{"id":3761,"date":"2020-10-13T11:00:05","date_gmt":"2020-10-13T10:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/?p=3761"},"modified":"2023-01-17T10:22:39","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T10:22:39","slug":"voip-router","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/gb\/en\/blog\/voip-router\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Best VoIP Routers of 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you’re looking to set up your WiFi for your new home or need a reliable router for your office, choosing the right one can be challenging. With so many options on the market, it’s important to assess your needs first to make sure you can address your key requirements for your home or work environment.<\/span><\/p>\n

As work becomes increasingly reliant on the reliability and strength of your internet connection, ensuring you have the bandwidth for zoom calls, file sharing, and instant collaboration is key.<\/span><\/p>\n

We’ve included an overview of the best VoIP<\/a> routers for your business or home setup to compare them against your budget, user numbers and security needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What VoIP is and how it benefits business<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t
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What is a VoIP router?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A VoIP router is a hardware device that allows you to make and receive phone calls over the internet, via your internet service provider (ISP) or VoIP provider, rather than through more analogue or traditional landline systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

Different types & uses of VoIP routers<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are five basic router types. We’ve outlined the essentials of each type below:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Wired routers<\/b><\/h3>\n

A basic wired router will use an ethernet cable to connect to the modem or ISP on one end and the network’s connected devices on the other end. Wired routers are used less in modern working environments as now most require the mobility of a wireless router option.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Wireless routers<\/b><\/h3>\n

With a wireless router, you’ll connect to a modem via an ethernet cable in the same way as a wired router, but your local devices, such as mobiles and laptops, will connect wirelessly via WiFi.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Edge routers\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

An edge router will be at the edge of the ISP networks, allowing them to spread data across all connected networks. This helps the provider to stabilise data flow and aid more efficient and robust communication among those networks.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Core routers<\/b><\/h3>\n

A core router is usually used by enterprise businesses with large local networks, covering them for demanding data needs. These routers are the most powerful of the five different types and, unsurprisingly, are also the most expensive. Unless your business uses huge amounts of data across hubs, routers and bridges, a core router should be beyond your requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. VPN routers<\/b><\/h3>\n

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) router houses all the core router features and functions of a standard router but with the bonus of providing VPN protection for all devices that connect to it. That means workers can protect their IP address, hide activity from cybercriminals or bad actors, and continue working with sensitive data or private projects safely and remotely.<\/span><\/p>\n

A quick look at the best VoIP routers for business and home setups<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Router<\/th> Price<\/th> Quality of Service (QoS)<\/th> VoIP Support<\/th>
\nFrequency Bands, Wifi Speed<\/th>		Key Specs<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Linksys EA9500<\/a><\/td>\u00a3227<\/td>N\/A<\/td>N\/A<\/td>5,400Mbits\/sec<\/td>- Wi-Fi standard 802.11ac
\n- Speed of 5,400Mbits\/sec
\n- 2 USB 3 ports
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
TP-Link Archer VR2800<\/a><\/td>\u00a3169.99
\n
\n<\/td>		Yes<\/td>SIP ALG<\/td>2,800 Mbit\/sec<\/td>- VDSL2\/ADSL2 and dedicated cable -
\n- WAN port
\n- Wi-Fi standard: 802.11ac Wave 2,
\n- 2 USB 3 ports
\n- Speed: 2,800Mbit\/sec
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ASUS BRT-AC828<\/a><\/td>\u00a3400<\/td>Yes<\/td>H.323, SI<\/td>1733Mbit\/sec<\/td>- Wi-Fi standard: 802.11ac,
\n- 2 USB 3 ports
\n- Speed:1733Mbit\/sec
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Adtran Netvanta 3400 Series<\/a><\/td>N\/A<\/td>Yes<\/td>N\/A<\/td>10\/100MBps<\/td>- 10 Fast Ethernet (10\/100MBps) ports (x2 WAN, x8 LAN)
\n- Enterprise class QoS
\n- PoE option, 802.1Q VLAN support
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cisco RV320 Series<\/a><\/td>N\/A<\/td>Yes<\/td>N\/A<\/td>100 Mbps<\/td>- 6 Gigabit Ethernet ports (x2 WAN, x4 LAN)
\n- Failover
\n- Load Balancing
\n- Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI)
\n- VPN
\n- Supports 7 VLANs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Netgear WNR3500L<\/a><\/td>\u00a3332.00<\/td>N\/A<\/td>N\/A<\/td>10\/100\/1000 MBps<\/td>- 5 Gigabit Ethernet (10\/100\/1000 MBps) Ports (x1 WAN, x4 LAN)
\n- Up to 300Mbps 802.11 b\/g\/n 2.4 GHz Wireless
\n- SPI & NAT firewall security
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Netgear Nighthawk X10<\/a><\/td>\u00a3400<\/td>N\/A<\/td>N\/A<\/td>7.2Gbps<\/td>- Seven (7) 10\/100\/1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet ports
\n- Two (2) USB 3.0 ports
\n- 1.7GHz Quad Core Processor
\n- Wi-Fi standard: 802.11ac + 802.11ad.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Asus RT-AC68U<\/a><\/td>\u00a3121.99
\n<\/td>		Yes<\/td>N\/A<\/td>Combined speeds of up to 1900 Mbps <\/td>- Four RJ45 for 10\/100\/1000\/Gigabits BaseT for LAN ports
\n- One RJ45 for 10\/100\/1000\/Gigabits BaseT for WAN port
\n- Two USBs (one x 2.0, one x 3.0)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Linksys EA8300 Max Stream<\/a><\/td>Start from \u00a3169.07<\/td>N\/A<\/td>N\/A<\/td>2.2 Gbps<\/td>- Tri band WiFi speeds up to 2.2 Gbps (5 GHz \/ 400 Mbps) + (5 GHz \/ 867 Mbps) + (2.4 GHz \/ 867 Mbps),
\n- Four gigabit ethernet ports,
\n- One USB 3.0 port<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cisco 900 Series<\/a><\/td>N\/A<\/td>Yes<\/td>N\/A<\/td>150 Mbps\/50 Mbps<\/td>- Four LAN interfaces
\n- Up to two-gigabit ethernet ports
\n- Integrated security features.
\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

What are the important features of VoIP routers to look for?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The VoIP telephony space is full of jargon, and all the acronyms can become a little overwhelming if you’re not totally sure what you need from a VoIP router.<\/span><\/p>\n

Likewise, when it comes to maintenance and troubleshooting your own hardware, knowing the features, functions, and their respective acronyms will come in handy. So here are a few of the key features you might want to look for in a router.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Quality of Service<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Quality of Service (or<\/span> QoS<\/span><\/a>) refers to the performance and level of service offered. QoS policing refers to the traffic management of data packets that travel across the network simultaneously. The feature allows you to ensure your router prioritises your traffic if you don’t have sufficient bandwidth. If you run a business with a high volume of traffic, with large call volumes and data usage, it would be wise to look for QoS on your router search.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Coverage Speed and Bandwidth<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It’s important to establish your bandwidth needs before starting your search for a router. There are two options when it comes to your router’s bandwidth: dual-band routers (two signals) and tri-band routers (three signals).<\/span><\/p>\n

Every wireless router will use two wireless frequencies or ‘bands’; either 2.4 GHz or 5GHz. The former provides a more basic level of connectivity with weaker bandwidth, whereas 5GHz will cover you for a smaller distance but with higher bandwidth. Dual-band routers offer one band for each frequency; tri-band routers give you one 2.4GHz alongside two 5GHz bands. Your router should also give you a speed outlined in megabits per second (Mbps), but it’s important to consider the router’s speed and ensure this aligns with your bandwidth requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. VLAN<\/strong><\/p>\n

VLANs or virtual LANs enable you to handle different challenges within your network, such as security, scalability or network management. If you opt for a router that features VLAN, you will benefit from being able to segment your network, safeguard your data and moderate your network congestion.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. WAN & LAN Ports\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

All routers will come with several LAN ports plus at least one WAN port. Both of these will be important for you and your business when using VoIP technology, particularly if you’re using a wired VoIP desk phone or PBX.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

WAN stands for wide area network, so your WAN port is essential to connect your router to your ISP and your modem. On the other hand, your LAN port (local area network) connects to your local devices, such as your computers and VoIP desk phones, via an ethernet cable.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

OFDMA stands for orthogonal frequency division multiple access. This allows you to optimise data traffic within the network and is built into the latest versions of WiFi 802.11ax or WiFi 6. OFDMA enables more reliable data transfer, meaning you’ll benefit from better call quality and less latency with video conferencing and VoIP calls.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. MU-MIMO<\/strong><\/h3>\n

MU-MIMO (multi user-multiple input, multiple outputs) is a relatively new technology built to enable multiple users’ internet access simultaneously without slowing connection speed. This feature is a good one for the requirements list if you know you’ll have more data traffic, particularly during specific peak times.<\/span><\/p>\n

7. H.323 and SIP Support<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you’re a business team conducting many video calls, it’s worth looking for a router with H.323. This is a standard that enhances VoIP calls but also supports your video calls over the IP network, facilitating more reliable, quality video meetings.<\/span><\/p>\n

SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol and is the internet protocol that allows you to establish communication sessions between two endpoints. This comes in handy not just for voice calls but also for instant messaging, collaboration apps and file sharing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

VoIP routers reviews<\/b><\/h2>\n

1. Linksys EA9500<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"linksys<\/a><\/p>\n

The Linksys EA9500<\/a> <\/strong>is built with better high-speed connectivity and reach in mind. With eight aerials, the VoIP router provides a great range and fast WiFi connectivity with average download speeds of 100Mbits per second.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first on our best router for VoIP list boasts eight Ethernet ports and an Ethernet WAN socket. That means it’s a great choice if you want to connect to an external broadband<\/a> modem. The EA9500’s twin USB ports also allow you to share a printer and a hard disk on the same router.<\/span><\/p>\n

With a visual management interface, you’ll also be able to set up advanced features such as dynamic DNS and guest networks.<\/span><\/p>\n