We don't want to leave anyone confused, so we'll start with the basics. If you're already comfortable with what a wireless router is and how it works, fell free to skip ahead to the next section.

In layman's terms, a wireless router is what allows your computer, smartphone, tablet, and other devices to connect to the internet. It plugs into a power outlet and a phone line, and emits wireless signals in the form of radio waves on a specific frequency band.

Any wireless-capable devices send radio waves back to the router, producing two-way communication with the internet wirelessly.

Although tri-band routers do exist, most of today's top wireless routers are single or dual-band models.

Single-band wireless routers work in the 2.4 GHz frequency range (a frequency shared by Bluetooth devices), so signal might be affected by other wireless devices in the immediate area. Dual-band wireless routers have both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, the latter is quicker, and usually gets less interference.

All wireless routers are able to use the 802.11 protocol, but its precise specification has changed over time. Older models running 802.11b or 802.11g can only work in the 2.4 GHz range, and have lower data transfer rates of either 11 Mbps or 54 Mbps.

The 802.11n wireless protocol, often referred to as Wireless N, operates on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies up to a maximum of 600 Mbps, and sports a greater signal range than previously established WiFi standards. While Wireless N is currently the most common WiFi protocol, it is steadily being overtaken by the newer and superior 802.11ac. Also known as WiFi-5, 802.11ac is widely supported by modern wireless modems, and features the greatest signal range, widest bandwidth, and speediest maximum speed available.

As exciting as all of that sounds, it is rare to experience a time when any of these devices run at their theoretical maximum. The internet speed supplied by your ISP may be considerably slower than what your wireless router is able to handle.

The connection speed a wireless router can handle is measured in megabits per second (Mbps) or, with the fastest models, gigabits per second (Gbps) – note that one gigabit equals 1,000 megabits.

Some newer models have a wireless speed in excess of 1 Gbps, whereas older routers generally have speeds between 300 and 600 Mbps. Confusingly, however, these are only theoretical maximums, and your internet connection will never actually approach these speeds.

We touched on network standards above, but let's discuss them further. The network standard refers to the capabilities of a wireless router. Since technology is ever-improving, it's important to have these standards, so we can set reasonable expectations of router performance.

The latest network standard is 802.11ac, which has a theoretical maximum speed of 1.3Gbps. However, you'll still find some wireless routers from the 802.11n network standard, with a theoretical maximum speed of 600 Mbps.

If you're a heavy user – often playing online games, streaming or downloading files – you should opt for the ac, but light users can save some cash by going for an older model with the 802.11n network standard.

Serious gaming requires high speeds and a stable internet connection. Wireless routers with built-in gaming acceleration send data packets via a network of route-optimized servers to avoid lag and reduce buffering time.

All wireless routers on the market today have WPA2 encryption, meaning they're password protected, so that anyone with a wireless-capable device can't just login to your network and use your WiFi. However, some wireless routers support two-factor authentication (2FA) protection, which makes it far more difficult for people to worm their way onto your home network.

• The average wireless router covers about 2,500 square feet. If your home is larger than that, extend the range with additional access points or a WiFi extender.

• If you want to connect computers or other devices directly to the router using an ethernet cable, make sure your chosen model has sufficient LAN ports.

• Some wireless routers allow you to change the settings via a dedicated app – perfect if you want to be able to control every aspect of your wireless connection.

• If your router has two external antennae, you'll get the best signal if one is pointed vertically and the other horizontally.

• Consider a home mesh system, instead of a conventional wireless router, if you have a very large home.

The cost of a wireless router depends on the features and network standard.

• If you want a cheap router and you're not too concerned about speed, an 802.11n wireless router should cost between $20 and $50.

• A basic 802.11ac router that will provide fast wireless connection and not much else will cost $40 to $80.

• Expect to pay $80 to $150 for a mid-range 802.11ac wireless router, with a few added extras like apps for remote access or Alexa compatibility.

• The price of a high-end 802.11ac wireless router is roughly $150 to $350. These models should have a range of extra features, like a boosted signal range, multi-stage protection, game acceleration, and more.

Q. How do I secure my wireless network?

A. There are a number of simple techniques that everyone should do to secure their wireless home network, such as:

• Turning on wireless network encryption.
• Ensuring that your wireless router’s firewall is turned on.
• Enabling MAC address filtering.
• Creating a custom name for your network
• Setting your wireless router closer to the center of your home, so less of your WiFi signal will be detected outside of your property.

Q. My WiFi connection keeps dropping. How do I fix it?

A. If your wireless router isn’t reliably emitting the WiFi signal that it should be, there are a few quick fixes to test out:

• Reset your wireless router. (Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best).
• Reposition your router, and ensure that its antennae are vertically oriented.
• Ensure that all cables are securely inserted into the router.
• Update your wireless router’s firmware.
• Call your internet provider and ask if there is an outage in your area.

Q. What is the best way to restart my wireless router?

A. Restarting your router is a common fix for wireless and connectivity issues, but there is a right and a wrong way to do so. Unless you want to turn your device back to its factory settings, do not push the “Reset” button on the back of your wireless router.

To restart your wireless router, simply unplug both your router and modem, and wait at least one minute. Plug in your modem, and wait another minute. Finally, plug your wireless router back in, and wait another minute or two to see if resetting your network connection fixed your problem.