Introduction to Broadband Router

A router is a network communication device that is used to connect two different networks and to provide the internet connectivity to the users. A broadband router is essential part of the home or office network where the high speed internet connectivity is required. 

Using a broadband router, the network computers can share the internet and send and receive the data with every other user on the network.  It shares the internet connection by using the NAT (Network Address Translation). There are the following three purposes of the broadband routers.

• To provide the high speed internet connectivity to the network users.
• To route the traffic between the network computers.
• To filter the traffic through the built-in firewall features.
• It distributes the IP addresses dynamically thus it functions as a DHCP server.

A broadband router combines the features of a router, hardware firewall, DHCP server and DSL modem.  It incorporates all the networking features in one networking device.  It follows the standards of computer networking for the Ethernet.

There are many manufacturers of the broadband routers such as D-Link, Cisco, Nortel, Linksys, US Robotics and Juniper.  Broadband router can be divided into the categories i.e. ADSL modem router and cable router. Following are some of the most common broadband routers.

• SMC 7004VBR Barricade™
• Linksys EtherFast® BEFRS41
• US Robotics® USR8000
• D-Link DI804-HV
• Nexland ISB SOHO
• Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 High Power Wireless Broadband Router
• Dynamode BR-6004W-G-N Broadband Wireless-G Router
• BroadbandBuyer PL-200AV-PUSH Homeplug AV Ethernet Starter Kit
• NETGEAR DG834G v4 Wireless ADSL 2+ Router
• Belkin Wireless Pre-N router