Wireless Internet Router for £35 delivered- Can you beat it?

Want to go wireless so you can connect to the internet without plugging your laptop/pc in? If so you need a compatible computer and a 'wireless router'.

If you've ADSL broadband, which is internet via the phone line, it's a box you plug in to the phone line instead of your modem. If you've cable broadband (NTL/Telewest) which is a DSL modem, you plug your router into the modem. Either way once it transmits the signal that your computer picks up.

Router prices are plummetting, allowing you to pick them up for under £40 new and under £30 refurbished, which is usually much cheaper than your internet service provider charges.

Always try your Internet Provider First

A few will subsidise your wireless router if you ask, check what the deal is. Many NTL/Telewest customers report being able to get a free wireless router provided they don't leave within a year (why not ask them to lower the price while you're on the phone too, see the Digitial TV cost cutting article).

NEW ROUTERS. (Some routers are for cable broadband users, others for ADSL which is broadband via a phone line, its stated each time.)

• Buffalo 54 mbps, CABLE Misco, £34
• Netgear 54mbps, CABLE Savastore, £39
• Billion 54mbps, ADSL eBuyer, £40 (currently out of stock but worth checking back)
• Linksys Wireless -G ADSL Modem Router, ADSL Amazon, £47

REFURBISHED (Some routers are for cable broadband users, others for ADSL which is broadband via a phone line, its stated each time.)

If you're willing to go for a refurbished router you can cut the cost even more. The following are decent prices, though I should add I don't yet have feedback on the reliability of this company, it's included purely on price.

• Thomson SpeedTouch 576. REFURBISHED ADSL dslDepot, £23.
• SpeedTouch 580. REFURBISHED ADSL dslDepot (this is the next model up from the Thomson Speedtouch 576 above) and has received slightly better reviews, £28.99

Which is the right wireless router

There are numerous wireless standards available, which can make it difficult to choose. If you have broadband at home, it's best to get an 802.11.g model, which allows transfer speeds of up to 54 mbps (mega bits per second). This should be more than quick enough for most people, and those I've listed fall into this category.

It is still possible to get slower 802.11.b routers at cheaper prices, but they offer far less speed, and are generally being phased out. If you need to send the wireless signal over a larger space then you may have to consider a more expensive MIMO standard router, which should have better coverage.

Anything else I should know?

Be sure to use encryption on the network you set up; this'll prevent others logging on to your network or stealing your personal info as it floats around in the ether. Check out this Microsoft guide for more info on setting up a home wireless network.

Some of these routers can be difficult to set up, so ensure you read the reviews first if you're not too tech-savvy. The Linksys model above seems to have very strong feedback.

Martin