Current estimates show that over 33 million homes in the United States have multiple PCs. By setting up a network, these computers can share an internet connection, a printer, and files. When setting up a home network, price is often a concern. By making careful decisions and conducting some preliminary research, it is possible to economically set up a home network. Simple routers, available for less than $75, will work fine for surfing the Internet and sending email. If you want added features, the sky is the limit.

Like any other purchase, your first concern is deciding what features you need, which you would like to have, and which you can live without. Just as there is no reason to pay for something that you will never use, there is no reason to invest the money in a router that will not support the activities you want to use it for.

A hard wired router can be found at a relatively low price and they are usually considered more secure than wireless routers. If you are wanting to connect four or fewer computers to a single internet connection, a hard wired router may be the logical choice.

For a larger network or increased speed, you may want to invest in a wireless router. A wireless router can be configured to increase its security. The main reason that a home network user would want to use a wireless router is to increase the transmission speed of communications. Other options available in routers include parental control capabilities, encryption of data, and connection methods.