Wiresless N routers or stay b/g

apphd

I know there are a lot of professionals here at CP, so I think I can get some good advice on this. Now that N routers have been around for a while in final N status are they prooving to be any more/less reliable than b/g routers, and providing real speed increases? I'm planning to install a wireless router, for some basic web browsing with 1 desktop (may even keep this wired) and 1 laptop, both XP machines on an average at best (connection speed) DSL modem.

Are the current overings of N routers ready for prime time or is it somewhat hit or mis? I'm not sure with my requirements (no gameing, no streaming, 1 or 2 PCs) if I would be better off sticking with a well regarded b/g router.

kuntasensei

DSL typically gives you about 3mbps of data throughput. Wireless G at its best signal gives you 54mbps. So long as you're getting at least 1/4 signal with wireless G, you aren't going to peak out that connection just with internet use.

Where greater throughput is typically required is for transferring files between systems. If you don't do a lot of that, there's no real advantage to going Wireless N. That said, if you search for your wireless access point and see a lot of your neighbors with wireless b/g setups, going Wireless N can improve reliability simply by not being on the same frequencies as b/g.

Bottom line: If you're having connection issues related to interference and your laptop has wireless N, a wireless N router might help. Otherwise, wireless G is typically enough to pass the full bandwidth available to DSL. In that case, I recommend finding a router with an antenna array to improve transmission/reception. Netgear makes a line called Rangemax that do a very good job of this, and actually their unit with 8 internal antennas helped bounce enough signal around my home to extend the usable range clear to the opposite end of the house (whereas Linksys and D-Link routers fell off well before that, even with careful aiming of the antennas).

billbillw

It might be obvious, but if not, N routers are a semi-useless upgrade unless you have devices with wireless-N adapters. They will only connect to G-devices at G speeds. Most new laptops will have N-adapters in them, but ones that are 2 or more years old probably still have G adapters.

N-routers may have a slight advantage of having newer wireless chips in them that may have better transmission/reception, but I wouldn't count on it.

I'm still very happy with my T-Mobile version of the Linksys WRT54G which had more memory than the standard and can run the full version of DD-WRT. I have 6 devices hardwired (using an old wired router as a switch near my HT system) and typically have 1 or 2 wireless devices on as well. No problems with local network speed on my 6mbps DSL.

apphd

Thanks guys, that confirms kind of what I expected. I need to purchase adaptors as well because my laptop and desktop both are not wireless ready, so if I went with an N router I would make sure I had N adaptors. Some of the reading I've been doing makes the N devices sound like audio gear when it comes to compatibility, and synergy with the rest of the gear, and house construction and layout. One make/model has those that love it, while others call it junk. Where as something like the Linksys WRT54G still seams to be a work horse with very high regard. So with my limited requirements I think I will be fine going with a b/g. Thanks again and have a Happy and Safe New Years

Face

I just went from wireless G with "speedboost" to this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124388&cm_re=linksys_wireless_router-_-33-124-388-_-Product

The difference in speed and signal strength(distance) is substantial, YMMV. As mentioned, you will need the appropriate adapters elsewhere.

bobman1235

Don't count out the signal strength / reliability argument - I've definitely noticed better reliability from my N-Router at distance.

But anyone who claims there's a speed difference is either doing lots of large transfers on tehir home network, or lying. The best broadband connection in America doesn't come close to the throughput of Wireless G.

jflail2

I had no problems with a G router until I bought a new laptop. I had some annoying connectivity issues until i bought an N router to match the N card in my laptop. Everything is good to go now.

So, sort of as you alluded to, I'd expect you'd really only need an N router if you have an N adaptor.

nguyendot

bobman1235 wrote: »

Don't count out the signal strength / reliability argument - I've definitely noticed better reliability from my N-Router at distance.

But anyone who claims there's a speed difference is either doing lots of large transfers on their home network, or lying. The best broadband connection in America doesn't come close to the throughput of Wireless G.

Incorrect.

Wireless G is 54mbps maximum theoretical. With the wireless overhead, TCP overhead, and encryption overhead, you get about half of that speed max, 27.4mbps or so. That equates to about 3MB/s. Even then, very seldom do you get the full bandwidth of wireless G, unless you're 10ft away with no walls.

The fastest broadband available to the masses is FIOS from Verizon - hitting 50mbps for the highest, and 25mbps for the middle. Both can max out your wireless, especially with multiple clients, and upload figured into the mix.

Even Cox cable has 50mbps and 30mbps plans. I'm on the 30mbps plan, and can easily hit over 3.0MB/s.

Also keep in mind if you ever stream high def content, wireless G won't cut it for high bitrate h.264 1080p content. I have been streaming content from my server to my other computers and media devices, and wireless G barely cuts it for one device. I added a Netgear N router 270mbps (about 100mbps max real world in optimal conditions) to the network on its own branch for the media devices and it improved speeds dramatically.

bobman1235

Bah, in my haste to be smart I forgot the whole mb mB thing... I had in my mind that Wireless G was 54 MB/s not 54 Mb/s. Oops!

nguyendot

Gigabit is great.... wired is best boys and girls, if you can swing it. I hit 90+ MB/s going from computer to computer with it.

fatchowmein

I have a lone pc at a weird end of the house but I didn't want to run a cable to it. Wireless G strength was okay but the N definitely worked better and the coverage is larger. YMMV.

The rest of the house is wired gigabit for connectivity to the windows home server.

disneyjoe7

G is fine, but if you have peer to peer computer network a N-router may have a 1gig network port. I use a N-router for my network for a peer to peer network, but if not I would have G-router only.

RuSsMaN

I was just thinking about this. Of course I'm going to talk to Comcast about what bandwidth I have, or could have, but I feel like my network is loaded down.

We've got 3 laptops - nothing hardcore, Facebook, Youtube, etc, basic surfing, but we also have 3 phones (iPhone and 2 Galaxy S), and now my brother gives us a Bluray for Christmas, so we're streaming Netflix also - all off a $50 Walmart Belkin 'g'. Do I need N? Should I get the N AND continue to use the G (for the phones perhaps?).

Sorry to piggyback, but felt it was on topic.

Cheers,
Russ

cokewithvanilla

I stream BD50 content without an issue over N.. wired rocks for data transfer, but if you are simply streaming, you should not have an issue over N. I can't say the same for G. If you are buying a new router, you will be hard pressed to find a consumer router that doesn't support N.

If you are just using the internet, even if you have a 30mb connection, you will probably not notice on a day to day basis.

RuSsMaN

I wired with CAT5 when my house was being built, but I have to remember what I put where - I never used it, all blank wall plates.

apphd

RuSsMaN wrote: »

I was just thinking about this. Of course I'm going to talk to Comcast about what bandwidth I have, or could have, but I feel like my network is loaded down.

We've got 3 laptops - nothing hardcore, Facebook, Youtube, etc, basic surfing, but we also have 3 phones (iPhone and 2 Galaxy S), and now my brother gives us a Bluray for Christmas, so we're streaming Netflix also - all off a $50 Walmart Belkin 'g'. Do I need N? Should I get the N AND continue to use the G (for the phones perhaps?).

Sorry to piggyback, but felt it was on topic.

Cheers,
Russ

No problem, absolutely on topic. My biggest concern with N routers is finding one that works as advertised. As I said earlier reviews are like reading through HDMI equipped audio reviews After looking at the link that Face provided I went for this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833186011
Except I also got this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833186012
for free by ordering by end of day 12/31. Would have liked to research it a little more but figured the savings/cost difference between what I was going to go with (b/g) was worth the risk. Then if I ever do decide to do more bandwidth intensive stuff I might be ahead of the game.
Thanks again everyone for the input, I think it helped me make a decision with more intelligence than I had going into it.

Strong Bad

nguyendot wrote: »

Incorrect.

Wireless G is 54mbps maximum theoretical. With the wireless overhead, TCP overhead, and encryption overhead, you get about half of that speed max, 27.4mbps or so. That equates to about 3MB/s. Even then, very seldom do you get the full bandwidth of wireless G, unless you're 10ft away with no walls.

The fastest broadband available to the masses is FIOS from Verizon - hitting 50mbps for the highest, and 25mbps for the middle. Both can max out your wireless, especially with multiple clients, and upload figured into the mix.

Even Cox cable has 50mbps and 30mbps plans. I'm on the 30mbps plan, and can easily hit over 3.0MB/s.

Also keep in mind if you ever stream high def content, wireless G won't cut it for high bitrate h.264 1080p content. I have been streaming content from my server to my other computers and media devices, and wireless G barely cuts it for one device. I added a Netgear N router 270mbps (about 100mbps max real world in optimal conditions) to the network on its own branch for the media devices and it improved speeds dramatically.

Going to agree with this post! Nicely done!

When I shopped for a Wireless-N router in November 2009, I researched the typical Linksys, Netgear and other brands. I read lots of reviews and there were too many reliability issues with them (at that time). I went with the Apple Extreme router and have been very very impressed with it's performance. I've had this router for a bit over a year now with ZERO issues.

One of the security features (if you want to call it a security feature) I like about the Apple...no web interface for management. You need the management software installed on your desktop/laptop to manage it.

John