Anyone know about -wireless routers?

[Danno 1,228]

I am in the market to get a wireless router but it seems there are "G" routers and "N" routers not to mention other ones.

Is there much difference, what should I be looking for?

Thanks for any tips.

We are all stupid, just about different things.

-Will Rogers (I think)

[ScottThuy 140]

Go with N.. G is the older standard and the N is backward compatible.. if you get a G and then buy a new N laptop, the bottleneck will then be at the router... Your system is only as fast as the slowest point within the system.. why buy something that is considered slow by todays standards?

[Niels Bohr 72]

The new approved standard for highest compression/data/transmission from IEEE 802.11 is the "N". If you can find a cheap N, go for it. Fast, and can possible provide longer distances.

[Danno 1,228]

Thanks for that very helpful info.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Go to your cable companies website to see what standard they use.

[Danno 1,228]

Go to your cable companies website to see what standard they use.

I'm actually on DSL..... but when I got my new Imac the wireless picked up my neighbors signal and the last few months I have been using his.

I have been wanting to get mine set up and when I poked around on ebay I noted a number of differnt routers.

I also saw a few on Craigslist which I might check out.

[natty bumppo 297]

I'm actually on DSL..... but when I got my new Imac the wireless picked up my neighbors signal and the last few months I have been using his.

I have been wanting to get mine set up and when I poked around on ebay I noted a number of differnt routers.

I also saw a few on Craigslist which I might check out.

pm me about your imac and wireless. i've got a mbp and i've recently gone through this ...

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Just call your provider and see what standard they use. Then get the router that uses the same. If they broadcast in "n" get N and so fourth. Dont get one of the multi jobs.

[justashooter 430]

G routers are cheaper, and good for everything short of gaming. you want N if you are playing the latest combat game on the net, but can use G for everything else. I have a G dome in the house, and 4 comps on the system. 3 of them have G wireless cards. no good getting an N capable router if your comps have G.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

B G is cheaper - $40 Vs about $70 for N

Buy N if you have or are buying a new PC that can support it and if your connection speed allows you make use of it.

[natty bumppo 297]

G routers are cheaper, and good for everything short of gaming. you want N if you are playing the latest combat game on the net, but can use G for everything else. I have a G dome in the house, and 4 comps on the system. 3 of them have G wireless cards. no good getting an N capable router if your comps have G.

new imac running snow leopard ... standard g routers will work. but their may be some issues. if you are starting from scratch ... why not get a n router.

had some of the same reported issues with being dropped periodically with my new mac book pro (same os as new imac). the router worked great with my windows based machines but chasing the drop (isa called me at work to complain about no connection) was a pain. essentially a reboot or re-enter the non broadcast ssid and long alpha/numeric password didn't win me any favors at home. the linksys router wrt54g has seen 5+ years of service (and is up to date on firmware) just wasn't making the grade anymore. time for a new one ...

do some research on routers compatible with your imac w/snow leopard (google is your friend). there are some that work well ... others ... well .... take some tweaking.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Get a D-Link DIR-615 if you want a good router that is reasonably priced. I have been using a DIR-625 for about two years and it has been great.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/reviews/dlink_dir615_rev_b2

[NickD 203]

Computers and peripherals. Whatever you buy will be obsolete next year. Already have my home wired and not the least bit concerned about seeing a white van parked in front of my house. Really don't care anyway, they would die of boredom. But with this wireless stuff, can pick up the neighbors as they don't add security to their systems. If was more reliable, could save big bucks by not paying my server each month. Least this new stuff still works off a wire.

[K and L 27]

Buy something that meets the 802.11n standard. Wireless speeds are always getting faster, which means your router will be obsolete sooner if you go with an 802.11b (already hard to find) or 802.11g router.

More importantly, the 'n' standard is faster for LAN transfers (such as file sharing photos/music/videos between computers) and has a significantly wider ranger. The 'n' runs at 420 Mb/s and can reach a theoretical max of 70m inside/250m outside. The 'g' standard runs at 54 Mb/s and can reach a theoretical max of 45m inside/90m outside. The 'b' standard runs at 11 Mb/s and has the same range as the 'g'. Note that having multiple stories or alternative interior wall construction (something other than drywall-lumber/space/lumber-drywall) will significantly reduce the range, regardless of standard - the more stuff (furniture, brick/stone walls, plaster, wall hangings, etc) the signal has to go through, the smaller the range will be.

If you have a decently sized or multiple storied home, you will need the 'n' to have internet throughout the house. My one-story apartment is small enough (at 75 sq m) that a 'g' would cover it, but my parents' two-story house (with a ~100 sq m foot print) is large enough where the cable people stuck the modem (basement's SW corner), I cannot get internet in half of the main level with their 'g' router, but my 'n' router covered their whole house.

Regarding the bottleneck at the router, due to a slower speed outside: available internet speeds are always getting faster. I have 20MB/s cable now, and three years ago, the 8MB/s cable I had before would have not been available. But the range and speed the router can go is fixed.

Buy the 'n'. If you don't have the extra money (brand name 'g' wireless routers cost about $25-40 now, whereas brand name 'n' routers cost about $75-100), wait a paycheck or two to get the 'n'.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Computers and peripherals. Whatever you buy will be obsolete next year. Already have my home wired and not the least bit concerned about seeing a white van parked in front of my house. Really don't care anyway, they would die of boredom. But with this wireless stuff, can pick up the neighbors as they don't add security to their systems. If was more reliable, could save big bucks by not paying my server each month. Least this new stuff still works off a wire.

Are you alright? Is anything ever ok for you?