okj
join:2001-09-02
USA # 1
| Please recommend a very good wireless router
I think my Linksys Wireless G WRT54GS is finally on it's last leg. I want to go with a new Wireless N (as I understand they are faster). I also understand I must do some other things for the Wireless N to be effective (faster).
Can you recommend a high quality, reputable "N" router, and advise me as to what else I must do for it to work best?
Thanks!
GREAT forum, btw. |
|
stevech0
join:2006-09-17
San Diego, CA
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·VoicePulse
| rarely do these devices "wear out" and go to their "Last Leg".
What can happen is interference which will affect any proudct you choose. There are ways to overcome interference. But that may not be your situation.
Read the FAQ here on - should I buy an 11n router. |
|
PeteC2
Got Mouse?
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-20
Bristol, CT
clubs:
 ·AT&T Yahoo
1 edit | At some point the increased through-put of 11n will become more important, but for most folks, not yet. Most people do not have ISPs that would even begin to stress 11g.
Where 11n routers can make an impact, is if one does a fair amount of file/data transfers within one's network, between computers, NAS, etc. Even then, factors such as what devices you are running makes an impact. Mixed 11g/11n networks run very close in speed to being just 11g.
An exception to that would be a 11n simultaneous dual band router, where you can run your 11n stuff on one band and your 11g on the other. Of course, these routers will run on the higher end of the price range.
Generally, routers do not wear out/wear down. They can completely crap-out of course, but stevech0's observation is more likely the case.
I have a Linksys 610N and am very satisfied with it, with two caveats: 1. It is pricey! 2. It has a USB drive connector that works, but is really not an ideal solution...a dedicated NAS is a much better route for network storage. Having said that, it has gigabit connectivity, simultaneous dual-band, and for me, it has been absolutely rock-solid from day one.
Having said that: Every consumer router has a complete mix of success/mediocre/and downright bad reviews!
--
Deeds, not words |
|
stevech0
join:2006-09-17
San Diego, CA |
some non-geeks among us fail to realize that the laptops and PCs all have to be 11n, and compatable 11n, since 11n is still in draft status as an interoperable standard. |
|
Eat Me
join:2002-09-25
Sussex, NJ
·PenTeleData
·Future Nine Corpor..
·VOIPo
·Vonage
| reply to PeteC2
said by PeteC2  :At some point the increased through-put of 11n will become more important, but for most folks, not yet. Most people do not have ISPs that would even begin to stress 11g. Actually the proliferation of media devices in the home using your home network makes N worthwhile for a lot of people. For example, TiVo desktop on my laptop using 11b or even 11g is painful. Most times I just jack in to any of the available ethernet jacks littered throughout my house. For this reason alone I am thinking of going to 11n. |
|
PeteC2
Got Mouse?
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-20
Bristol, CT
clubs:
·AT&T Yahoo
| said by Eat Me :said by PeteC2 :At some point the increased through-put of 11n will become more important, but for most folks, not yet. Most people do not have ISPs that would even begin to stress 11g. Actually the proliferation of media devices in the home using your home network makes N worthwhile for a lot of people. For example, TiVo desktop on my laptop using 11b or even 11g is painful. Most times I just jack in to any of the available ethernet jacks littered throughout my house. For this reason alone I am thinking of going to 11n. Yep, as I had already mentioned:
Where 11n routers can make an impact, is if one does a fair amount of file/data transfers within one's network, between computers, NAS, etc.
At this time intra-network transfer is where 11n may be a worthwhile option. If not for that, I would not yet have switched from 11g
--
Deeds, not words |
|
stevech0
join:2006-09-17
San Diego, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
·VoicePulse
1 edit | Remember that 11n has a myrid of options such as kinds of MIMO, channel bonding, bursting, and so on. These are negotiated between node pairs at run time. So vendor A and vendor B might wind up negotiating a least-common-denominator feature set not much better than 11g. |
|
tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT
·Cox HSI
| reply to okj
said by okj :I think my Linksys Wireless G WRT54GS is finally on it's last leg. I want to go with a new Wireless N (as I understand they are faster). I also understand I must do some other things for the Wireless N to be effective (faster). Can you recommend a high quality, reputable "N" router, and advise me as to what else I must do for it to work best? Thanks! GREAT forum, btw. Only faster by 120mbps than G 30mbps but you'll only see the difference on the LAN. Unless your WAN is more like 40mbps then N would be a bit better than G. Remember G is stable than N. Right now N is flaky it can run lower that G sometimes. |
|
watchin
@comcast.net
|  is in 'draft' mode does not make it inherently "flaky". My 11n is not flaky, my previous 11g was not flaky.
I would suggest that both your router and remote adaptor be made by the same company for the most reliable results.
I have gone with TRENDnet and it works for me. |
|
stevech0
join:2006-09-17
San Diego, CA
·RoadRunner Cable
·VoicePulse
1 edit | said by watchin :
I would suggest that both your router and remote adaptor be made by the same company for the most reliable results.
Since 11n is a draft standard, still in flux, even same-vendor products of different vintages (age) can fail to interoperate with the advanced features of 11n, dropping back to a least common denominator. The channel-pair-bonding *negotiated option* in 11n, where you may attempt use of 2/3 of the entire 2.4GHz band, is the only new option that is a really dramatic improvement over 11g. This double-wide option is disabled in many products if there are vulnerable 11g systems nearby. |
|
