The 5 Best Wireless Routers

The router is the core of every home network, so it is important to purchase a router that suits your needs well. In this guide we'll take a look at the top 5 routers on the market today.

Best Wireless Router Roundup

Routers are a crucial part of every home network. They determine how your network will function and how strong of a signal you'll be able to receive throughout your home.

The market for wireless routers is huge, so it can be difficult to simply walk into a store and find the best one. In this guide I'll highlight the five best routers overall.

Linksys WRT54GL

This older Linksys router is now somewhat outdated, but it is still a popular choice. It supports 802.11b/g wireless and includes four wired LAN ports. WPA2 and WEP encryption options are included. The router configuration software is easy to use and provides a number of options.

The WRT54GL doesn't support wireless n, but it is also fairly inexpensive. Most retailers will sell you one for under $60. The WRT54GL, and previous variants of the device, have garnered a reputation for being reliable and providing a very strong signal. This is probably why the router has won Newegg's Customer Choice award an absolutely insane 37 times.

Netgear WNDR37AV-100NAS

The Netgear WNDR37AV-100NAS is a high end wireless network router desgined for people who need (or want) the best wireless router in terms of performance and overall flexability. This Netgear router supports wireless a/b/g/n and promises speeds of up to 300Mbps over wireless. This router also includes the typical selection of four wired LAN ports, but they are functional at Gigabit speeds, which is a feature most routers don't support. WPA2 and WEP encryption options are supported.

There are also some special feaures on this router. It can be used as a DLNA media server, making it easy to send video to displays in your home that support it. This is also a dual-band router, which is why it boasts such a high maximum speed. Security is improved through the implementation of DoS (denial-of-service) protection and a "double firewall" configuration.

Features don't come free, however - you'll pay about $150 for this router.

TRENDnet TEW-657BRM

The TRENDnet TEW-657BRM is a fairly basic router that provides wireless b/g/n support. This is DSL router, so unfortuantly cable users will need to move on. If you do use DSL, however, this router can take the place of your DSL modem in order to reduce the amount of equipment in your home. Please check with your DSL provider first, however, because some providers are finicky about their customers using their own equipment.

Overall, the features of this router are mundane. It has 4 wired LAN ports and supports typical WPA/WEP encryption.The main point of interest is the price. At about $70 the TRENDnet TEW-657BRM is competively priced for a router that proviedes wireless n, nevermind one that can be used with DSL. As a result, this is one of the best wireless router values on the market.