5 safest business Wi-Fi routers
The basis for building a local wireless network is a router. And if for home use you can get by with almost any router that works according to the Wi-Fi standard, then for business you will need more powerful equipment that meets several criteria at the same time. It is important that the network matches the scale of the enterprise, but if necessary, it could be modified without special costs, it is also necessary to select a certain device bandwidth, take into account how extensive the functionality of the firmware is and whether conditions have been created for the safe storage of confidential data. The next criterion for choosing a device is its fault tolerance - the absence of "Wi-Fi" leads to network downtime and, accordingly, to losses, which is unacceptable for a business. Therefore, our main recommendation regarding building a corporate network is to choose equipment consciously, giving preference to modern models from reliable manufacturers. Which routers are in the TOP of the best, we determined using the rating.
TOP 5 best routers for business
5 Tenda AC18
According to the review service popular in Russia, the Tenda AC18 router is an excellent alternative to the flagship models of competitors, offering impressive functionality, excellent performance and a stable network with a large number of connected devices. The device operates in dual bands with a total speed of 1900 Mbps according to the 802.11ac standard, is equipped with 4 Gigabit LAN ports, a high-speed USB 3.0 connector and three non-removable 3dBi antennas each. Thus, the advantages of the model include a good quality of coverage for 40 - 60 sq. m. and high-speed data exchange.
The interface is completely translated into Russian, the control is intuitive, and after the start-up setup, you can access additional parameters: set the gain for each band, improve signal reception in hard-to-reach places (TX Beamforming algorithm), organize a secure guest network with limited access to shared resources ... The appearance of the router is also important: its designers were clearly inspired by the most expensive aircraft in the world, the B-2 Spirit, and their brainchild turned out to be just as impressive, if not monstrous.
4 Keenetic Ultra (KN-1810)
When one device is taken for one large open space, when it is required to transfer impressive amounts of information, or it is important that the router is used as a mini-server, you should pay attention to the Ultra model, the oldest in the Kinetic line. In our opinion, this is an ideal option for SOHO (Small office / home office - small / home business), since most other devices are either inferior to it in performance and capabilities, or cost at least one and a half times more.
The hardware platform consists of two 4-channel MT7621AT chips (880 MHz), a separate switch for Realtek RTL8211FS WAN ports, 256 MB DDR3 and 128 MB flash memory, as well as a high-performance 802.11 n / ac 4 × 4 Wi-Fi module. support TurboQAM technology and provide double the speed of Wi-Fi - 200 Mbps for each channel in the 2.4 GHz band. But the most interesting thing about this router is its software part, which, among other things, provides support for 802.11k / r protocols, which allow organizing Wi-Fi roaming for all devices in the coverage area. Updates to it are constantly being "finished", so that the already rich functionality of the router is constantly expanding.
3 MikroTik RB4011iGS + 5HacQ2HnD-IN
The new series of MikroTik routers includes 2 modifications: with the "Wi-Fi" module (it is she who takes part in this rating) and without it. New items appeared in mid-2018, delighting users with the presence of a powerful 4-core Cortex A15 processor Alpine AL21400 (1.4 GHz), used in carrier-class routers, 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports, as well as an SFP + port for connecting to fiber-optic communication lines (the module is supplied separately ). In addition, the equipment supports POE in (1st port) and POE out (port # 10), which simplifies the laying of new networks to expand the existing one: there is no need to pull separate electrical wires to each Wi-Fi point.
The developers took care of preventing the router from overheating during load: the case is made of metal, there are ventilation holes on its three sides, and this led to the almost complete silent operation of the unit. The manufacturer's declared characteristics of the radio modules in terms of power are also interesting: it is clearly not worth setting Wi-Fi to maximum. The model does not have an LCD screen or a USB output, so you won't be able to use a 4G modem to create a backup line or expand the internal memory. Unfortunately, MU-MIMO with Beamforming is also missing. But these are the only complaints from users, in all other aspects it is considered the best for small and medium-sized businesses, but only on the condition that the buyer is familiar with network technologies or is ready to resort to the services of professionals for installation.
2 ZyXEL USG 60W
The USG series of secure gateways is designed for small offices with 15-20 access points, as well as secure connection of company branches. In fact, the device provides Wi-Fi wherever it is needed, be it a reception or a meeting room. Within the framework of one installed device, it becomes possible to manage Wi-Fi access points, wired channels and USB modems, configure a secure VPN network, control and optimize the work of employees. According to reviews, multifunctionality does not affect the device's fault tolerance in any way, and it works without glitches around the clock.
Despite the fact that the instructions for the router for implementing various scenarios take 900 (!) Pages, control is carried out with minimal effort - a special Easy Mode mode using icons and a convenient console helps to simplify the settings procedure. At an affordable price for small businesses, the entrepreneur receives full-fledged NGFW network protection with support for many technologies: route / bridge modes, Stateful packet inspection, SIP / H.323 transparency through NAT, application protocol parsing (ALG), and traffic anomaly detection , basic DDoS protection. In addition, the proprietary Zyxel AV antivirus, Zyxel AS antispam and Content Filtering 2.0 have been implemented. Additional technological capabilities are proposed to be purchased, thereby saving on unnecessary functions.
1 Linksys WRT3200ACM
The entire series of WRT routers of the famous American company Linksys has achieved great success in the market due to its excellent appearance, the presence of many functions, stability and reliability of operation. Its flagship is the legendary AC3200-class model, based on the enterprise-class Marvell Armada 38X 38X 2-core processor. It supports the latest generation Wi-Fi standards 802.11a / b / g / n / ac in two frequency bands 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The manufacturer deservedly calls it the fastest router - the use of Tri-Stream 160 technology increases the width of each of the three Wi-Fi channels from standard 80 MHz to 160 MHz, which allows achieving unique indicators of total throughput: 3200 Mbps.
Linksys WRT3200ACM can provide 256-bit VPN encryption for all devices connected to the router. Such a long key is used for a single purpose - the safe storage of secret documents and the complete exclusion of the possibility of brute-force hacking. Another advantage of the wireless module is the availability of Multi User MIMO technology, with which data transfer is carried out between multiple devices at an unrivaled speed. With MU-MIMO, the range also increases, which means there is no need to install additional access points. As for user reviews, they are overwhelmingly positive: the device is praised for its signal strength, simplicity of settings and a good functional reserve for the future.
