Maybe you’ve heard that having a router is a good idea. Perhaps you’ve even heard that you need one. But is it worth spending the money?
Routers make a difference by enhancing performance using routing protocols and routing tables. In addition, routers improve security with an onboard packet filtering firewall. Also, routers allow you to connect multiple computers to your internet service. Either via cables or with WIFI.
Depending on your model, routers can also deliver additional functionality that gives you more control and better access to your devices.
What difference does a router make?
Better performance
Routers increase network performance by leveraging routing protocols and routing tables. Before the router and the switch, there was the hub. It was one of the now obsolete devices people used to connect computers in a network.
It did the job, but it had a major flaw. It did its job by repeating or broadcasting whatever was sent by one device to all other connected devices. Then, only the intended receiver would accept the message while the others would ignore it. As a result, hubs would work for low network traffic but quickly became overwhelmed if the traffic reached a significant volume.
There would be collisions and a flood of data on the small network that would quickly make it so slow that it wasn’t useful anymore. This is why engineers developed the switch and router.
The switch allows machines connected to it to exchange messages directly, whereas the router supports machines on different switches exchanging messages across even large networks of devices. Both switches and routers use tables to store the relevant location data.
Once a switch and router learn the location of whatever resource you’re trying to connect to, they can support direct communication efficiently without collisions or network lag. Broadcasting messages to all network devices is a thing of the past. For the best network performance, you will want a router.
If you don’t have a router, your switch or computer will rely on the next router up the line. Usually, the router is owned by your internet service provider. This is possible but less than ideal, considering it’s trying to be a router at a higher level connecting a network of networks.
Home network security
A router makes a big difference in terms of your home network security. Built into all routers is a packet filtering firewall, which is excellent for home use. It allows you to use the internet normally without restricting you and without knowing anything about configuring it.
By default, it allows you to use the internet as you’re accustomed to while preventing any inbound connections. In some instances, this may be a problem, but this is what you want most of the time.
If, for some reason, you need an external connection into your network, you can allow it by setting an access control list rule for that machine in your router configuration. You need to log in to the admin area of your router to make this change. The manufacturer of your device provides instructions on how to log in.
I learned about how effective these firewalls are back when I was playing around with software firewalls. A software firewall is an app that works as a firewall by rejecting connection requests unless you make a rule that it’s allowed. I could write a whole article just on software firewalls but let’s stay focused on hardware firewalls.
One of the features of a software firewall is that it can report all of the connection requests, hacker scans, and other digital probings on the open internet. A handy feature when you’re testing security devices!
I found that if I connected to the internet without a router, the number of attacks my computer experienced were so numerous that I couldn’t read the list as it scrolled by. However, as soon as I connected a router between my computer and the internet, all of the attacks stopped. I was pretty impressed!
Connect multiple devices
One of the great features of a home router is that it has both a router and a switch built into a single device. The connection between the router and the switch is internal to the device, but it’s there.
The port that connects to your modem is the outer side of the router. The other ports you connect your devices to are the switch portion and make up your internal network. Usually, there are at least four ports on your internal network switch, but it can be more or less depending on the model.
The onboard switch functions like a switch normally would, facilitating communication between all of the connected devices. If one of those devices wants to connect to the internet, it passes the traffic to the router, which then goes through finding and documenting the path to what you’re looking for online.
Most routers today also provide WIFI which lets you connect a device to the onboard switch wirelessly. Some models will separate the traffic between WIFI and other devices. Typically, a WIFI-connected device is treated the same as a device connected to the switch using a cable.
With a typical four-port switch and the ability to connect ten or more WIFI-enabled devices, your router can increase the number of devices you can have connected to the internet simultaneously. If for some reason, you need more wired ports, switches can be chained together to expand your capacity.
To do this, you would buy a separate switch and connect it to one of your router’s switch ports. Any open ports available after this initial setup are open for you to connect devices.
Does buying an expensive router make a difference?
Buying an expensive router doesn’t make a difference over a less expensive router unless it has features that you need. For example, computer router features like higher bandwidth or sharing things like storage or a USB printer. Parental controls and secure remote access also fall under this category.
Even so, the average router has enough bandwidth or throughput to meet the needs of most users with an average internet connection.
The biggest concern with router bandwidth is that you have enough capacity to make the most of your internet connection bandwidth. If you have a high-speed fiber internet connection, you will want to be sure your network gear isn’t holding you back, and spending a bit more money will be worth it.
Will upgrading my router make a difference?
It’s possible, but there are several factors that you need to consider to make a good decision.
First, how old is your router? If your router is older than 3 to 5 years old, your devices that are newer than that may be using or are at least capable of using more recent, better technology. Unfortunately, that can mean you’re missing out on performance, signal reliability, or important security measures.
Second, are you having trouble with your WIFI, or are you in a difficult environment for WIFI, like an apartment or a major shopping mall? These places have so many WIFI signals present that it can be difficult for anyone to use them successfully. However, newer technology can help deal with overcrowding issues.
To find out if you have a WIFI problem that would benefit from a new router, you need a tool like Signifi Personal to know if the cost is justified. Once you set it up and run it, it will guide you through what you need to do to fix the problem. One of which may be applying updates or buying a new router if updates aren’t available.
And third, if your router is old, that means the manufacturer has moved on to maintain updates and patches. Hackers love it when people use older routers with vulnerabilities with no possibility of an update that will close the holes.
To keep your network as secure as possible, apply updates as they become available and consider upgrading when your router is no longer supported. It will help keep the hackers out and make your information more secure.