If yours is a multi-computer household where several family members tend to be online at the same time, it's often useful to buy a broadband router: a hardware device that can be used to connect home computers to a cable modem or DSL Internet service, supporting file sharing and various other capabilities in addition to shared Internet connection. A router combines convenience and security features and is widely available from many manufacturers.

You'll have a choice of wired or wireless products. Wireless routers will require an adapter for each computer. If you're using a traditional wired broadband router, be sure it has enough ports to service your whole family. It's probably best to ensure that your router can support both wired and wireless computers, and to make provision for further expansion.

Many families will want to use two or more routers. These can easily be used cooperatively to support larger and larger networks. (Some neighborhoods set up networks that involve several households.) Multiple routers can usually be combined to enable wired and wireless systems to work together.

An alternative to multiple routers is an Ethernet switch, which also allows expansion of your network but is much easier to set up.

Routers have been improved dramatically over the past several years, and almost all routers on the market today are efficient and offer adequate security. There is no one dominant manufacturer of routers, and each of the major brands has its adherents. Several Websites offer reviews of different products, including:

http://www.consumersearch.com/wireless-routers
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wirelessrouters80211g/tp/80211ghome.htm
http://www.pcmag.com/reviews/routers