Have You Outgrown Your Router?

Let me guess, the oldest piece of technology in your home office is the router. Am I right?

This holds true for most real estate agents. There just doesn’t appear to be a compelling reason to invest in newer technology. That is what I thought until I did a little research. Since then, I have retired my trusty 802.11g router for a new, cutting-edge model.

Originally, you probably bought your router so that multiple computers could share a broadband connection. Plus, the added benefit of a wireless signal gave you the freedom to use your laptop from the couch. For these simple needs, that old router is fine. I’m here to tell you that your needs have grown beyond those simple tasks.

Ask yourself these questions to identify how your home network needs have changed:

1. Do you work primarily from home?
2. Has your broadband connection speed increased (10 Mbps compared to 1.5 Mbps)?
3. Do you have a network connected printer, external hard drive or maybe even a new Windows Home Server?
4. Have you used VOIP (Skype) to make phone calls and video chat?
5. Are you a YouTube junkie?
6. Have you filled up your iPod by downloading music from iTunes?
7. Have you conducted an online meeting (GoToMeeting)?
8. Are you or your child known as a master of Worlds of Warcraft?
9. Have you remotely accessed your home computer (GoToMyPC)?
10. Are your recent vacation photos on Flickr?

I was going to come up with a scoring system to provide a numerical value, but that would be too much like Cosmopolitan magazine. Just know that if you answered yes to even two of the preceding questions, you are a candidate for a router upgrade.

Here is what the latest crop of home routers will give you:

• WPA – The old WEP security encryption for wireless signals is easily cracked. WPA is more secure and easier to configure since you can use a phrase or sentence as the encryption code (no more typing in a 26 digit hexidecimal code to give a house guest’s laptop Internet access).
• Gigabit transfer speed – 100 Mb wired networks are painfully slow for transferring large multimedia files. Gigabit will move movies and music files between computers 10 times faster.
• 802.11N – While the latest wireless standard has yet to be ratified, it is close enough to invest in. 802.11N is faster than the B and G standards, but the real benefit is in signal strength. That means a stronger signal throughout your house and even into the backyard (no dead zones).
• Intelligent QoS – Think of this as prioritizing of your network needs. This makes it so that downloading music doesn’t lower your Skype call quality.
• USB storage connection – Turn any USB hard drive or flash drive into network storage.
• Automatic firmware updates – Makes router maintenance a breeze.
• Dual-band signals – Transmitting on both 2.4 and 5 gigahertz keeps cordless phones, microwave ovens and baby monitors from interfering with your wireless signal.
• LCD display – Network status updates without having to log into an admin page.

There isn’t a single router on the market that incorporated all of these features, so you will need to identify what features are most important to your needs.

Here are four routers to consider when upgrading your home network:

• D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router
• Linksys WRT600N – Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router
• Netgear WNR3500 RANGEMAX WIRELESS- N GIGABIT ROUTER
• Belkin N1 Vision