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What wireless router to get? N vs G

Kristi2k

Kristi2k

Golden Member
Here's my main concern: I want to future proof (I know that's impossible but at least try to) my house for the next 5 years or so.

Should I purchase a N wireless router or G? I will only have 1-3 wireless devices on the network all of which are currently G and 3 10/100 PCs and 2 1Gbp PC.

Should I purchase the N router and CAT6 cable or G router and CAT5E?
 
Future proof? Can you give an example of what you mean by this and soemthing that you have that is future proof.

There is No 802.11n it is Draft-N.

Thus if there is something that is Not future proof it is Draft device.

Regardless of N or G you should buy CAT6.
 
I suppose I could keep my current hardware (SMC router & 3COM ABG router) and buy the CAT6 now and upgrade the equipment later on.
 
If you need a cable (or install in the walls), buy CAT6.

If you have a specific thing that you need to do and you thing that your Router/Wireless are Not up to, Post the issue.

If your fingers are itchy to spend 😉 find a better avenue than waste your money on "silly" plastic boxes that are not proofed for anything.
 
If I was going to BUY a router for general purpose use, I'd get the best one available for a reasonable cost. This typically would be a draft-N unit today, they likely have more powerful CPUs, faster throughput in general, sometimes even a gigabit switch as opposed to 10/100 on virtually all G products, et. al. It wouldn't be uncommon for a good draft N unit to give you higher throughput even when G devices are connecting to it just due to better throughput CPU and integrated encryption capabilities, possibly a better RF design and better algorithms, et. al.
Of course you can buy a premium G router with better RF design / higher power transmit, and have better results in G mode than with a not so great draft-N design, but there are exceptions to lots of rules of thumb.

I'd go with draft-N and a gigabit switch, and probably look for a unit that runs dd-wrt as well since often that is more feature rich firmware than whatever the OEM stuck in there.

If you don't have any reason to be disappointed with your current equipment's capabilities / performance, though, you might as well keep using it. A gigabit switch can be awfully nice for PC to PC wired transfers if they're all gig-e capable.

 
Combine Real good Giga switch, with good Wireless Draft-N, and DD-WRT flashable.

Your choices are?
 
I presently have Netgear Rangemax 834 router and getting satisfactory wireless connection about 20 feet away around 60% strength.

Can I do better with N router?, which one is the best for the price/performance ratio?

thanks,

gychang
 
If you are fine with the G network that you have now, then you shouldn't need to upgrade as of now. As you upgrade your computers, replace them with Gigabit Ethernet or 802.11n.
 
Originally posted by: gychang
I presently have Netgear Rangemax 834 router and getting satisfactory wireless connection about 20 feet away around 60% strength.

Can I do better with N router?, which one is the best for the price/performance ratio?

thanks,

gychang
Click to expand...

If you're getting mediocre signals, you should try changing the channel of the wireless signal (1, 6, or 11). If that doesn't work on its own, try flashing DD-WRT onto your router (if it is listed on this page: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/ind...ported_Devices#Netgear ). Just doing that might fix any signal issues - and if not, you can always try boosting the output amount of the router through the DD-WRT control panel.
 
Originally posted by: Brainonska511
Originally posted by: gychang
I presently have Netgear Rangemax 834 router and getting satisfactory wireless connection about 20 feet away around 60% strength.

Can I do better with N router?, which one is the best for the price/performance ratio?

thanks,

gychang
Click to expand...

If you're getting mediocre signals, you should try changing the channel of the wireless signal (1, 6, or 11). If that doesn't work on its own, try flashing DD-WRT onto your router (if it is listed on this page: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/ind...ported_Devices#Netgear ). Just doing that might fix any signal issues - and if not, you can always try boosting the output amount of the router through the DD-WRT control panel.
Click to expand...

thanks for the pointed reply, I will follow your recommendation.

gychang
 
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