How to Choose the Right Wi-Fi Router for My Business in 2020?

Choosing a router that meets your business needs is very important. The router not only provides you with a wireless internet connection, but it also determines the security and efficiency of your network.

What exactly is a Wi-Fi router?

A Wi-Fi router, or wireless router, is a device that receives and distributes a wireless internet connection to your computing devices. The router first obtains the internet connection via wired access, then provides a local network and a wireless internet connection.

So, if the Wi-Fi of your ADSL modem or internet box is not powerful enough (which happens in the vast majority of cases), the router allows you to distribute a better connection via an infrastructure-type network.

How does a wireless router work?

The operation of a wireless Wi-Fi router is quite simple. The word Wi-Fi comes from the English word Wireless Fidelity, which could be translated as wireless fidelity. Wi-Fi connects computing devices together using radio waves and provides a high-speed internet connection.

The router connects to the internet through a prior connection to the modem, then shares user information with connected devices via the network system it deploys. It allows for the transfer of information flows, but also optimizes connection sharing between devices. The router is therefore the source of the Wi-Fi internet network.

The quality of your Wi-Fi router is essential for the productivity of your staff, or even your customers who connect to it.

Benefits of a Wi-Fi Router

The main advantage of a router is that it allows for great mobility and simplifies internet usage. In fact, regardless of location or time, you can stay connected to the internet without the need for much infrastructure (you will no longer need connection cables or a complex desktop device to deploy the network).

Another advantage is that with a router, you have the flexibility to restrict or expand your network as you see fit. This way you will have more control over network broadcasting.

What are the important features of a good Wi-Fi router?

Security

Security is very important when it comes to your company's network. This is because it prevents your connection from being used by strangers or, worse, from being spied on, your activities stolen, or malware and viruses  or any other type of cyberattack being sent .

The most common security standard is WPA2. However, its security remains basic and WPA2 is quite restrictive since all devices must support this standard to work with the network.

By choosing a professional-grade router, you will benefit from additional security options, unlike a standard router, such as device monitoring tools, automatic blocking of devices that do not comply with your security requirements, and often a VPN.

Quality of service

The quality of service is not linked to the quality of your internet connection. In order to maintain a high level of availability , it optimizes network performance and manages demand for each connected device.

Additionally, it balances this demand so that each device receives sufficient network to perform its tasks without the quality degrading if a nearby device uses the connection at the same time.

For example, this allows you to download a large file at the same time as one of your colleagues. Having good quality of service avoids having to increase bandwidth.

The range of the Wi-Fi router

Depending on the size of your premises, you'll need to consider range. To cover a larger space, you'll need a router that projects over a longer distance or consider purchasing repeaters. Range will be largely affected by the network standard.

The network standard

Network standards, or Wi-Fi connectivity standards, are important. The choice of standards depends on the activities, applications, and hardware that will be running on the network.

Additionally, the higher the standards and the better the network performance, the higher the router's price will be.

For your information, the maximum wireless speed and range offered by wireless routers are 802.11g (max. speed 54 Mbps, indoor range ~25 m, outdoor range ~75 m), 802.11n (max. speed 450 Mbps, indoor range ~50 m, outdoor range ~125 m), and 802.11ac (max. speed 1300 Mbps, indoor range ~20 m, outdoor range ~50 m).

Bands

Depending on the device, you may find dual-band or tri-band routers. Dual-band routers have two radio transmitters, one operating on the 2.4 GHz band and the other on the 5.0 GHz band. Tri-band routers operate in the same way with an additional 5.0 GHz band.

This allows access to more people simultaneously, whose access will be distributed across the different bands.

What type of Wi-Fi router should you choose for your organization? Here's a selection of good business routers

The Linksys AC5400 router

• Tri-band router
• 8 antennas
• 8 Ethernet ports
• Advanced security options

The NETGEAR Nighthawk X10 router

• 802.11ac standard
• Tri-band router
• 8 antennas
• 6 Ethernet ports
• Built-in VPN

The TP-Link AC3200 router

• 802.11ac standard
• Tri-band router
• 6 antennas
• 4 Ethernet ports
• Built-in VPN server
• Advanced security options

Nexxo can help you choose and install your business Wi-Fi router.

As you can see, choosing a router for your business is an important task for securing your data and facilitating your internet access later on. With this article, we hope to have given you all the tools you need to make the right choice.

If you still have questions after reading this article, please contact us. We will work with you to analyze the best possible technological solutions, taking into account your organizational realities.

About Nexxo

Nexxo Computer Solutions specializes in providing IT and technology services to Quebec businesses. Its mission is to offer Quebec companies IT services tailored to their needs. Acting as an external IT department, it handles all of a company's IT tasks, allowing it to focus on its business activities. It achieves this by collaborating closely with its clients and putting their interests at the center of its concerns.