A wireless router is a device that has become the hub of the digital home, and thanks to the increased popularity it is a very inexpensive way of linking many of your devices that you use on a day to day basis to one another and to your broadband internet connection. A majority of broadband internet service providers offer a free wireless router to new customers and it's not just PC and laptop users who will be able to feel the benefits of using a wireless router in your own home.

How does a Wireless Router work?

A wireless router will perform three key tasks. The first is actually connecting you to a broadband internet service, whether it is an ADSL connection provided via your existing land line or a Cable broadband service. The second is acting as a hub to which you can usually connect up to four devices using Ethernet network cables. The final and most important function of a wireless router is the broadcasting of a wireless signal to which you can connect Wi-Fi enabled devices as part of a home network.

Wireless routers vary in size and shape, but all will need mains power and will need to be connected to your wall socket in order to access the internet. There are three wireless standards in common use today, 802.11b, g and n. Each standard has increasingly faster transfer speed, though most routers will deal with both b and g as these are the most common.

Setting up your wireless router to create a home network should be easy provided you follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer or your internet service provider. You will usually need to connect to the router using a network cable and adjust all the settings to your liking before you can connect wirelessly, and indeed this is essential to ensure that your wireless network is properly secured. You'll want to make sure that you set a password on your network so that only you and people you give the code to will be able to access your wireless network and use your router to access the internet.

Wireless Router Uses

A majority of laptops made within the last couple of years will have been produced with built in wireless cards, allowing you to detect any wireless network within range and connect your laptop to it in order to access the internet. This means that you can sit on your sofa or on your bed and still have access to the internet without the need to trail wires everywhere.

It's not just laptops that are coming with wireless connectivity, as other gadgets like mobile phones, printers and even digital photo frames are being designed with built in wireless connectivity. This means that you could unify all of your devices via a single wireless network created by a singe wireless router.

The modern generation of games consoles also have wireless capability, with the Wii and the PS3 having built in wireless adapters. This means that your wireless router will allow you to access the internet and play games online using your consoles. Make sure you place your wireless router in an area which will allow it's signal to be accessed easily. For example, it's no good putting your router in the cellar if you want to access it in the attic as most wireless routers won't broadcast that far.