A router is a hardware device that enables home broadband users to connect and link together a number of PC’s, laptops, and gaming consoles in order to share the broadband access.

Unlike a standard wired router, a wireless router allows the connection to happen wirelessly, therefore saving the need to run cables throughout your home between each device.

Thanks in part to advances in technology and increases in popularity, wireless routers are a very affordable device for home networking. With many of the major broadband internet service providers offering wireless routers free of charge to new customers.

Essentially the job of a wireless router is to connect you to your broadband service, whether this may be a cable or ADSL broadband service. The router will then act as a hub from which you can connect other devices such as a laptop or gaming consoles. The wireless router will finally broadcast a wireless signal throughout your home, this will enable you to connect any Wi-Fi enabled devices to your home network.

Wireless routers come in all shapes and sizes, and are available from a wide range of manufacturers. They will ofcourse all require a mains power connection and will be available in three wireless standards, 802.11b, g and n. Each wireless standard allows for increasingly faster transfer speed, though most routers will deal with both b and g as these are the most common.

Setting up and configuring a wireless router and your home network is a fairly simple process. You will receive a detailed step-by-step installation and setup guide with your wireless router along with installation software that will walk you through the process.

The process will usually involve connecting the wireless router to your network cable and adjusting some of the default settings before you can connect wirelessly to the router. The settings and security setup is an essential part and should be worked through properly in order to insure that your network is secure and protected from unauthorized use.

During the setup process you’ll want to sure that a network password is set so that only you and people you give the code to will be able to access your home wireless network and in turn use your router to access the internet.

More and more devices are incorporating wireless connectivity into their hardware these days. The majority of new laptops for example have built-in wireless cards, this means that using your wireless router you’ll be able to access the internet from your laptop from anywhere in your home.

Likewise, gaming consoles are also getting in on the action with the Wii and the PS3 having built in wireless adapters. This means that your wireless router will allow you to access the internet and play games online using your consoles, again from any point in the home.