To buy the right wireless router, you have to balance speed, security, and risk tolerance. That requires ­understanding an array of technologies and what they offer.

The first broadly adopted standard, 802.11b, is slow and insecure. Buy a compatible router, but not one that does only 802.11b.

Confusingly, 802.11a followed 802.11b. It gives greater throughput and allows denser access-point deployment, but there's very little consumer "a" hardware, so it's not much of a consideration.

The most recently ratified standard, 802.11g, offers a theoretical throughput of 54 Mbps (actual speeds are slower). To avoid frequent driver updates and compatibility issues, this is the technology to buy for now, and the average user's best choice.

Those needing to transmit audio or video, which pushes the standard's limits, will find many 802.11g-based products that increase throughput by using technologies such as packet bursting, fast frames, compression, and proprietary solutions like channel bonding (channel bonding can, however, interfere with neighboring networks). The Linksys Wire­less-G WRT54GS and the Netgear WGT624 are good examples of products that increase throughput.

If you're upgrading a network to 802.11g, replace the laptop and desktop cards as well as the router. A "g" network with a "b" card in the mix can operate only at "b" speeds.

Users who can't get a DSL or cable Internet connection but have a good cell-phone signal might try one of the new mobile wireless routers that accept a PC Card from their wireless provider. I tested and liked the Kyocera KR-1, which is a standard D-Link 802.11g router with cell capabilities. The service can be costly, though, at up to $60 per month.

The unratified 802.11n could offer the range and speed to make wireless video seamless and even allow multiple HD (high-definition) video streams. Approval of the standard isn't expected until early 2007, but many companies already sell pre-standard equipment that offers the advantages of 802.11n.

A key ingredient of 802.11n is a technology called MIMO (multiple input multiple output), which promises theoretical throughput of up to 600 Mbps and increased range. Belkin, Linksys, and Netgear introduced the first generation of successful MIMO products. All used Airgo Networks chipsets. Even at the extreme end of the wireless range, they produced five times the throughput of standard 802.11g. These have since been replaced with products based on Airgo's Gen3 True MIMO technology.

Gen3 products deliver blistering speeds—over 100 Mbps at shorter ranges and solid throughput even at points far from the router. The Netgear RangeMax 240 and the Linksys SRX400 are the fastest Gen3 wireless routers I've tested to date and are my favorites. If you don't fear unratified technology, buy one today. But be aware that the equipment may not meet the eventual standard.

The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) has approved an 802.11n Joint Proposal called Draft 1.0 (often called Draft-N). Strong backers, in particular Broadcom and Marvell, have already released chipsets (Intensi-Fi and Top Dog, respectively). Based on preliminary tests, I can't recommend products based on them, but a firmware upgrade I just got might make a difference. Check at for updated tests.