Understanding Wi-Fi Router
Hello guys!
Today, I would like to introduce a little bit about the Wi-Fi Router.
Objetive
The purpose of this article is to introduce the Wi-Fi Router.
What is a router?
Connecting a device to the Internet seems like a simple thing. Connect to your wi-fi, open the browser and that's all. But when something goes wrong, it may be time to upgrade your equipment to something a little faster and for that you need to understand what each box does.
A router is a device that provides Wi-Fi and is usually connected to a modem. It sends information from the Internet to personal devices such as computers, smartphones and tablets. These Internet-connected devices in your home form a Local Area Network (LAN). The modem brings in information from the Internet, and the router distributes it to your personal devices.
What is a modem?
A modem is a device that exchanges information between the outside world or wide area network (WAN) and your home. A modem transforms the incoming connection (coaxial cable, telephone line, fiber optic line, or other) into an Ethernet connection, which allows a Wi-Fi router to connect to the Internet.
Modems are usually provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). You need to connect your router or main Google Wifi hotspot to a modem using an Ethernet cable.
How does the router work?
Routers have very powerful antennas that will receive and send data between your devices and the internet modem, okay? The speed at which it will work depends on the speed of the internet you hired, the model of the router and the device that will receive its signal, such as smartphones.
For the router to work correctly and without problems, it needs to be configured to work with your internet. Some companies even offer this service, but often you can do it just by following the manual for your device.
A router is used to connect several computers to the modem. If you only have a single computer at home, you can connect it directly to the modem to access the Internet. However, most people have more than one device to access the Internet and modems only have a single internal connection and therefore cannot send data to multiple devices at the same time.
What does WiFi mean?
Wi-Fi has become synonymous with wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi access point is a place where you can use Wi-Fi compatible devices to connect to the Internet.
Wi-Fi is a brand name created by marketing firm Interbrand for the founding member of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (now called the Wi-Fi Alliance). The name was created for use as an interoperability seal and for marketing purposes.
The IEEE 802.11 standard defines the protocols that allow communication with today's wireless devices, including wireless routers and access points.
How do we connect to the internet?
To understand the role of a router, it is important to understand the dynamics of the internet connection. Let's use a common home network as an example: first you need a provider, that is, hire an internet package from a company that offers the service. Then the connection arrives at your house through a device called a modem. To access the internet, simply connect the modem cables to the desktop or notebook. Done, connected. But, as we said, this signal depends on cables.
To be able to give wireless internet access to smartphones, tablets, video games, smart TVs and/or other mobile devices we need a wireless router.
What is a wireless router and how does it work?
The equipment establishes and shares the connection to the web with all these wireless devices that we mentioned through a Wi-Fi network, offering mobility to surf the internet. So, even away from the modem, you stay online.
After creating the wireless signal, access to the network is released to users with or without a password – for a more secure network, the use of passwords is indicated.
Choosing the ideal device: what to consider
Many doubts arise about which is the best wireless router to buy. As the answer to these questions depends on several factors, we can say that the ideal device will be the one that best meets your connection needs. To do this, you need to take into account some characteristics:
Internet access speed;
Wireless router transmission speed;
Environment size;
Reach.
Transmission speed (wireless router) × Access speed (internet)
The first point is to know how to differentiate the access speed, which depends on the internet speed that arrives at the location, and the transmission speed, which is connected to the wireless router. This is because the basic function of the device is to transmit the data that is emitted by the connection contracted by the user.
Contrary to what many people believe, the wireless router does not directly influence the increase in internet speed. The speed is determined by the data package that comes from the contracted internet provider.
The speed at which data is transmitted between the router and devices connected to the Wi-Fi network is defined by connection standards, the most common of which are:
"BGN" standard, with speed between 11Mbps and 600Mbps;
AC standard, with speed up to 1200Mbps.
Thus, the faster the router purchased, the faster it will be able to download and send files, load pages, play online games or stream music and videos. For those looking for agility and don't want to see the signal 'hang', the recommended are routers with transmission speeds above 300 Mbps. In addition, to ensure the best performance of your equipment, the speed of the device must be compatible with the speed of the broadband contracted.
Another factor that interferes with the transmission speed is the number of devices that will be connected to the wireless router. The more smartphones, tablets, TVs, etc. are using the Wi-Fi network, the chances of having a connection instability are higher. Therefore, when there is a need to share the signal with a large number of users, such as in large companies or shops, it is worth looking for corporate routers or an Access Point.
It is also possible to find systems for integrated use of Wi-Fi, which are routers with Mesh technology. These devices maintain the amplitude of the signal in all environments and allow controlling the distribution of the connection in the network according to the user's needs.
Range × Environment Size
A determining point when choosing your device is the size of the space it must serve. To ensure that the Wi-Fi signal reaches many environments, it is necessary to have a powerful router. In this case, the greater the power, the greater the range of the Wi-Fi signal, as this allows devices that are far away to “listen” to the wireless router.
In addition, there are factors that positively or negatively influence the range of the signal, such as:
Physical barriers – the presence of walls, ceilings and large pieces of furniture between your router and the device negatively interferes with the range of the signal, reducing its effectiveness;
Installation location – the ideal is to position the router in a high and centralized location, so it will be able to expand its coverage area. Many people want to 'hide' the device or install it on shelves or in a remote room. In this way, the signal range is impaired due to the barriers mentioned above;
Antenna – contrary to what many believe, having a router full of antennas will not amplify the router's signal. What interferes most in this case is the exchange of the antenna signal with the devices, influenced by the power of the router. Thus, if there is signal strength emitted by the device, the antenna will follow this range.
