Wireless N routers

[moe]

I've been hearing a lot of good things about the new Wireless Draft N routers. I plan to replace my Linksys WRT54GS router and when I do that I plan to get either a Linksys WRT150 or WRT300N. To those who've used either, what can you say about the performance? Do the new N routers work well with other G devices? What advantages will I get if I'm using a G device and an N router?

[hahnvin]

the only benefit that you will get from the n router is the extended range. other than that wala na kasi you are using a g device

[moe]

are you currently using one or have you used one in the past? what brand and model if i may ask? and also, talking about an increase in range, how far can it go as compared to a G router? this would be nice since i don't really need that much speed anyway, but extended range would be an advantage.

[moe]

come on guys, any more feedbacks?

[pakupakupaku]

Its compatible with G, range almost double in an ideal environment. I think you should be concerned only with N if the bandwidth of G is not enough for you. So far our ISP havent beaten then 10mbps barrier. if you love data xfers within your network upgrading to N is FTW.

[boybi]

Would there be a significant increase in range even if your laptop uses only wireless G?

[ineedmorehp]

not a + for the N but since you are using Linksys WRT54GS, you can change the firmware and be able to add more functionality to your wireless router.

[Horsepower]

Linksys routers are crap. Stay away from them. Your connection will slow down then suddenly drop out of the blue when it heats up. Plus, they are not the ones who make their routers. Some third party china company.

Edimax on the otherhand has their own R&D facility and own factory in Taiwan. As you know, when it comes to IT stuff, Taiwan made ones are far superior than China made ones.

Hence, my two WiFi-N routers are both Edimax.

Excellent coverage, connection and ease of use. No complications

Add to that, it's very cheap too, 5k+ lang.

[moe]

hmmm, interesting. can't say i totally agree with you about linksys being total crap since my wrt54gs has been running 24/7 the past 18 months with 4 wired computers and 2 wireless connections. no problem so far. boybi has exactly the same question i have. will range and performance improve if paired with a device which uses a G card? more inputs please. and i guess the edimax is worth checking out, thanks HP!

[thebat]

I've been using my Lynksys wrt54gs since 2005 and I haven't had any problems with it. Sobrang ok sya and like moe here open sya 24/7 (kahit kumukulog at kidlat!). Excellent lagi signal.

I also use a lynksys wireless G range expander when I work outside at my parents terrace. This expander expand the signal from my house for more than 100meters (open space w/o much obstruction). Sobrang ok laging excellent ang signal feed.

I also have a seperate router and have 1 line going to my parent's house and PC and another wire going to my sister's room. All in all 2 PC and 3 laptops and nakikinabang sa line ko plus pag me bisita nakiki wi fi din.

Btw I still uses the PLDT DSL P1999 (di pa kasama phone line) plan kse eto yung pinaka mabilis (54Mbps). Meron bang mas mura na DSL connection na ganito kabilis or even better?

[boybi]

thebat, are you sure 54mbps ang internet connection speed mo? Can you do an internet connection speed test using this site:

www.speedtest.net

Choose the Singapore server.

[moe]

awesome speed! i get 100 mbps! hehe. well, that's my lan speed, and i guess the 54 mbps you're referring to is your wan's speed. test it

[Horsepower]

It's good that you have acceptable experiences with Linksys routers. :D

Note that if you upgrade to WiFi-N, you must also upgrade your adapters to WiFi-N in order to enjoy the 300mbps network speed. In WiFi law, it's the slowest that rules. So if you let someone with a WiFi-B connect to your state-of-the-art WiFi-N network, the whole network downgrades to WiFi-B.

You can fix this by specifying purely N connection in the router interface (or G if you still have a G).

[moe]

HP, will the range increase if i use an N router with a G device? i'm not after the 300 mbps, just the range.

[Horsepower]

moe, in my case, it did. YMMV though.

the principle of WiFi-N is based on MIMO, in a nutshell, it uses the bounce-off signals as data signals.

[moe]

what devices are connected to your N router? laptops using wireless g? how big a difference does it make? my laptops both use G and I'd like to have longer range than the wrt54gs i;m using now.

[thebat]

what devices are connected to your N router? laptops using wireless g? how big a difference does it make? my laptops both use G and I'd like to have longer range than the wrt54gs i;m using now.

Why not try using the linksys wreless G range expander? Mas lalayo yung range.

[ooba99]

what devices are connected to your N router? laptops using wireless g? how big a difference does it make? my laptops both use G and I'd like to have longer range than the wrt54gs i;m using now.

I am using Belkin N router. And I can use my laptop (G mode) even without an adapter. The throughput is amazing so that I can use my laptop at my dining room (first floor) with the router at the computer room (second floor) that is about 150 feet with light construction materials dividing it. Abot pa rin sa master's bedroom sa ground floor although the signal strength is weaker. Cnet.com gives a favorable review to Belkin over Linksys and Netgear, although it was not recommending the use of the N technology yet at the time I bought a year ago because of standardization/calibration issues. I am one happy user of Belkin N. Plus it carries a lifetime warranty unlike Linksys and Netgear. Too bad it is not available locally. Please take a look at the comparative test done by Cnet lab:

CNET Labs maximum throughput tests with mixed 802.11b/g and MIMO clients (at 10 feet)


(Throughput in Mbps)

Belkin N1 router

53.3

Linksys WRT300N Draft N router

46.0 </SPAN>

Belkin Pre-N router

42.1 </SPAN>

Netgear WNR834B RangeMax Next router

26.2 </SPAN>

[Horsepower]

yup, belkin is also a good router, too bad wala akong makita locally.

may nakita ako abroad Belkin Wifi N with built-in Printer server (via USB). so your ordinary printer will become a network printer. it's cool for me :D

[pup2]

I don't remember our brands but I do know we tried switching to the N router from our B/G one with an external antenna tapos ang clients ay mixed b/g at b/g/n. Madami kasing pader ang kailangang lusutan at gusto ko sana lumakas ang range. Ang resulta -- mas maganda pa yung G with external antenna kesa dun sa N na walang external ... kaya kumuha na din ako ng N na may external at bumuti-buti na ang signal -- not by much (I was hoping to increase mga 30% man lang but it's about 15%), though enough to appreciate.