stevech0
join:2006-09-17
San Diego, CA
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·VoicePulse
2 edits | reply to watchin
Re: Should I buy an "N" router?
IP throughput (your useful speed) is abouty 60-70% of the raw wireless bit rate, e.g., the best 11g can do is about 24Mbps.
11n speed depends on how compatible vendor A and B are if you have mixed vendors in the access point/router and clients, if there are any non-11n clients slowing things, if your hardware and interference condition can permit channel-pair-bonding, and many other factors. It will vary day to day.
Of course, we all know that speeds well beyond what your Cable Modem or DSL or other means your ISP uses are not important- except for inter-PC data on the LAN. Windows file shares are hard to run at very high speeds due to overhead in windows. |
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watchin
@comcast.net
| reply to tipstir
Using a Dell Inspriron laptop, Windows XP, and a Trendnet TEW-664UB USB adaptor on my upper floor and a Trendnet 11n wireless router on my first floor I am seeing Physical Layer Speeds of 270.0 Mbps since I reconfigured my router.
I know it is advertised as 300Mbps but I just haven't tweaked that high of speed out of it.
It is noticeably faster than my 11g Linksys router (which only showed 54Mbps).
Should YOU buy an 11n router? Only if you want higher speeds on your remote device. For under $100.00 you can more than double your speed. I have had this on 24/7 for over 1 week with no loss of 100% signal. |
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT | reply to No_Strings
This charts shows you..
 |
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stevech0
join:2006-09-17
San Diego, CA | reply to watchin
said by watchin :
My throughput speed on my laptop is more than doubled (but not 300mbps, only 130mbps).
Throughput or wireless connection speed? Quite different. |
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watchin
@comcast.net
| reply to No_Strings
I just installed a 11n router (TRENDnet) and a TRENDnet adaptor for my laptop. The router cost $27 and the USB adaptor $49. The router is a dual antenna and replaced my Linksys G only router (the TRENDnet is g and n). My throughput speed on my laptop is more than doubled (but not 300mbps, only 130mbps). I know, this is brand new stuff, not New Old Stock or anything. I am using Windows Vista on my main computer which is wired to Comcast cable. Laptop uses XP. It has been stable for several days. The Linksys was stable at 54mbps 24/7 for over 4 years. I am keeping it for a backup.
I did try a Dlink 11n router and it would not stay connected. It went back. |
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No_Strings
Premium,Mod
join:2001-11-22
The OC
Host:
Wireless Networking
All Things Unix
Cox HSI
Qwest
Efficient
| reply to aam
Saw today's Dilbert and thought it was appropriate for this thread.
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aam
@btopenworld.com
| reply to No_Strings
No.
Esp. don't buy a Netgear WRN2000 because it simply doesn't work.
I spent days loading wireless drivers and even re-loaded ubuntu... (based on other people's apparent issues) but to my horror, but not surprise, I have found that my laptop connects at every wireless hotspot and today I connected to a wireless g router without issues. So it seems I have wasted my money and I cannot get any support from netgear.
So much for wireless N being backwards compatible... |
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tipstir
join:2004-11-14
Enfield, CT
·Cox HSI
| reply to No_Strings
I use both 5.8GHz and DECT 6.0 (1.9GHz) with a N network DECT 6.0 phones seems to work better. A lot of the 5.8GHz are really 2.4GHz even though they claim to be 5.8GHz and some brands go even cheaper and make the 5.8GHz a dual band but not with 2.4GHz and actually 900MHz. You should check the specs or contact the DECT 6.0 phone maker before you shell out money for such a phone. |
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PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD
clubs:
·Comcast
| reply to No_Strings
An additional datapoint:
I directly replaced my WRT54GS with a WRT310N (there are no N devices on the network), keeping the same security settings and passphrase (different SSID, however). The same devices connect without issues. It is for precisely this reason why (barring other issues, such as cross-compatibility) I'd find it incredible to believe that G would work where N (even draft-N) would not.
The router in question is not a new WRT310N, but a WRT310N that was surplused by a family member I had done some network jobs for when their ISP (VZ) replaced their wired-only DSL router with a wireless-G router. (The only wireless devices are wireless-N; however, I foresee no issues for the same reason the N router will have no issues with G devices; backward compatibility.) |
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No_Strings
Premium,Mod
join:2001-11-22
The OC
Host:
Wireless Networking
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Qwest
Efficient
| reply to PGHammer
I only found one manual for a GE DECT and it specifies the 1.9GHz band.
»www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=w···hLw_yj_Q
All of the other online references to GE DECT I looked at (about 10) list DECT 6.0 as the operating frequency. Again, 1.9G.
Not trying to pick a fight, just making sure we're all on the same page so someone looking for a phone isn't steered in the wrong direction. If you want something with no chance of interference, buy an old 900MHz (hard to find any more) or DECT 6.0. Others can be a problem. |
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PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD
clubs:
·Comcast
| reply to No_Strings
From the documentation, GE's DECT phone system operates in the 5.8 GHz band (and it's a residential, not business, DECT system aimed expressly at US homes).
However, the same issue would still occur with traditional 5.8 GHz devices if you have too many on the same channel (that is why it makes sense to avoid channel 6 with 2.4 GHz N or G, entirely because it's a default setting, and thus often used). |
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mozerd
Light Will Pierce The Darkness
Premium,MVM
join:2004-04-23
Nepean, ON
| reply to PGHammer
The original DECT frequency band (1880 MHz–1900 MHz) is used in all countries in Europe. Outside Europe, it is used in most of Asia, Australia and South America
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission in 2005 changed channelization and licensing costs in a nearby band (1920 MHz–1930 MHz, or 1.9 GHz), known as Unlicensed Personal Communications Services (UPCS), allowing DECT devices to be sold in the U.S. with only minimal changes. These channels are reserved exclusively for voice communication applications and therefore are less likely to experience interference from other wireless devices such as baby monitors and wireless networks.
The above is taken from the following link:
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_En···ications
--
David Mozer
IT-Expert on Call
Information Technology for Home and Business |
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No_Strings
Premium,Mod
join:2001-11-22
The OC
Host:
Wireless Networking
All Things Unix
Cox HSI
Qwest
Efficient
| reply to PGHammer
said by PGHammer  :1. Are there a lot of DECT cordless phones in the area? (Most newer DECT phones use the same 5 GHz band that high-band N devices use; the older DECT phones, and most cordless *standard* phones, share the 2.4 GHz band with N and wireless-G.) From what the poster with the range-gate issues with N was commenting on, the first (DECT phones and lots of them) is more likely (since his issue was with dual-band N, which was created to avoid a similar issue with older cordless/DECT phone systems in the 2.4 GHz band that is shared with these devices and wireless-G). Not true.
DECT phones will not interfer with A,B, G or N. They operate entirely outside of either the 2.4GHz or 5.8GHz bands.
Cordless phones in the US can operate at 900MHz, 2.4GHz or 5.8GHz, but none are DECT.
»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_En···ications
»www.tech-faq.com/cordless-phone-···es.shtml |
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PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD
clubs:
·Comcast
| reply to Millenniumle
If G works where N (especially dual-band N) does not, then there is something decidedly unusual about the area you are in.
1. Are there a lot of DECT cordless phones in the area? (Most newer DECT phones use the same 5 GHz band that high-band N devices use; the older DECT phones, and most cordless *standard* phones, share the 2.4 GHz band with N and wireless-G.)
2. How many other wireless-N networks are there within range? (Multiple N networks operating on the same channel, even with encryption, are going to have crosstalk issues; the same issue applies to G, of course.)
From what the poster with the range-gate issues with N was commenting on, the first (DECT phones and lots of them) is more likely (since his issue was with dual-band N, which was created to avoid a similar issue with older cordless/DECT phone systems in the 2.4 GHz band that is shared with these devices and wireless-G). |
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PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD
clubs:
·Comcast
| reply to nwrickert
If you do local streaming (printing, video, or have NAS), you'd change your tune quickly. Heck, even simple file-sharing (depending on the file size and type) is a good reason for N. However, if you are going to deploy N (even draft-N), tther are several things that SHOULD (even MUST) be done.
1. Wireless devices - upgrade as many to N as possible (preferably all). A network is typically only as fast as the slowest connection, and the slowest connections on any N network will be wireless. However, that connection should be no worse than single-band N, not G, and certainly not B!
2. Wired connections - upgrade as many to gigabit as possible; if not possible, upgrade them to wireless-N. The reasoning is the same as above (the network is only as fast as the slowest connection).
3. Any wireless-N router should be, at minimum, dual-band simultaneous (MIMO-N) and have gigabit WAN *and* LAN ports. USB-based NAS at the router is needed if you have two or fewer wired gigabit devices connected to it; however, it usually isn't if you have three or four. (Any PC will have more USB ports available, even without external hubs, than USB at the router. At-the-PC connections also allows the option of external SATA (eSATA) which is far faster than USB for NAS.)
4. Last, and far from least; remember the raison d'etre for N. Wireless-N (compared to wireless-G or any other LAN standard) is all about connection speed *within the LAN*. Wireless-N (in fact, no LAN standard) can't do anything about external bottlenecks (so not even wired gigabit can ameliorate a server-side bandwidth crunch).
Recommended residential N router - Linksys by Cisco WRT610N.
Why this router - First off, it meets alll the requirements I laid down (all wired ports are gigabit, supports MIMO-N); second, it's easy to set up (as are most Linksys routers; I've set up the little-brother WRT160N, which has for some reason given a lot of reviewers pain, and I found it easier than setting up my personal WRT54GS, which I've had for four years); lastly, it's relatively inexpensive (even at full retail, it's almost never $200). |
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Mrtchuck
join:2001-03-28
Altamonte Springs, FL
| reply to payBack
Re: Should I buy an "N" router?
Clone may or may not be true as there is a TEW-633GR v 1.1. Also I have both units and as the performance may be similar, the stability is not even close and to me diminishes the minor performance advantage of the DIR-655. I also appreciate the bridge mode (which Dlink dropped) along with my router rarely has to be rebooted. (Only when modem is unresponsive) Of the two units I would suggest the TEW-633GR also.  |
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payBack
join:2009-08-02
| reply to No_Strings
Re: Should I buy an "N" router?
I suggest to buy a Trendnet TEW-633 N router. It has the best performance and stability under $80.
As I understand, the TEW-633GR is just a DLink DIR-655 clone:
»www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/···/96/1/6/ |
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slpip
join:2007-02-20
Springfield, VA | reply to No_Strings
I suggest to buy a Trendnet TEW-633 N router. It has the best performance and stability under $80. |
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