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So Pre-N is here from Belkin

Here is a really good article comparing several extended-range routers, the Pre-N rated highest of all of them. http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Sections-article96.php

I got one based on this article, but am not using it until I can get decent throughput on it. Right now when I hook it up, my existing WiFi cards slow to below dial-up speeds. Still tinkering with it. I will see what Belkin tech support has to say. Their FAQs don't have any helpful information.

 
It's hard to tell if the real N products will be worth it since they won't be out for well over a year. Last I read, the N standard alone is not expected to be ratified until late 2005 at the earliest. Belkin's Pre-N products are just that: a product that has come out before N. It also uses one of the technologies that is expected to be incorporated into the N standard (MIMO). The name is a bit misleading because many people will infer that they will be able to upgrade to the real N standard when it comes out via firmware upgrades. Belkin has indicated that this very well might not be possible.

Pcworld had a glowing review of the product. Also check out the belkin forum on dslreports.com, where several users have had very good results.

If you're going to use the product in a home network (i.e. don't really care about connecting to other networks in the future or expanding with future N products), this might be a good solution. If you're willing to shell out $200+ for a router/card combo, you probably won't mind shelling out a few more dollars in two years when the real N products are widely available.

The only problem I have with these Belkin pre-n products is that none of them allow you to connect after-market antennas.
 

a couple hundred bucks for high speed long range wireless networking that actually works.

Gosh you younguns are all spoiled by your $10 802.11g routers... back in the day $200 would have been considered CHEAP for 1/10th the performance.

True 802.11n will be here in 2006... at the earliest. That's when the standard is supposed to be approved. However the greatest enemy to new technology is the standards process. Look at the debacle of UWB... a technology we should have had years ago but is stalled by a terrified FCC and two competting standards bodies. It could well be 2007 before you actually see a 802.11n product, esp one at the price levels we are seeing for the 802.11g products today. By then if the FCC decides to encourage instead of stifle new technolgy UWB could blow it all away.......

If you need better peformance today.... I'd take a risk on the pre 802.11n stuff popping up. It's still backwards compatible with 802.11g (in theory) and that will be with us for some time.....


From PCMAG:
In testing we found the Belkin's performance simply unparalleled. On our wireless testing obstacle course, simulating a real-world office environment, we measured throughput of 40.7 Mbps at 60 feet from the router (where 802.11g products typically deliver 15 Mbps). And at the 160-foot mark, where other products struggle to deliver 1 Mbps, the Belkin unit was still going strong at 8.9 Mbps.

Overall, we were extremely impressed with the wireless performance, interface, and client utility. At the same time, we worry that the release of such pre-standard products will add to an already confusing wireless-networking market.
 
trikster2 you are absolutely right, and absolutely wrong.

As far as my observations go, about 60% of the people that use 802.11g have no gain in the way they functionally using it over using 802.11b. 95% of the people have No gain in using 802.11g Special Speed over regular 802.11g.

99% do not need the additional benefit of the pre 802.11n.

However it does not really matter, right now the price is dictated by the fact that Belkin is the only one on the market (and Belkin does not have a very good name in the Entry Level Wireless to begin with).

In few months there will be more players the price will be half, and most computers avid will buy it (including myself :shocked: ) whether they gain from it or not.

:sun:
 

yes you should be able to... if you need the speed.

Notice everyone now seems to be coming out with pre-N style stuff. Linkys just announced there version a pretty funky lookin router
 
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