If you are a serious gamer, you already know how important it is to choose the best equipment. When selecting a router, you want to stick with companies like Lanskys, Netgear, or D-Link, which have earned a reputation for offering the most robust units you can buy. You may think that you can’t afford one of these devices made by one of the best companies, but have you ever considered buying your router second-hand? Many people who are upgrading to newer models sell the old ones at nominal prices, and most of the ones offered for sale are still like new. There is no reason why you should accept a second rate machine instead of the best.
Knowing what you are looking for in a router will help you make informed decisions. Basically, a router connects two local area networks, allowing you to access games on that network and allowing you to play against their best players. Decide what requirements you want for your router. What kind of speed do you need? How many USB ports will you need to connect your extras? What distance capabilities do you want? Once you’ve decided what you’re looking for, you can check online to see which makes and models meet your requirements. Then, if you don’t like the price you’re seeing, you can start looking for the same used model.
You will discover that there are two basic types of wireless routers: a wireless G and a wireless N. The N models are considerably more expensive than the G models, because the N denotes greater range and signal strength. If you need these extensions, you’ll want to buy a router model called N. If you don’t, you can save money by buying a wireless G. Models that are considered the best in the N range include:
* Linkskys Wireless N Gigabit Router with Storage Link (WRT600N): This router is ideal for heavy networking as it has two antennas instead of one. This unit contains high-quality video and audio streams, is VoIP compatible, and extends bandwidth by having dual radio bands. Ports are also included that will allow you to connect it to external hard drives or flash drives.
* D-Link Wireless N Router (DIR-615): You’ll find that D-Link offers affordable routers that have received many awards for excellence. The model referenced here costs around $40, has a 1 year warranty, up to 300 Mbps, and signal strength up to a 1200 foot area.
* Netgear Rangemax WNDR3700 Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router – This router is touted as having superior speed and performance with a speed of 600 Mbps. It includes USB ports for external storage and is a great choice for use with the Xbox 360 or for small companies. It costs around $150.