How to get the best wireless kit you can buy

There’s currently a variety of ranges available when buying a wireless router. The current standard is Wireless-G, or 802.11g. This can be augmented with technologies such as MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) or Rangebooster, which use multiple antennae to get a better data rate, and compression systems, such as Super-G and Speedbooster; these provide a faster connection within your home when streaming media, or printing and sharing files.

The upcoming standard is Wireless-N or 802.11n. First draft specifications were released this time last year, and manufacturers have used this to create ‘Pre-N’ or ‘Draft-N’ devices.

While these new devices do offer a marked speed increase for a price, there’s a chance (though it’s increasingly unlikely) that the second draft will change dramatically enough to render these products useless when Wireless-N is ratified in 2009. Still, if you want to stream high-definition content wirelessly to a media streamer, it’s currently the only option.

A word of caution, though: if you just want a faster internet connection, none of this makes any difference. A bottom-end Wireless-G router operates at 54 megabits per second (Mbps); the UK broadband standard is between 2 and 8Mbps. No matter how fast your new router goes, it’ll never connect to the internet faster than the speed of your internet connection.

Wider range

One reason to purchase a router with a MIMO, Rangebooster or even Draft-N designation is the increased range it offers. While a Wireless-G specification router is fine in a two bed flat, a large townhouse with thick walls will be only partially covered by a Wireless-G signal.

A MIMO router will offer almost twice the range, while a Draft-N device will surpass that, and if you’re dreaming of lazy summer days browsing wirelessly at the bottom of your garden, you’ll need more than a standard Wireless-G router.

Of course, if the router is the transmitter, you’ll need a receiver at the other end. You’ve a few hardware options here. Assuming neither your PC nor your laptop currently has wireless capability, the simplest way to enable wireless networking is to buy a wireless USB adaptor.

Being USB, it’s simply a matter of plugging the device in and letting Windows Vista do the rest. If you’re a laptop user, your alternative is either a PCMCIA or Express Card. You might want to consider these cards, which slide into the slot on the side of your notebook, if USB ports are at a premium or if you don’t want a permanently protruding stick.

If you own a desktop PC, the most integrated method is to install a PCI card inside your case. This is a circuit board that slots into the PCI slots on your motherboard. It’s a lot easier to install than you might think, at the most requiring a single screw to fit; the aerial then attaches to the rear external panel. This keeps your USB ports free, and offers a more adjustable aerial in order to maximise your range.

It’s a good idea to buy a wireless card to match your router’s speed and spec. A Wireless-G card will connect to any Wireless-G router, but if you want to take advantage of Speedbooster technologies you’ll need a compatible card. Similarly, if you have a Wireless-N router, you’ll need a Wireless-N card to reach top speed, and in some cases even connect at all.

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