Author Topic: Router question (Read 358 times)

DREDIOCK · « **on:** August 05, 2006, 09:37:33 AM »

What is the difference between the routers?

I dont mean brand but the letters?

"G"
"N" Etc

Which is better/worse for what and why?

JTs · « **Reply #1 on:** August 05, 2006, 07:27:11 PM »

its the transfer rate for wireless. the "n" hasnt been made a standard yet. so one brand may not work with another brand card.

ALF · « **Reply #2 on:** August 05, 2006, 11:05:02 PM »

Currently "G" is the fastest that has a compelted 'standard' You can mix and match routers with wireless cards and such without any concern.

You can get an "N" which is faster if you want but will need to buy the equipment for the wireless reciever from the same manufacturer as the router, since the "N" specifications arnt standardized and dont work accross different implimentations, and so of course this is only going to work in your home network. Also be aware that there have been numerous reports of "N" routers hosing over wireless "G" bandwidth, so dont try and run both. The long and short of it is that while "N" is faster, your only going to see a big improvement in file transfers between your systems, even the old 802.11 B is faster than your cable modem or DSL.

Tigger29 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 06, 2006, 07:48:55 PM »

Yes... "B" has a max speed of (correct me if I'm wrong) 5.5Mb/s

"G" is 52Mb/s

"N" I think is 108Mb/s

but keep in mind even the fastest cable connections are 10Mb/s, so you won't notice any difference at all between G and N, unless you're sharing files from one local computer to another.

Personally I would save your money, get 802.11g... and that way you'll know it won't work without any conflicts.

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2006, 01:21:34 PM »

I currently have a Lynksys BEFSR41 and have no complaints whatsoever thusfar.
But Im considering moving to one that is also capable of wireless so my son can move his laptop throughout the house rather then having it tethered to one place.
May also make my brother in law (read IDIOT) an offer on his "AOL cheapo" laptop that he hasnt been able to figure out how to use, dispite endless hours of my trying to teach him.
Then everyone in the house can have their own if not hot,at least reasonably machine to mess around with

llama · « **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2006, 06:01:44 PM »

Regarding N:

You may be thinking to yourself, "Self, I'll just buy all my networking stuff from the same vendor and all will be well."

And for you and only you, things may indeed be well. But then, whenever you have a guest over at the house with their laptop, you may have problems. Or if your next computer has built-in WiFI and it doesn't work, you may need to buy a whole new router again.

Therefore, my advice to you is to stick with "G." You'll be glad a year or two down the road...

-Llama