation. The best router must certainly meet the criteria of quality and security against unauthorized connection to the network.

Video on how to choose the right Wi-Fi router: