Todd NesnickRouter is the heart of a core network. Different types of routers are available to meet the needs of different users on varying scales. According to the usage category, there are five main types of routers, namely, wired routers, wireless routers, edge routers, core routers and VPN routers. Still, these are only as effective as your network connection. So, having a quality internet is also important to get maximum efficiency from the router. For that, we recommend AT&T Internet because of its several packages to meet everyone’s needs and demands.
With that out of the way, here is what you should know about the different types of routers.
Wired Router vs Wireless Router
Wired routers are somewhat of an old technology where you need to connect cables on both sides to send and receive data packets. Wireless routers, on the other hand, are the new technology where data packets circulate via radio signals.
Wired routers are connected to the computer using a cable. One port is connected to the modem that receives internet data packets, while the other end is connected to the computer to distribute those data packets. These routers follow network address translation or NAT technology, where multiple computers can be connected to a wired router and share a single IP address. Ethernet broadband routers are an example of wired routers.
A wireless router is commonly used in homes, offices and public places. They also receive data packets via a wire but process and convert them into radio signals which the electronic devices receive and convert back to data packets. So, as long as the device is within the signal range, it can receive those data packets and access the internet, but it requires a specific ID and passcode to do so. Wi-Fi network is a common example of wireless routers.
Edge Router vs Core Router
Edge routers are present at the edge of a network and are responsible for distributing data packets across multiple networks to keep communications going. On the flip side, the core router remains on the same network and delivers a large quantity of data packets at high speeds.
Edge routers are normally connected to the ISP network and function from the edge of the network to distribute data packets across multiple networks. They can be both wired or wireless routers, and their job is to maintain smooth communications.
Compared to this, core routers spread data packets within the same network, and their job is to manage heavy data transfers.
VPN Router
In simple terms, a VPN router is a simple Gigabit router with VPN software already installed on it. It means any device that connects to this router is secured within a VPN system. So, whether it is present in your home or office, it offers several benefits. Some of them are as follows:
Unlimited Connectivity
A VPN router is like any other router, and you can connect any number of devices you want. Moreover, you can also share the connection with your friends and family members.
Better Adapting Power
Some popular online media and streaming services like Apple TV or Chromecast do not support VPN protection, at least not currently. However, you can connect them to your VPN router’s list of protected devices.
Unblocking Content
Does your country or region has blocked access to certain content or applications? A VPN router is the answer to your problem. It can help you bypass any restrictions and connect safely to the internet through an encrypted VPN connection.
Log-in Once
Many times, people forget to turn on VPN protection on their network or set it up to run automatically. With a VPN router, you just have to log in once, and that is it! It is especially helpful when you use VPN often.
Final Verdict
In this ever-developing network communication market, we all want to learn more about routers. However, it is not only about that. You also need to understand the internet connectivity requirements and how better networks improve their efficiency and vice versa. Therefore, for complete and reliable connectivity, we recommend Spectrum Internet to learn more about their offers and services.
We hope we have provided you with the required information to choose the correct router for your home or office network through this basic yet complete analysis and characteristics of different types of networking routers.