Running both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, the WRT610N promises high-speed networking at home and in the office.

With simultaneous dual bands, playing your favourite online games in the living room will not slow down dad’s Web surfing in his room.

You can also turn the WRT610N into a network attached storage device by plugging in an external hard drive.

A powerful stateful packet inspection (SPI) firewall protects you against intruders as well as most known Internet attacks and 128-bit encryption ensures that your data is well-protected.

Continue to read: Linksys Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router with 4 Gigabit Port Switch

Tags: Wireless-G, , Mobile Wireless

Set up a home network or create your own hot spot on the go.

It is easy to see why wireless routers have become so popular in homes and offices. These devices not only offer a convenient way to hook up all your computers at home to the Internet, but they are also great for setting up a home network for file or printer sharing.

If you are looking for a wireless – or Wi-Fi – router, look at those with the latest wireless transmission standard called Wireless-N. With speeds of up to 300Mbps, Wireless-N routers are much faster than Wireless-G (54Mbps) ones and are capable of streaming high-definition video, voice and music.

The Wireless-N technology is fast because it uses multiple radios to transmit multiple streams of data on multiple channels – a technology known as Multiple-In, Multiple-Out (Mimo). These routers are usually compatible with Wireless-G or Wireless-B equipment, so you can upgrade without fear that your old gear will not work.

Prices of Wireless-N routers have been falling. Today, a basic, single-channel Wireless-N router, which is good enough for Web surfing, can cost less than $50.

Heavy multimedia users and gamers should consider routers that run both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands simultaneously. The 2.4Ghz band will be used for non-time critical traffic like basic Internet surfing and the 5Ghz band for heavy-duty tasks like video streaming and gaming. Be prepared to pay over $200 for such a router.

Those who want to create their own Wi-Fi hot spot while on the move can check out portable wireless routers. These routers tap on your telco’s 3G network using your SIM card. They also run on a built-in battery. Users simply connect their computers or mobile devices over Wi-Fi to access the Internet or share files.

Tags: 3G, Mobile Broadband, Wireless-G

1. Charge up that battery

Wi-Fi sucks up battery juice quickly. Couple that with a 3G data link and you will find your battery-powered MiFi gizmo or Android phone running out of juice after a few hours of heavy use.

So make sure you charge your batteries before heading out. Or, if you expect a long day of surfing ahead, get a portable USB battery charger like the Zagg Sparq (www.zagg.com/accessories/zaggsparq.php).

2. Secure your Wi-Fi

This seems like a no-brainer, but in the rush to get online, many users end up sharing their 3G connection over an unsecured Wi-Fi link.

This means they may end up having Wi-Fi leechers in their network. This not only puts their PCs or iPads at risk, but also slows the surfing speed.

The solution is to encrypt your data and set a password. Most portable routers offer this feature, as do Android phones that support Wi-Fi tethering using a 3G link.

3. Stay within range

Many portable routers do not have powerful antennas, as they are not expected to cover an area bigger than a small hotel room. Some are designed to conserve battery and hence do not emit Wi-Fi signals that are as powerful as those from home routers.

Many portable and 3G routers are designed with their antennas hidden within the chassis. You will also find fewer antennas in these devices than in full-fledged home routers.

As such, avoid straying too far from your router. If the Wi-Fi signals have to pass through walls to reach your laptop, the connection speed suffers.

Tags: Wireless-N, 3G, Bluetooth

• Uplink: 7.2Mb/s
• Downlink: 5.76Mb/s
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g
• Encryption: WEP, WPA, WPA2
• Capacity: Five users
• USB type: Micro

Although Huawei E5830 looks exactly like the E5832, they have different radio receivers. The E5830 supports fewer radio frequencies.

This could mean limited overseas connectivity – something to consider if you plan to travel with the E5830 and use it for data roaming.

The device has excellent battery life.

Checkout the specification: Huawei Wireless Mi-Fi E5830

Tags: Mobile Wireless, Wireless-G, 802.11g

• Uplink: 7.2Mb/s
• Downlink: 5.76Mb/s
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g
• Encryption: WEP, WPA, WPA2
• Capacity: Five users
• USB type: Micro

Vodafone 2352 looks like a multi-card flash memory reader and easily fits into a shirt pocket. As with the Huawei E5832, I do not recommend keeping it in the pocket as it gets quite hot during use.

It comes with a micro-USB port – different from mini-USB – for charging and tethering. There is no real benefit in choosing one type of USB over the other, unless you have several devices with the same USB interface and want them to share a single charging connection.

I like the Vodafone 2352 because its buttons and indicator lights are well-labelled. I also like that there is constant feedback – via LED lights – regarding the connection and presence of a signal. It is a pity its battery life cannot match that of the other two devices.

Tags: Mobile Wireless, , Bluetooth

At some situation, installing wireless router may not be the ideal solution. One solution is use powerline.

Powerline adapters may not be new in the market, but one that promises Gigabit speed of 1Gbps is certainly a step up from the more common 200Mbps ones.

This adapter also has eco-friendly features. When connected to devices that are on stand-by, the adapter will ‘sleep’. This can help users save at least 80 per cent in power consumption.

No additional software installation is required when connecting the adapter to the device via a LAN cable.

With more gadgets such as the Internet Protocol Televisions (IPTVs), and activities such as wireless transfers of high-definition (HD) media content and high speed virtual gaming needing higher network speeds to function well, the adapter is a device that will help ensure a well-connected home or office.

Tags: 3G, 802.11n,

• Uplink: 7.2Mb/s
• Downlink: 5.76Mb/s
• Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g
• Encryption: WEP, WPA, WPA2
• Capacity: Five users
• USB type: Mini

Huawei E5832 is small enough to fit into a shirt pocket, but I would not suggest putting it there because it gets quite hot during use and it may not be a good idea to put your body so near to the antennas of Wi-Fi and 3G radios.

The E5832 delivers good and consistent connectivity. My main quibble is its energy-saving sleep mode, which disengages all the device’s light indicators.

This makes it difficult to tell if I am connected. To view the indicators, I have to press the power button sharply.

The device is powered and charged via its mini-USB port. The charging process can be a lengthy one, so getting a standalone USB charger could be useful.

Tags: 802.11n, Mobile Broadband, Bluetooth