Wireless router roundup: having a tough time keeping up with the latest and greatest Wi-Fi products? Use the buying suggestions in this article to pick a access point that matches your unique needs.

BY 2008, 700 MILLION PEOPLE worldwide will have tapped into a wireless router, making Wi-Fi a $1.5 billion industry by 2010, according to Pyramid Research. That's good news for anyone who needs to look at their Outlook schedule from a hotel in the middle of nowhere. But, unless it's your job to keep up with networking technologies, making sense of 802.11 advancements can be a challenge. In other words, everyone wants ubiquitous service; unfortunately, we're not all experts at making that a reality.

Yet, if you want to bring Wi-Fi into your home or small office, stream audio files to every room in the house, or check e-mail from any conference room in your company, there's a product that most likely meets your needs. You may require the tightest security known to man, prefer to focus on speed over compatibility, or think Web filtering is a top priority.

If you're ready to start surfing wirelessly (but don't feel the need to add "Wi-Fi expert" to your resume) just follow some of the buying suggestions in this article to pick a router that matches your unique needs.

Wi-Fi: a buyer's perspective

Wi-Fi is a radio transmission protocol that's still evolving. Because there are so many protocols and "standards-plus" enhancements, the terminology and technical specs can be confusing. The IEEE ratified the 802.11 standard several years ago, and there are several flavors: 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a for now.

802.11b--Operates in the 2.4GHz spectrum. The theoretical speed is 11Mbps, but because of overhead, actual data throughput usually tops out at about 5Mbps. The signal range is usually quoted at approximately 300 feet, but this can vary dramatically based on the RF environment.

802.11g--Operates in the 2.4GHz spectrum. The theoretical speed is 54Mbps, but actual data throughput tops out at closer to 11-12Mbps. The signal range is usually quoted at about 300 feet, but again, this can vary dramatically based on the RF environment.

802.11a--Operates in the 5GHz spectrum. The theoretical speed is 54Mbps but, yet again, users generally find actual maximum data throughput is closer to 20-25Mbps. The signal range for 802.11a is about 60 feet.

So, what does all of this mean? Well, 802.11b/g have better range than 802.11 a. 802.11 a speeds are faster than 802.11b and 802.11g. 802.11b and 802.11g are much more dominant in the market. 802.11a has such short range that it is only practical for certain uses, such as short range video streaming. For this reason, I won't be covering 802.11a access points in this article.

In my experience, 802.11g predictably gives you bandwidth of about 14-15 Mbps. Currently, networking companies such as SMC, Buffalo Technologies, Netgear, D-Link, and Belkin have migrated to proprietary speed-enhancing chipsets that give you speeds of up to 35 Mbps. However, these chipsets often require proprietary PC Cards and can interfere with neighboring wire less networks. If your users have these cards installed at the office, where you have total control over the RF environment, they're fine. However, if they're on the road trying to connect to a public access point, they could experience compatibility problems. More on this in a moment.

Security is another important issue for wireless networking. Wi-Fi started out as a novelty and something occasionally used. Now, corporate workers are downloading financial data right from public Starbucks/T-Mobile access points. If a hacker decides to sniff out a user's IP Address, he might be able to access their hard disk over a wireless connection. The original wireless encryption protocol (WEP) standard, which is still widely used, doesn't protect data using the latest packet-encryption methods. For that, you'll need a wireless router that supports Wi-Fi protected access (WPA). Many companies have started using a virtual private networks (VPNs) over Wi-Fi, which help protect the connection between the client and the server.

In addition to speed and security, you must consider these issues:

Compatibility--Every 802.11g network experiences speed degradation when an 802.11b client associates with the access point, but you can configure some routers to prevent an 802.11b user from even connecting and, thereby, maintaining consistently high 802.11g speeds. Before you buy a router, decide whether you need high speeds (and look for Super-G or AfterBurner enhancements) or high compatibility. The generic 802.11g standard works the best in mixed environments with multiple access points. Even if you're just setting up one router in your home, you still need to think about your neighbors because a Super-G router can seriously interfere with a standard 802.11g connection.

Filters--Some routers come with built-in filters that can block adult sites and other offensive content. It's usually a simple matter of accessing the router over a direct Ethernet connection, typing in the router's IP Address, and enabling a checkbox in a wizard-like setup program that runs in the browser window.

Wired support--Some routers provide wireless-only access, while some also work as wired router. In some cases, a wireless router provides just four ports, which means you can connect one or two desktops and direct-connect a laptop over Ethernet as needed; or, in an enterprise environment, you can connect as many hubs as you need.

Coverage area--The typical 802.11g wireless router provides coverage of about 300 feet, but building construction and competing radio protocols can radically affect the range. Home users should switch to 900Mhz or 5 GHz cordless phones if you install an 802.11b or 802.11g router using the 2.4GHz frequency.

If you're in a newer home or office complex and are having problems penetrating drywall, it's likely to be something inside the wall. Drywall is usually easy to penetrate, even easier then glass, so check for wire meshing, heavy masonry, cinder blocks, etc. There isn't much you can do about this, but at least you'll know what the problem is. Hawking has released a number of coverage-boosting antennas that can double the coverage area of standard 802.11g networks for minimal cost.

Wireless networked-attached storage (WNAS)--One of the latest developments with wireless routers is to add a USB 2.0 port so that you can attach a hard disk for wireless networked-attached storage. It makes sense for small offices when you need extra file storage, but larger companies are still likely to rely on a file server for backups and user authentication. The router auto-configures the storage space and makes it available to any attached client.

PC cards--The router you buy is likely to determine which PC Card you use and/or which wireless-enabled laptops you deploy in your company. Typically, if you choose a router with speed enhancements, such as the D-Link DI-624 that uses Atheros Super-G, you'll have to use the compatible PC Card to get the extra speed. The card driver includes options for 802.11g "turbo mode" for fast access. Other "vanilla" devices will still work just fine, albeit at slightly slower speeds that your average use probably won't notice for most Internet related activities.

Getting to the products

Choosing the right device is a matter of matching router specifications with your most important usage requirements. So, if security is important to you, choose a router that supports VPN tunneling. If you crave the fastest speeds possible, look for the router that offers the most megabits-per-second bandwidth.

To help you make the decision, I've evaluated four of the latest, fastest, and most secure routers on the market. Each one includes a few unique characteristics, so I've concentrated on those features (I'm assuming in each case that you'll need 300-foot coverage, 802.11g support, and good security).

But, know this: Chipset companies release new Wi-Fi products just about every month, with new 802.11g enhancements that squeeze out more speed from the approved standard. The hitch is that although the products are Wi-Fi-compatible, their enhancements aren't. Clear as mud? Think of it this way: out-of-the-box, the equipment complies with Wi-Fi specs, but once you try to take advantage of that turbo-charged speed, security, and range (which is why you bought the equipment in the first place, right?) you throw guaranteed compatibility out the window. Why do you care? You can't take advantage of Wi-Fi's core strength: the ability to mix and match brands of access points and Wi-Fi cards.

Belkin High Speed Media Router

http://www.belkin.com

US$104

You might recognize the name Belkin for its PC connectors and cell phone adapters, but it also makes a robust line of networking products. Although a previous generation 802.11g routers from Belkin was more than capable of delivering a decent throughput, its High Speed Mode Router F5D7231-4 is a major leap forward.

In my tests using NetIQ QCheck (http://www.netiq.com), the router delivered a blistering 25 Mbps even in a mixed-mode environment with standard 802.11b and 802.11g devices present. Belkin has rated the router as capable of 34.1 Mbps, although I wasn't able to achieve that speed. Just as importantly, the High Speed Router (which uses Broadcom AfterBurner technology) didn't interfere with a neighboring 802.11g network. I used the latest Belkin router drivers and a Belkin F5D7001 PC Card. To configure the router, I just had to tap into a simple setup program and enable the high-speed mode. As with most "standards-plus" routers, you can also run in "compatibility mode" that lets a wider range of clients connect, but at much slower speeds.

The F5D7231-4 is more than just a blazingly fast router. Belkin includes free trials for various Web filtering programs and pop-up blockers. Enabling filters on the router itself means the client devices don't have to run their own filters to block offensive sites and the constant deluge of spam, pop-ups, and spyware.

Buffalo WHR3-G54

http://www.buffalotech.com

US$129

Buffalo's latest entry into the wireless router market sports a few handy extras that make it an all-around contender for the best networking product in this round-up. Not only does it use Broadcom AfterBurner technology, but the router is also richly equipped with the latest security protocols. However, the 125 High-Speed Mode Router WHR3-G54 is just a bit more expensive than other high-speed routers.

In my tests with the Buffalo 125 High-Speed Mode WLI-CB-G54S PC Card (which is required for the fastest connection), throughput in QCheck ranged anywhere from 25 Mbps to 30 Mbps. (Buffalo claims the router should run at about 35 Mbps or higher.) That's plenty fast for streaming music files from the Real Rhapsody music service and let me download a 600MB Movielink.com movie in about 45 minutes or so.

The 125 WHR3-G54 router includes the AOSS one-touch security option. By pressing a button on the router and clicking an option in the client card driver program, you can add high-level security automatically without having to make a trip to the router configuration screen. The router supports WPA (TKIP) and AES (soon to be called WPA2), which means each data packet is protected from hacker sniffing. The WHR3-G54 lacks some of the Web filtering and blocking features you get on the Belkin F5D7231-4.

D-Link AirPlus Extreme G DI-624

http://www.dlink.com

US$85

The D-Link DI-624 uses Atheros Super-G technology to push bandwidth into a much higher range than the AfterBurner technology the Buffalo and Belkin products use. In my tests, Qcheck clocked the router at a jaw-dropping 60 Mbps, but only after I added and configured the latest beta drivers for the router and the D-Link DWL-G650 PC Card. (This was a cumbersome process that involved removing any pre-existing D-Link networking drivers.) At 60 Mbps, I was able to download a large 200MB corporate presentation from my own file server in about 5 minutes and stream Real Rhapsody files without any data hiccups. The downside, though, is Atheros Super-G can interfere with neighboring networks, although in practice this was a non-issue: I set up an older Netgear CG814M and ran both b and g wireless networks at the same but only noticed a slight drop in the b network.

Having the DI-624 supports 802.1X and WPA-PSK security protocols enabled didn't slow my network speeds in any way.

Netgear WGT634U

http://www.netgear.com

US$150

The NETGEAR WGT634U is the most innovative router I tested, mostly due to the unusual 480Mbps network-attached storage port. Using a USB 2.0 cable. I connected a Western Digital WD800B008 80 GB external hard drive to the router, which auto-configured the disk storage for the wireless LAN. Over the Atheros Super-G powered network, I made a complete archive of my 40GB laptop drive in just under an hour with a connection speed that ran as high as 60 Mbps (and as low, at times, as 30 Mbps). That feature alone makes this NETGEAR router worth considering, but the security specs--including WPA-PSK encryption, SPI and NAT firewall modes, pass-through VPN support push the WGTT634U into a realm of superior performance and enhanced security.

Catch a moving train

It's a given: Wireless networking is here to stay. Speeds will only increase, and someday we'll all be enjoying a highly secure wireless connection without even thinking about hacker intrusions. For now, it's still a wild and wooly frontier of ever-evolving security standards and bandwidth enhancements. If you just need to install a router right now, there's no need to wait for market stabilization: It might never happen.

MOBILE BUSINESS BENEFITS

As Wi-Fi's popularity increases, so does the pressure to implement it in your company. If you haven't taken the Wi-Fi plunge yet, it might be because you're having a hard time keeping up with the latest Wi-Fi specifications and features. If that's the case, you've found the right article.

John Brandon is a freelance writer from Buffalo, Minnesota. Before starting his writing career, he worked as an IT manager with a large consumer electronics retailer. His areas of expertise include handheld computers, notebooks, smartphones, wireless technology, displays, and any other computer-oriented device.