Welp MagazineIt’s time to upgrade your office network to the next level with the best wireless routers. If you’re trying to get by on one of those basic routers your internet provider rents you, you could try adding one of the best Wi-Fi extenders.
Keep in mind that if you’re thinking about buying a new router instead of a Wi-Fi extender, you should know that you’ll get better speeds by opting for a wireless router. In terms of performance, the best wireless routers are the ones that have the best speeds and range. There are a few different factors that determine the performance of a router, including the router’s distance from the location of the client, the type of LAN connections, and even the client’s device connection.
Best Office Router
NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router
Tenda AC1200 Dual Band WiFi Router
TRENDnet AC3000 Tri-Band Wireless Gigabit Dual-WAN VPN SMB Router
Linksys EA9500 Tri-Band Wi-Fi Router
NETGEAR Nighthawk Smart WiFi Router
We have researched the best wireless routers on the market to find the top-rated products that are perfect for your home or office.
TP-Link N900 Wi-Fi Router
The TP-Link N900 is a high-quality wireless router with a three-stream 802.11n 1×1 Wave 2 plus MU-MIMO technology. This means it can deliver up to a total of four data streams and can give faster speeds than a one-stream router. It provides good performance, and it’s perfect for locations that are far away from the main router or those with many devices, with a 1,000-square-foot range of service.
The TP-Link router has a USB 3.0 pass-through port, two USB 2.0 ports, one Gigabit Ethernet, one WAN port, one Gigabit LAN port, one power port, and a reset button.
The router is compatible with DD-WRT, OpenWRT, Tomato, and Pepwave, as well as only supporting a single device to connect.
TP-Link N300 Wireless Router
The TP-Link N300 is a direct replacement for your home’s router. It has bad-ass, cool technology in it. And, not only does it let you personalize your PC’s image, but it also allows you to create a separate network for each guest, so they can choose to connect to your own, or your child’s network.
What makes the TP-Link N300 awesome is its increased Wi-Fi power and range. It’s perfect for people who don’t have many devices who want to stream music or download slowly, and it even has parental controls that will prevent unruly use. It also has a USB port for one device connecting, as well as a 2.4 GHz either/both band wireless access point solution which means anyone within your Wi-Fi range can enjoy your internet connection.
iNet Wi-Fi Range Extender
This range extender is a nifty little device that can extend the Wi-Fi signals of two wireless devices at the same time. The range extender, which is as easy to use and install as a plug, measures 12 x 4 x 4 inches. It doesn’t interfere with your other wireless devices and its range extends up to 4,000 square feet. It also has a two-year limited warranty, so you can move it from room to room – you won’t even need to mess with the well-designed plug.
Another cool feature of this range extender is that the device can connect to the wireless network via a USB port, making the extender more versatile. The range extender offers WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), allowing you to set up Wi-Fi with 30 seconds and you can protect it via a WPA/WPA-2 key. Users can even connect a smartphone to computers via an on-board Bluetooth module.
It is compatible with Google Chrome, IE 11, and all smartphones or tablets running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and above. It will even connect to the range extender using the USB cable, creating a new network connection, as well as to the main Wi-Fi network. The user can decide whether to share the internet access or leave it for a guest, so there’s no need to worry about the internet filtering at home, only the internet access.
Belkin N300 1-Port USB 2.0 Home Network Extender
The Belkin N300 is a fantastic, versatile little device that you can use both as a repeater and a direct replacement for your router. For a great price, this little wireless extender has system requirements including Windows XP or later. Also, be sure to check the line voltage because it is only approved for 220 volts.
The device has a USB port for transferring files and a stand that can be used to hide the network extender from sight. The Belkin extender offers excellent range, and it can be connected via a USB cable, and it is compatible with wireless-G/N and wireless-AC, so you can have both.
This great little device delivers a lot of network benefits, including:
Fair performance
Compatible with all network topologies
Easy extender setup
Excellent range
In addition, the Belkin N300 extender can be used to simplify Wi-Fi routers by connecting computers to a convenient repeater if a direct connection doesn’t work.
Alfa Micro Mini USB Adapter and Network Extender
The Alfa Micro Mini USB Adapter is a portable, plug-and-use network extender that simply connects to a computer’s USB port, and it extends the range of a wireless connection.
Although this device doesn’t work with every wireless network, it’s compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless networks. The Alfa Micro Mini USB Adapter features a brand-new circuit technology for military-grade signal up to 100 meters.
The Alfa Micro Mini USB Adapter is compatible with most of today’s mobile devices like Android, iOS, Windows, BlackBerry 10, PS Vita and others. It’s also great for personal computers and Laptops.
Satechi Mini Router
The Satechi Mini Router is a small, easy way to extend the range of an existing wireless network. The Satechi Mini Router is small and compact and can deliver up to 8,000 square feet of coverage, which is quite impressive for a device that is measuring in at just 2.9-inches long.
The Satechi Mini Router can extend the range of two different 802.11ac Wi-Fi networks at once, but the device shouldn’t be used by itself. It is also compatible with 802.11b/g/n networks. If you are one or both of the networks is is using, you should purchase an antenna to make it even better.
The Satechi Mini Router also supports WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), and if you have both active networks, you can disable one or both of them.
It is compatible with all operating systems and has a 72-hour glitch-free refund policy, but there are also limited warranties available to exchange the product for another one free of charge.
To put it simply, this is a device designed to enhance a new wireless network in homes with one or more devices. It is fairly easy to set up and it’s very beneficial to those wanting to extend the range of a Wi-Fi signal.
D-Link RangeBooster N
The D-Link RangeBooster N is a great Wi-Fi range extender that offers higher speeds for both wireless and wired devices. It can also pass through its device a high-speed USB connection. The D-Link RangeBooster N can be used in several different configurations and also requires little time to set up. It is a great solution for moving a Wi-Fi signal from one place to another.
The D-Link RangeBooster N range extender is small and intelligent; also, it is covered by a lifetime warranty.
The D-Link RangeBooster N employs several intelligent antenna techniques to smartly select the best possible spot for the router and the best possible spot for the USB adapter. It is simple to configure and in a snap to install.
Its small size enables it to fit on a shelf or in a drawer. It is constructed of fire-resistant materials, which ensure its durability.
As its name suggests, this device can boost the range of a wireless connection up to 672 feet. The D-Link RangeBooster N also enables devices to transfer data via the USB. This provides some extra speed, as well as a convenient way to transfer files between different devices. Moreover, it doesn’t have to be connected to a computer to be compatible.
D-Link Wireless AC5300 Gigabit Router
The D-Link Wireless AC5300 Gigabit Router, a superb device that can extend the range of the internet, is a great tool for Wi-Fi set-ups that need the internet to reach distant LANs. With a sleek, modern design, this device has remarkable features that make it a perfect choice for a connection booster, as well as for providing a wider range of wireless speeds.
The router has the ability to deliver transfer speeds of up to 2.3 Gbps, which is an increase over its previous version. This means that it can greatly enhance the speed of devices connected to it. And when you pair it with the great D-Link AC5300 Advanced Wi-Fi Range Extender, you are able to bring an entire home’s internet service to a single room.
This device comes in a compact size, and it is an attractive method of delivering a high-speed connection.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) Internet
DSL Internet is generally faster than the previously mentioned wireless varieties, but it is also more expensive. In addition, in an area with a large concentration of DSL internet customers, you might end up with a signal lag that is not as smooth as you would want.
VDSL (Very High Speed Data Layer)
VDSL Internet is based on the same technology that undercarriages which connect to your telephone system use for connecting to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network).
The technology is called G.fast, which can greatly increase the speed of your Internet service. It’s also become more expensive, but you get the advantage of G.fast in terms of speed.
Currently, there are large companies that do not offer G.fast because of its cost. However, most others use VDSL and charge a small extra fee for this.
Most G.fast providers require a fiber connection. A copper connection is not a good choice, as it will not get your home online as fast.
Once you have your fiber box, you will be able to use various IPTV or Internet services providers such as Alcatel, Docsis, or Funk Digital.
Funk Digital, the most popular provider, offers speeds up to 300 Mbps, which is very impressive considering that the Internet is not truly fiber yet.
Straight-through Ethernet
The Straight-through Ethernet is a great way to connect your home to the Internet. It is essentially a coaxial cable that has Ethernet connectors at each end. You can plug in one end into your TV and the other into the modem, and you will get a conventional connection.
It is required that your TV has a duplex jack, and it might be difficult to find one that can accept a straight through Ethernet. There are even some that are equipped with the Ethernet port, and they are known as Ethernet-ready televisions.
The last thing you want, though, is to try to plug it in backwards or upside down, and your TV will turn off or work slower.
Analog Modem
If your modem is an analog modem, then your problem is not difficult to fix. You will need to get a new, more advanced device. If your modem is of the digital type, then you might need to get a digital one in order to have the right connection. The digital type is cheaper and is easy to use, but it has certain features that you don’t need such as USB and Wi-Fi.
There are even some digital modems that have both of those.
If your primary ISP is Cox Cable, then you would need to order a Cox modem, and it should vary in price from $40 to $50. This modem will not work with the latest devices, so it might be good for you. Your ISP is keeping it in stock.
There is also a highly popular modem that has made a statement in the marketplace. It is known as the Motorola Surfboard SB6141. This modem has come to be highly prized by users because of its low price and its great features. It is compatible with all major ISPs and has its speed enhanced by the Motorola VTP.
In the second section, there are some types of Routers, and they are:
Backbone
This type of Router is basically the same as a modem. They are used for extending connections, which is exactly what you want to do with a Gateway Internet service. The benefit of this product is that it doesn’t cost a lot. It is best used for short distances, and you would not have to go through the additional steps.
It does not require a previous connection to a DSL or Cable Modem.
However, it only allows for speeds up to 25 Megabits per second.
If you need a product that is more advanced than this, then you would have to spend around $30 to $50.
There are also routers that have higher speeds.
