For the high-quality organization of a home network and connecting to the Internet for several devices at once, a router (router) is used. To decide on the choice of the type of router, you need to clearly understand for what purposes it will be used.
If only stationary personal computers are installed in an apartment or other room, a wired device will suffice, and if you need to create a wi-fi zone, a wireless router will be the best solution. It's not entirely correct to compare wired and wireless routers just like that, because they have different technical characteristics and, accordingly, cost. Therefore, each of the devices for some specific conditions may be the best.
Purpose of routers
A wired router will be the best solution for creating a simple local area network of personal computers. A local network is necessary for organizing work in small offices and in homes where several PCs are installed. In this way, you can conveniently configure shared access to information and peripheral devices, for example, a printer, fax, scanner, external storage device, etc.
Also, each of these PCs can be connected to the Internet, subject to such technical capability. Then the total Internet traffic provided by the provider will be divided between all computers on the local network. The wired connection is more reliable and resilient to interference and failure.
A wireless router is indispensable when you need to create a wi-fi zone. Its presence is relevant if the premises use various gadgets and mobile devices with a wi-fi receiver. For example, a tablet, laptop, smartphone, etc. All these devices will be able to connect to the router, and through it they will be able to access the Internet. Most often, such a router, in addition to the transmitter antennas, has connectors for connecting devices to it via a cable, therefore it duplicates the capabilities of a wired router.
Router cost
Due to the presence of additional elements, such as a transmitter, a wireless router has a higher cost compared to its wired counterpart. Therefore, without an obvious need, there is no point in overpaying and purchasing a wi-fi router. It is also worth abandoning such a device if the Internet connection is unstable or has a very low speed, which is clearly not enough even for two computers.
However, in the case when the creation of a wi-fi zone is planned in the future, you should take care of buying a wireless router in advance. Since it may be needed not only to access the Internet, but also to create a housing management system of the "smart home" type. Through this device, you can adjust the control of various sensors, lighting, heating, air conditioning, alarms, etc.
Network security
When it comes to security, a wireless router is clearly a loser. Network coverage usually extends far beyond the apartment or standard premises, so access to it must be protected with a complex password, and sometimes the list of devices connected to such a router must be monitored to make sure that there are no "outsiders".
Everything is simple with a wired router: a separate cable is connected to each computer connected to it, and it is simply impossible to unauthorizedly connect to such a local network.
Before buying a router, you should correctly assess your needs and choose the most suitable device in terms of functions and cost.
