What is a wireless router?
A wireless router, also known as a Wi-Fi hub, is the small electronic device supplied by your internet service provider that allows you to connect to the internet. It connects to your home broadband line and sends data from the internet cable to your Wi-Fi-connected devices. Wireless routers are the industry-standard way to connect to the internet in your home as wired routers have long been outdated, and are only really used by those who want to connect to the internet via an Ethernet cable. Most wireless routers also come with at least four Ethernet ports to allow you to connect PCs, TVs and other in-home gadgets to the internet. Plug your phone or cable line into your router and data will be sent through the connection to the router. The Wi-Fi router then takes this data and converts it into radio signals, which are then picked up by devices with Wi-Fi capability such as laptops, tablets, smartphones and games consoles. In addition to accessing the internet on your smartphone, tablet or computer, you can also use your router to connect Wi-Fi-capable devices in order to stream and download digital TV. Streaming devices such as Apple TV, Amazon's Fire TV Stick, Google's Chromecast or a NOW TV stick as well as all smart TVs. How to use a wireless router  When you first connect to your Wi-Fi router youll be prompted to enter a password, which is typically supplied by your provider and will be printed on the bottom of your router. Its usually a long and confusing series of uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers, making it difficult to remember but also virtually impossible for others to guess. This is done in order to offer heightened security and protect your network from being used by others illegally. Be sure to double-check when entering letters to make sure theyre in either uppercase or lowercase, otherwise youll have to enter the whole thing in again. Some routers have removable cards with all your log-in details written on them to save you from having to crouch around your router as you type in your password and details. It should be as simple as that  your device will then connect to your wireless broadband automatically when in range. Once youve connected your devices to the Wi-Fi you wont need to enter the password again until you want to connect a new device. If your password isnt recognised or youve connected and theres a signal but no service, then youll need to contact your broadband provider to make sure everything is ok on their end. Check out the best wireless broadband deals available to you. A Wi-Fi booster (or Wi-Fi extender) is just that, it boosts the signal of your home or business Wi-Fi signal. Typically a small device that you plug into an electrical outlet, it pulls in an existing Wi-Fi signal, amplifies it, and then broadcasts the stronger signal. This is an efficient and affordable way to increase the range of your Wi-Fi router without the need for cables throughout your home or multiple Wi-Fi routers with separate passwords. If you have a few areas of your home that struggle to get a decent Wi-Fi signal, then a booster could be an ideal solution. This is especially common for houses on multiple floors. For example, if your Wi-Fi router is in the kitchen on the ground floor, you may find you get a poor signal on the third floor, especially for older houses with thick concrete walls throughout. Simply plug in your Wi-Fi booster upstairs to help the devices in your bedrooms connect to the router all the way downstairs. However, theres a big difference between a weak Wi-Fi signal and slow broadband speeds. If your broadband is slow even when your devices have full Wi-Fi signal, then the problem lies with your broadband service, not your router. If you suspect your broadband speeds are too slow, run our speed test to find out. Every broadband provider will send a Wi-Fi router to all of its new customers. If you get a basic ADSL package, you can expect a simple router that does the job of connecting you to the internet and very little else. However, if you sign up for fibre-optic broadband, you can expect a better model with more features. The BT Smart Hub 2 is one of the most advanced Wi-Fi hubs available, with seven antennas and access to a wide range of signals, while the Virgin Media Super Hub 3 is produced by Netgear specifically to work with its market-leading ultrafast broadband speeds. The Sky Q Hub has special powerline networking that allows signals to be sent directly to a connected Sky Q TV box, allowing for smoother streaming and downloading of Sky TV shows. And the TalkTalk Hub matches BT in terms of accessibility, and also happens to be one of the best-looking hubs on the marketing. Read our guide on the best wireless routers for more specific details, then you can compare broadband deals here to find out which router and broadband service is right for you.