The latest on 802.11n...

Hey all,

I haven't been around in a while. Are any of you run wireless-N routers yet? I still have my two AVM FritzBoxes w/ Draft 2.0.

Draft 3.0, and subsequently 3.0.1 came out early this year, but I see no products that support the new Draft. Linksys came out with a successor to its 600N, which is the 610N. I have yet to research it.

When I was in New York for 2 months, I was on a G router the entire time. Coming back to my N routers was evidence how BIG the difference really is.

Also, the new Centrino 2 CPU's have some kind of wireless N support "built in ". I don't understand how that would help an N network, if one has a wireless-N card??

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

P.S. I love the new look of this forum!

 

do you really need n - or is just overkill for browsing beyond belief
Most users would do just fine with the older b wireless even
Unless of course you are sharing files across a network or video streaming
In which case you may just as well string ethernet cables and run gigabyte standard ethernet

 

Do I need it, no. Do I want, OH YES!! And it IS significantly faster.

I was living with my GF for 2 months, and she has a G router. Worked great. I'm in Europe now for business reasons, and to celebrate my mom's birthday.

I have two N routers, and being used to the G connection every day for 2 months, and then being on my N network again, WOW! I can sling my Slingbox, download large files, browse the Internet, and talk to my friends back in L.A. on Skype with NO difference in sound quality whatsoever. It makes a HUGE difference, and not just speed-wise. The multi-tasking on an N network is stunning.

So yes, I "need" it alright, as I like to talk on Skype, while watching my TV by way of Slingbox, and browse a little while on the phone without any lags, or loss of sound quality.

And it'll get better. I've already put in an order for the newly released Linksys WRT610N router, which will utilize both the 2.4GHz, AND 5GHz bands *simultaneously*.

A connection of 450Mbps is what's promised, while I'm on a 300Mbps connection as I'm writing this. I don't know if I'm right about this, but I think once the 802.11n standard is ratified by the IEEE, it's supposed to use both bands, and have connections at 600Mbps.

Obviously, 1Gbps by way of Ethernet would still be faster, and my Thinkpad does support it. However, the G router my GF has only has a 100Mbps connection, and so does my dad's main router. That said, it would be impossible to put wires from the north end of my parents' house on the first floor, all the way up to the 3rd floor on the south side. This house is the perfect example to see 802.11n shine!