Routers: A Quick Guide
There are 3 types of wireless routers on the market:
The protocols:
802.11a commonly referred to as wireless a, released in 1999 with a maximum data transmission rate of 54 Mb/s.
802.11b commonly referred to as wireless b, released in 1999 with a maximum data transmission rate of 11 Mb/s.
802.11g commonly referred to as wireless g, released in 2003 with a maximum data transmission rate of 54 Mb/s.
802.11n commonly referred to as wireless n. released in 2006 with a maximum data transmission rate of 100-600Mb/s.
Wireless n is still in draft mode and has yet to be officially approved. It is therefore more accurately described as draft n.
Most routers today have a b/g classification with some additionally supporting a.
The problem with b/g routers is that they operate on the 2.4 GHz range which is also used by such household products as microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices and cordless telephones. Interference issues are therefore not unheard of.
SECURITY:
Every router's control panel comes with a security settings page.
Secure your network!
WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy): Now considered obsolete, WEP is notoriously easy to crack. Do not use this as your router's security layer.
WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access): More difficult to crack than WEP therefore more secure.
