I'm in the market for a new router. I know that to take advantage of new protocals like wireless N you need wireless N equipment. What I'm less clear on are all the various technologies for range extension. Things like Range-max, super g, MIMO technologies, and the like. Do you need NICs compatable with these technologies, or will my vanilla wireless G NIC built into my laptop be able to enjoy the range enhancement benefits offered by a MIMO wireless G router? My google searching has been able to cut through the marketing speak to arrive at a clear answer.

3/2/2009 4:42:56 PM

i just don't get what the big deal is with wireless N

3/2/2009 6:59:07 PM

it's useful for large file transfers over your network - streaming 1080p from one location to another

3/2/2009 7:02:23 PM

ok, that makes sense

3/2/2009 7:23:49 PM

Anyone have an answer?

Quote :

"Do you need NICs compatable with these technologies, or will my vanilla wireless G NIC built into my laptop be able to enjoy the range enhancement benefits offered by a MIMO wireless G router?"

3/2/2009 8:23:49 PM

yes you do. end of story.

3/2/2009 9:02:07 PM

correct me if i'm wrong (and i may be), but wireless-n utilizes MIMO by default, so there are no special "versions" of wireless-n at the moment...right? i mean, it's not even finalized, technically

but yeah, when it comes to wireless-g, the rangemax/super-g/MIMO "features" require a card with the same features

3/3/2009 1:47:37 PM

^ As far as I know, you're correct about the wireless N standard.

3/3/2009 3:15:52 PM

^^ Yeah what you said about wireless N is true, that's why what they're selling are 'Draft' versions of N. Last I checked it wasn't going to be signed off until sometime around Nov. this year.

As for the G, super-G.. stuff you would need a NIC that could use the same features as the router is providing to get the added benefit, however it isn't required just to get a connection.

Basically if you want to shell out the cash now for an expensive N router, you would need an N NIC to get the speed (as most can run mixed mode g/n). If you want to just get a cheapo G router and wait till the end of the year (or maybe next year if they push it back again) then you can get an N router when the protocol is actually agreed upon and you don't have to worry about draft versions and what not.

Yeah it's supposed to be Jan 2010 for final approval. Just looked it up.

[Edited on March 3, 2009 at 3:27 PM. Reason : .]

3/3/2009 3:23:29 PM

My primary aim is just to figure out how to get the best range with my existing vanilla wireless G devices.

3/3/2009 5:00:34 PM

what the hell.... how big is your house???

3/3/2009 5:06:02 PM

^ ~1800 sq. ft. I'd like my PS3 (35ft horizontal distance, 9 feet vertical distance, two walls) to be able to pull full bandwidth. That currently doesn't happen with my Netgear WGR614.

3/3/2009 5:15:37 PM

how about a repeater/signal booster? basically just boost the signal farther down the house.

Or if you know what you're doing, run some wire(Cat5e or Cat6) from where ever your router is now to a spot behind the tv and put a switch in. If you want to make it look professional you could even get the Ethernet/cable socket panels for the wall. That's what I plan on doing.. soon as I buy a house (hopefully this yr)

[Edited on March 3, 2009 at 5:55 PM. Reason : .]

3/3/2009 5:52:53 PM

Quote :

"how about a repeater/signal booster? basically just boost the signal farther down the house."

dont do this because you are just going to halve what bandwidth you do have

run some cable

3/3/2009 6:31:36 PM

^^ A better router is much cheaper than spending a weekend crawling under my house and in the attic drilling holes, pulling cable, and fishing it out of wall spaces. It's not that I don't want to, it's just an issue of time and cost versus effort and benefit.

3/3/2009 6:45:41 PM

You know I've always been a fan of Linksys and then this past month I've been back and forth to the store trying to get their shit to work when I upgraded. Their extender is a pos and so is their new "speedboost" line. Their firmware updates blow and you have to dig the internet to find updates to their special networking software. That and they never respond to support requests. It never used to be like this. I think Cisco just really screwed that company over.

Today I was messing around with a wireless notebook adapter and trying to get new firmware. Their website has firmware for version 1.0, 1.1, and 3. My adapter is 1.2. WTF.

Netgear from now into the future.

3/3/2009 8:39:46 PM

^that's why you don't bother with the stock firmware and stick dd-wrt or tomato on linksys products.

the wrt600n is a fairly decent router with dd-wrt on it.

3/3/2009 8:47:34 PM

yeah i just stay away from linksys altogether. No one I know has really liked their equipment (at least not stock as evan said).

Quote :

"dont do this because you are just going to halve what bandwidth you do have"

I did not know that or I wouldn't have suggested it. I have never had to use one.
I still say wire the house.. but then I would probably wire most of the major rooms anyway if it was me. It would just make life easier in the future.

3/3/2009 11:18:00 PM