Best 5 wireless routers

The wireless router is arguably the most important piece of computer equipment in your home (and even when traveling), since it connects the rest of your gadgets to one another and the Internet.

It's true that dual-band (5Ghz and 2.4Ghz) wireless routers give you the most options by supporting virtually any wireless client/adapter on the market. However, single-band (2.4Ghz) routers will do just fine if you don't use them in an area saturated with Wi-Fi signals. And if you still have a Wireless-G (802.11g) router at home, it's definitely time to upgrade to a Wireless-N router or access point. Wireless-N routers are now affordable and offer much better coverage as well as throughput speed, capable of streaming HD content.

If you need a mobile router to access the Internet on the go, however, it's not N or G you should care about but the cellular speed to the Internet, and the monthly fee and data allowance.

As there are so many choices on the market, it's always hard to find the best one for your money. This is the list of the top-five wireless routers I've reviewed so far. They come with different feature sets and prices, but all of them share great performance and have earned high CNET ratings. Pick one that fits your budget!