Wired Vs. Wireless Routers
A router is a device that is used to connect multiple computers over a local network. They come in two different varieties: wired and wireless. Each type of router has its benefits and disadvantages.
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Router Basics
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A router sits between the Internet and your network of computers that are connected to one another through the router. In between the router and the Internet is usually a high-speed digital subscriber line or cable modem.
Wired Routers
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Wired routers use Ethernet cables that can be hundreds of feet in length and transfer data at up to 1 gigabit per second (about 128 megabytes). You can also connect printers and scanners to this network if those devices have Ethernet ports.
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Wireless Routers
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Wireless routers can communicate with computers that are in another room or in the adjacent floor of a building. The fastest version of Wi-Fi communication, called "802.11n," communicates at up to 600 megabits per second, or 77 megabytes, but this ceiling can be substantially affected by environmental conditions.
Environmental Conditions
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A wireless signal is affected by other devices communicating wirelessly on that same radio frequency, like a microwave or cordless phone. A wall or ceiling containing a large number of metal pipes or ducts can also cause signal interference.
Practical Convenience
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Eliminating wires makes it easier to connect mobile devices to a wireless network (once they have been initially authorized), and there is less physical maintenance involved. However, wired networks are less expensive, faster, and not as prone to poor signal quality.
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