Virtually all office equipment — PCs, laptops, printers, MFPs, IP phones and other devices — requires stable, high-quality internet. If a company experiences network problems, work can come to a standstill.
Not only speed is important, but also the number of simultaneously connected devices, coverage area, and the possibility of a wired connection. Let’s talk about how to choose the right model for your office: what characteristics are important and what they affect.
What is a router and how does it work?
Most often, for high-speed access in the office, the Internet is connected via cable and connected to a router. It is needed to transmit the Internet from the provider to connected devices.
Most often, routers have several ports to which office equipment can be connected via cable.
If the router has a wireless connection function, it converts the Internet signal into radio waves — this is how Wi-Fi works. The client device picks up the wave, receives the data and sends it back. This article will focus on choosing a Wi-Fi router.
What affects network coverage
Various factors affect the quality and coverage of Wi-Fi. For example, interference from other devices that distribute wireless Internet and obstacles such as furniture, walls and ceilings. The more obstacles there are in the signal’s path, the smaller the coverage area and the poorer the network quality. The following router characteristics will help you achieve a stable network signal.
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Operating range
Routers exchange information with devices using radio waves of a certain frequency — this is called the operating range of the device. Modern routers can operate in two frequency ranges — 2.4 and 5 GHz.
2.4 GHz frequency.
At this frequency, the wave is not as sensitive to interference, so it passes through various obstacles better and the coverage area is larger. This range is the most popular and is often used by default. If your office has neighbours, they also use Wi-Fi routers. Multiple devices clog the channel and interfere with each other, causing the signal quality to drop.
5 GHz frequency.
This frequency range has a smaller coverage area. Usually, a high-quality connection can only be achieved within one room or a small space. This is due to the characteristics of wave attenuation and its sensitivity to obstacles. The communication channel at 5 GHz is wider, so the data transfer rate is higher. In addition, this frequency range is not used as often, which means that interference from other devices is not as noticeable.
What to consider when choosing
It is better to buy a router that works in two bands. Some devices have the ability to automatically switch between frequencies depending on network conditions. For example, if the 2.4 GHz band is too congested, the router will switch to 5 GHz. But keep in mind that not all client devices support this frequency.
Transmitter power
The higher the transmitter power in the router, the stronger the signal and the further it spreads. If you need to connect a large number of devices to the Internet or set up Wi-Fi in a large office, it is better to choose devices with more powerful transmitters.
What to consider when choosing
Transmitter power is limited by the State Commission for Radio Frequencies: it must not exceed 24 dBm. The same decision sets limits on the power of transmitters in client devices: no more than 20 dBm. Therefore, even if you install a router with the most powerful transmitters, this will not always help solve the problem of expanding the coverage area.
Antenna type and gain
Antennas are needed to direct radio waves. They can be directional or omnidirectional. Directional antennas transmit the signal in only one direction. They are used when you need to cover a specific remote area with a network, such as a car park near the office. Omnidirectional antennas transmit the signal in all directions, so they should be installed in the centre of the room.