# Wireless router

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A **wireless router** or **Wi-Fi router** is a device that performs the functions of a [router](/source/Router_(computing)) and also includes the functions of a [wireless access point](/source/Wireless_access_point). It is used to provide access to the [Internet](/source/Internet) or a [private computer network](/source/Private_network). Depending on the manufacturer and model, it can function in a wired [local area network](/source/Local_area_network), in a [wireless-only LAN](/source/Wireless_LAN), or in a mixed wired and wireless network.

## Features

Wireless routers typically feature one or more [network interface controllers](/source/Network_interface_controller) supporting [Fast Ethernet](/source/Fast_Ethernet) or [Gigabit Ethernet](/source/Gigabit_Ethernet) ports integrated into the main [system on a chip](/source/System_on_a_chip) (SoC) around which the router is built. An [Ethernet switch](/source/Ethernet_switch) as described in [IEEE 802.1Q](/source/IEEE_802.1Q) may interconnect multiple ports. Some routers implement [link aggregation](/source/Link_aggregation) through which two or more ports may be used together, improving throughput and redundancy.[1]

All wireless routers feature one or more [wireless network interface controllers](/source/Wireless_network_interface_controller). These are also integrated into the main SoC or may be separate chips on the [printed circuit board](/source/Printed_circuit_board). It can also be a distinct card connected over a [MiniPCI](/source/MiniPCI) or [MiniPCIe](/source/MiniPCIe) interface. Some dual-band wireless routers operate the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands simultaneously. Wireless controllers support a part of the [IEEE 802.11](/source/IEEE_802.11)-standard family and many dual-band wireless routers have data transfer rates exceeding 300 Mbit/s (For 2.4 GHz band) and 450 Mbit/s (For 5 GHz band). Some wireless routers provide multiple streams, allowing multiples of data transfer rates (e.g., a three-stream wireless router allows transfers of up to 1.3 Gbit/s on the 5 GHz bands).

Some wireless routers have one or two [USB ports](/source/USB_port). These can be used to connect a printer or hard disk drive to be used as a [shared resource](/source/Shared_resource) on the network.[2] A USB port may also be used for connecting [mobile broadband modem](/source/Mobile_broadband_modem),[3] aside from connecting the wireless router to an Ethernet with xDSL or cable modem. A mobile broadband USB adapter can be connected to the router to share the mobile broadband Internet connection through the wireless network. Some wireless routers come with either [xDSL](/source/XDSL) modem, [DOCSIS](/source/DOCSIS) modem, [LTE](/source/LTE_(telecommunication)) modem, or [fiber optic](/source/Fiber_optic) modem integrated.

## Operating system

See also: [List of router firmware projects](/source/List_of_router_firmware_projects)

The most common operating system on such embedded devices is [Linux](/source/Linux). Less frequently, [VxWorks](/source/VxWorks) is used. The devices are configured over a web user interface served by a light [web server software](/source/Comparison_of_web_server_software) running on the device. It is possible for a computer running a desktop operating system with appropriate software to act as a wireless router. This is commonly referred to as a [SoftAP](/source/SoftAP).

In 2003, [Linksys](/source/Linksys) was forced to open-source the [firmware](/source/Firmware) of its [WRT54G](/source/WRT54G) router series (the best-selling routers of all time) after people on the [Linux kernel mailing list](/source/Linux_kernel_mailing_list) discovered that it used [GPL](/source/GPL) Linux code.[4] In 2008, Cisco was sued in *[Free Software Foundation, Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc.](/source/Free_Software_Foundation,_Inc._v._Cisco_Systems,_Inc.)* due to similar issues with Linksys routers. Since then, [various open-source projects](/source/List_of_router_firmware_projects) have built on this foundation, including [OpenWrt](/source/OpenWrt), [DD-WRT](/source/DD-WRT), and [Tomato](/source/Tomato_(firmware)).

In 2016, various manufacturers changed their firmware to block custom installations after an FCC ruling.[5] However, some companies plan to continue to officially support open-source firmware, including Linksys[6] and Asus.[5]

## See also

- [Wi-Fi Protected Setup](/source/Wi-Fi_Protected_Setup)

## References

1. S, Ganesh T. ["Netgear Nighthawk X8 R8500 AC5300 Router Brings Link Aggregation Mainstream"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160102180209/http://www.anandtech.com/show/9880/netgear-nighthawk-x8-r8500-ac5300-router-brings-link-aggregation-mainstream). *www.anandtech.com*. Archived from [the original](https://www.anandtech.com/show/9880/netgear-nighthawk-x8-r8500-ac5300-router-brings-link-aggregation-mainstream) on January 2, 2016. Retrieved 2019-01-12.

1. ["What is portable WiFi router and how to use one"](https://www.worldsim.com/blog/what-is-portable-wifi-router). *www.worldsim.com*. [WorldSIM](/source/WorldSIM). Retrieved 9 May 2016.

1. [D-Link® Mobile Broadband Wireless Router (DIR-412)](http://www.dlink.com/us/en/home-solutions/work/wireless-mobile-broadband/dir-412-mobile-broadband-wireless-router) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140803051907/http://www.dlink.com/us/en/home-solutions/work/wireless-mobile-broadband/dir-412-mobile-broadband-wireless-router) 2014-08-03 at the Wayback Machine

1. ["The Open Source WRT54G Story"](http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3562391/The-Open-Source-WRT54G-Story.htm). *www.wi-fiplanet.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160604021946/http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/3562391/The-Open-Source-WRT54G-Story.htm) 2016-06-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2016-10-05.

1. ["Despite New FCC Rules, Linksys, Asus Say They'll Still Support Third Party Router Firmware"](https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160513/10594534440/despite-new-fcc-rules-linksys-asus-say-theyll-still-support-third-party-router-firmware.shtml). 16 May 2016. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161005225754/https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20160513/10594534440/despite-new-fcc-rules-linksys-asus-say-theyll-still-support-third-party-router-firmware.shtml) 2016-10-05 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2016-10-05.

1. ["Linksys WRT routers won't block open source firmware despite FCC rules"](https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/05/linksys-wrt-routers-wont-block-open-source-firmware-despite-fcc-rules/). 13 May 2016. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161004140744/http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/05/linksys-wrt-routers-wont-block-open-source-firmware-despite-fcc-rules/) 2016-10-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2016-10-05.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Wireless router](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_router) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_router?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.