Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

[Ryan L.]

Alright so its time for a new wireless router at the house and I'm wondering if anybody has wireless N and actually notices a difference in the speed?

I mainly will be using it for browsing but it provides internet to about 6 computers/devices/PS3's and media sharing between all of them.

So what's your opinions on N?

Thanks,

Ryan

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

Try this: FrontierNet

[ColonelCash]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

Unless you are looking for range extension or downloading really large files, you won't see much difference. One benefit of N is the added range compared to A/B and G.

[the_invisible]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

Unless you have an internet connection that has the throughput that is equivalent to the bandwidth offered by the N-draft router, then you will notice a difference. If you are just using the ordinary household broadband packages, chance is that you will not notice a differene in internet browsing speed.

If you play a lot of networked games under the wireless network, then you will notice a huge improvement.

[agp56]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

Our residence no longer needed the range booster when we upgraded to a N-draft router.

[Mikejl]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

Ryan,

Unless everyone in your house has a draft-n wireless network adapter you will need a dual band wireless AP (Access Point) or Router. Dual Band is one that broadcasts at 2400 and 5000 GHz. That way your wireless "N" adapter can connect an 5000 GHz and the rest of the house can connect at 2400 GHz.

Otherwise if you you all share a 2400 GHz band and you connect at "N" and then someone else on your wireless network connects at "B" or "G" your connection speed will drop down. At that point you have basically wasted your money.

Mike

[the_invisible]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

Mikejl, I am sure that a majority of the N-wireless network adapters still operate in the 2.4ghz frequency. Very little draft-N adapters have the 5.0ghz frequency range.

Almost all draft-N routers allow mixed-network mode, which includes N, G, and B modes. At this point it is not very feasible to run an N only function in the 2.4ghz range. You are right in that a mixed-network mode is a drawback to the networking performance, but it is still adequate for intense gaming and corporate level internet streaming.

[jfelbab]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

My RR D/L speed went from around 7-8 Gb/s all the way up to 24 Gb/s with my N router.

I notice it when I watch movies via the internet (AppleTV) and when I do software upgrades. Your usage may not show much difference.

I used to need two G routers to cover my home and now I cover it all easily with one N router.

This may not be an issue for you but it was a big issue for me.

[Mikejl]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

Mikejl, I am sure that a majority of the N-wireless network adapters still operate in the 2.4ghz frequency. Very little draft-N adapters have the 5.0ghz frequency range.

Almost all draft-N routers allow mixed-network mode, which includes N, G, and B modes. At this point it is not very feasible to run an N only function in the 2.4ghz range. You are right in that a mixed-network mode is a drawback to the networking performance, but it is still adequate for intense gaming and corporate level internet streaming.

Invisible,

I was just giving Ryan a heads up on how:

1. He would gain no benefit from wireless N if others in the house would be running wireless G or B.

2. How he could get around that by buying a dual band router or access point.


You are correct that he would need to by a wireless adapter that would be capable of connecting at both 5 and 2.4 GHz and it would be best to be of the same brand as the router.

Mike

[Ryan L.]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

Ryan,

Unless everyone in your house has a draft-n wireless network adapter you will need a dual band wireless AP (Access Point) or Router. Dual Band is one that broadcasts at 2400 and 5000 GHz. That way your wireless "N" adapter can connect an 5000 GHz and the rest of the house can connect at 2400 GHz.

Otherwise if you you all share a 2400 GHz band and you connect at "N" and then someone else on your wireless network connects at "B" or "G" your connection speed will drop down. At that point you have basically wasted your money.

Mike

Darn, had I only known that 2 hours ago. The main reason I got a new router was the wireless on our old was getting shakey and cutting out at times. Everybody is wired besides me and I use the internet the most so I had to do it.

So I have a "N" capable wireless card in my laptop but everybody else is running hardwired. Will getting a dual band matter in my case, with me being the only wireless device that regularly uses it? The only other wireless devices would be my PS3 or iPod touch, both which are "G"

I saw the dual band version for $10 more so I will definitely exchange it if it helps.

Thanks,

Ryan

[the_invisible]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

Invisible,

I was just giving Ryan a heads up on how:

1. He would gain no benefit from wireless N if others in the house would be running wireless G or B.

2. How he could get around that by buying a dual band router or access point.


You are correct that he would need to by a wireless adapter that would be capable of connecting at both 5 and 2.4 GHz and it would be best to be of the same brand as the router.

Mike

I am not sure you are understanding the technicalities of the Draft N wireless technology. I think you are confusing the Draft N technology with the frequency range in which it is capable of operating in.

Draft N does not operate exclusively in the 5.0ghz frequency range. Most Draft N wireless adapters and routers operate in the 2.4ghz range, while very little are capable of operating in the 5.0ghz range.

The Draft N function is not limited by other networking modes within a network, unless you are referencing the extremely primitive draft N routers. Wireless-N routers that are sold in stores nowadays usually operate in the 2.4ghz range, with the exception of the dual band routers. And most routers will allow full draft-N capabilities, while also providing backwards support for wireless G and B signals.

By the way, I am a distributor of Sierra Wireless products.

[the_invisible]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

Darn, had I only known that 2 hours ago. The main reason I got a new router was the wireless on our old was getting shakey and cutting out at times. Everybody is wired besides me and I use the internet the most so I had to do it.

So I have a "N" capable wireless card in my laptop but everybody else is running hardwired. Will getting a dual band matter in my case, with me being the only wireless device that regularly uses it? The only other wireless devices would be my PS3 or iPod touch, both which are "G"

I saw the dual band version for $10 more so I will definitely exchange it if it helps.

Thanks,

Ryan

The dual band router is only useful if you have a network adapter that is capable of operating in the 5.0ghz frequency range.

The playstation operates only in the 2.4ghz bandwidth range.

I heard that the iPod touch has a network chip that could handle 5.0ghz, but I don't know much about the iPod touch. But such device would not see much benefits even in the 5.0ghz range, as to avoid the busy 2.4ghz band.

Check whether the N network card in your laptop could operate in the 5.0ghz frequency. If it doesn't, then there's no reason for you to get a dual band router.

[Mikejl]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

Darn, had I only known that 2 hours ago. The main reason I got a new router was the wireless on our old was getting shakey and cutting out at times. Everybody is wired besides me and I use the internet the most so I had to do it.

So I have a "N" capable wireless card in my laptop but everybody else is running hardwired. Will getting a dual band matter in my case, with me being the only wireless device that regularly uses it? The only other wireless devices would be my PS3 or iPod touch, both which are "G"

I saw the dual band version for $10 more so I will definitely exchange it if it helps.

Thanks,

Ryan

Ryan,

If everyone else is in your house is hardwired then you are golden. You will be the only one using the Wireless so you will get the full benefit of "N".

As for your PS3 it will only drop your connect speed while you are playing and have it on. The same with your IPOD Touch. If you have them on all the time you may want to spend the extra $10 and buy the dual band.

Otherwise, as you slowly convert other computers in the house to wireless you can make sure they are N also and you won't have any problems.



Mike

[Mikejl]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

I am not sure you are understanding the technicalities of the Draft N wireless technology. I think you are confusing the Draft N technology with the frequency range in which it is capable of operating in.

I am an IT Systems Specialist. I work on Networks for a living. I'm not confusing anything. Please parse the statement where I sound confused.

Draft N does not operate exclusively in the 5.0ghz frequency range. Most Draft N wireless adapters and routers operate in the 2.4ghz range, while very little are capable of operating in the 5.0ghz range.

I never said Draft N operates exclusively in the 5.0 GHz range. Wireless router manufacturers started adding it to wireless routers for the very reason I recommended it to Ryan. The 5 GHz range was originally for 802.11a which never hit mainstream popularity and was over shadowed by G.

The Draft N function is not limited by other networking modes within a network, unless you are referencing the extremely primitive draft N routers. Wireless-N routers that are sold in stores nowadays usually operate in the 2.4ghz range, with the exception of the dual band routers. And most routers will allow full draft-N capabilities, while also providing backwards support for wireless G and B signals.

Is this statement saying that current Wireless Routers and Access Points, within the last 3 years (how far back is extremely primitive draft N routers?) no longer drop the N connection speed when a G wireless connects?

We use Cisco for wireless for all our divisions at work so that is a different animal, but I have setup more home wireless networks than I want to remember.

I use either Linksys (Cisco) or Belkin (not so much anymore) and I have as recently as 4 months ago seen the drop in speed from a Dell laptop connected at N have its connection speed drop when a wireless G laptop connected.



By the way, I am a distributor of Sierra Wireless products.

I have never used Sierra products.

Mike

[Megafast13]

Re: Wireless N vs. Wireless G...will I notice a difference?

With Wireless N you won't notice a speed difference, just a range difference.

Just go with Wireless G, it's cheaper and all devices support it, unlike N.

Your ISP will control your speeds, not your Router