If you only have one computer that link directly to the internet, and if you just need a computer to finish everything on your to-do list, then you do not need a router. You have everything you need.
However, if the family is busy you have acquired the computer almost as fast as bicycles and baseball equipment, and if each member of the family of laptop-toting cries and screams for internet access, then you definitely need to invest a few dollars and one hour of your time, install the router and networking home for your family.
In technical terms, the router translates the signal from a broadband or DSL provider of your internet service, routing them to the computers on your network. Before the wireless network becomes available, the router will send a signal via Ethernet or coaxial cable to a remote location on the network all households. Now, the wireless router sends radio signals to a PC ready for wireless all around the house. Because the router broadcast a radio signal, your neighbors and other malicious intruders can hijack signal and use your network unless you protect it to encrypt its signal.
Like other computer hardware, routers come in various sizes and strengths for a variety of residential and light commercial applications. For most families, a cheap wireless router from a big box store local electronics provide all the coverage and signal strength they need. Installation is simple and straight forward, and it goes according to intuition and common sense. Connect to a broadband modem or DSL service, connect the router to your modem, and connect all your computers to your router. Of course, the devil is in the details, but the best wireless routers now come with installation wizard that guides you step-by-step through all the intricacies and subtleties of installation and configuration. Generally, setting up a home network easily enough. However, when you try to do a manual set up, the IP addresses they need to be set is: 192.168.0.1 and 192.168.1.1. This is the factory default setting for almost all routers.
You need a wireless router as a wireless router empowers you to set-up the family network quickly, cleanly, safely, and with space to add-on or expand. Consider just one common example: on any given night, or worse, on any given weekday morning, every member of the family of a kindergarten child to graduate students must print something. If the computer is not connected to the network, every member of the family can not wait have to wait his turn, insert a CD or flash drive to the family's main computer, and complete all print settings. When you use your router to connect all the computers in your home, all of them will easily connect a printer to a family with just one click.