A router is a device that manages the communication between a local computer network (your home or office computers, network printers, smartphones, etc.) and an external network - typically, but not always, the Internet. In any situation where you have more than one computer or other device connected to the Internet, you will find a router.

Routers actually serve (or may serve) multiple purposes. They act as the physical connection between your Internet gateway (cable, DSL, or fiber modem) and your private computer network. Routers are the first and most important 'firewall' protecting your local network from outside intrusions. They may act as a DHCP Server, providing the IP addresses that all computers require in order to communicate with each other. They may also provide DNS services, translating familiar 'www' Internet addresses into the IP addresses that computers actually use to access websites.

A router may include a network hub, containing four or eight network ports through which wired devices connect to form a local network. Some routers include virus protection and web filtering capabilities. Finally, a wireless router serves as a 'wireless access point', allowing smartphones, tablets, and other wireless devices to communicate with each other and with the outside world.

In larger offices, some of these critical functions are taken over by other devices (a file server, for example), but in smaller offices the router is crucially involved in any network communication, whether it's a computer sending data to a network printer or a wireless laptop attempting to connect to the Internet. The router always controls Internet access, so it's important to choose carefully when buying one for your home or office network.

Your initial router may have been supplied by your Internet Service Provider, and may even be a combination modem/router in a single physical box. Or, you may have purchased or been given one of the standard 'low-end' routers available at any computer store. These units are fine when: your office is small, with just a few connections, you're not heavily reliant on wireless communications, and your Internet connection speed is no more than perhaps 10 megabits per second (mbps).

With some Internet connections now hitting 35 to 50 mpbs (or faster), many low-end routers simply can't keep up with the increased data speeds, resulting in data loss or, more typically, fits and spurts when downloading video or other 'streaming' content.

But, where most people see the need for a better router is when they experience wireless connection problems, either limited wireless range or poor connection speeds. Higher-end routers not only cover a wider wireless area, but can transmit or receive wireless data as much as two to three times faster than 'standard' routers. This is most important when trying to stream data from the Internet wirelessly to a laptop, television, or other device.

If your office consists of just a couple of computers connected by wired network cable to the Internet, a standard router is probably all you need. But, if you're pushing your wireless capabilities, or if your office utilizes a hyper-fast Internet connection, a low-end router may be creating an unnecessary bottleneck. Your IT Professional should be able to point out the differences between low-end and higher performance routers, and point you towards a unit that serves your computer needs and fits your budget.

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Tips provided by Richard D. Vasil, Vasil Consulting, Inc.
© 2012 Vasil Consulting, Inc.