The Internet is one huge network that is subdivided into many smaller networks. Internet routers connect multiple small networks together to a form a bigger network. Internet traffic routing is a fascinating subject, and complex subject. For our purpose, we only need to know the role a router plays in connecting multiple devices to a single address provided by our ISP. When you connect your Internet device to an ISP, the ISP’s router defines a network consisting of two addresses: your IP address and the ISP’s IP address. This holds true for cable and USB data card connections. Large companies employ more complex solutions, but they have the networking staff to manage the complexity. For the small business and home user, we are granted only a single IP address. This limits the connection to a single device, as each device must have a unique IP address. I use the word device as a way to describe all Internet capable devices. This includes routers, computers, Internet ready TVs, Web cams, household security systems, and more.

When you have more than one device to connect to the Internet, you need a router. The router now becomes the end-point for the ISP. The router configuration defines a private internal network. The most common private network address begins with the numbers 192.168. What is important is that a private network IP address cannot be routed to the Internet. Thus, an outside hacker could see the router, but not the devices connected to its network. It is the job of the router to make sure that a request from a device to an Internet site receives the response. For example, if you have three computers in your network that are watching different YouTube videos, the routers make sure that each device only receives the data for the video that it is playing. When a device connects to the network, the router sends it the information it needs to connect to the Internet using DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). The router also acts as a firewall to keep hackers from trying to penetrate the internal network. The challenge is selecting a router.

When I set out to buy a router in Costa Rica, I knew that I wanted a wireless router that supported the IEE 802.11 b/g/n standard. The letters b/g/n tell you something about the connection speed between the device and the wireless router, and reflect the growing demand for higher speed. I have some older devices that only supported IEEE 801.11g standard, and a few that supported the current IEEE 802.11n standard, which supports the highest transfer speed. I also wanted a router that could connect to a cable modem or a USB data card. I really also wanted a router that supported VPN (see my article on proxy servers for more details on Virtual Private Networks), as I really did not want to configure VPN on every device. After two days of searching on the Internet and calling stores, I found a router that met all my requirements, except for VPN. I wish I had known about Tico Movil, as they have the router I wanted.

Tico Movil doesn’t just sell the router. They sell a Buffalo wireless router (with speeds upto 300 Mbs, and LAN speeds of 10/100/100 Mbs) that is already configured for VPN, optimized, and with the latest software release for the router. If you have a VPN cable router, they will configure and update the software for you. They also provide a Do-It-Yourself service that includes any software upgrade to your router. If you are not sure if your router qualifies as a VPN router, then just call them with the make, model, and serial number. Tico Movil also provides a number of other services including a complete WiFi HotSpot Solution.

Tico Movil sells you the router, but you need to purchase a subscription plan for the VPN service. They recommend Strong VPN as a VPN service provider. Strong VPN is one of the top five VPN service providers, and is a costs less than Hide My Ass. However, Strong VPN does not have a monthly plan, like Hide My Ass does, which may be better for personal or small business needs. Their plans are for three, six, and twelve months. If you have a mobile device, you may also want to install VPN on that device, for those cases where you are not connected to your VPN router. However, Strong VPN allows only one connection to the Internet at a time for a single account.

If you run a business that requires an IP address in another country, then VPN is for you. If have multiple devices that need to connect through one VPN connection, then you need a VPN router. If you have an Internet capable TV that connects to Hulu, you need a VPN router. Whenever, you have multiple devices that require VPN services, it is best to use a VPN router.