Community Newsletter: Q&A: home networking
home networking
by Jason239 - 9/14/07 10:34 PMI'm going to be creating a home network. I'm hearing about this 802.11n that has just come out. Would that be better than the 802.11b/g network, or is it too new to try right now?
802.11n...
by John.Wilkinson
- 9/15/07 8:12 AM
In reply to: home networking by Jason239
802.11n is much faster than the previous iterations and is indeed the future standard. However, there are two main hindrances at this time:
1.) 802.11-compliant hardware is far more expensive than the comparable 802.11b/g counterparts.
2.) The 802.11n standard has not been finalized, with all hardware claiming "pre-N" or "draft N' compatibility. Thus, there are no guarantees a major change wont occur between now and this time next year, which it's expected to be released, rendering the current hardware incompatible with future products.
If you need high bandwidth file transfers between your wireless computers you may want to consider it, but for the time being I would hold off, spending less money and avoiding the (small) risk.
Hope this helps,
John
Simple Question, Simple Answer...
by Flatworm - 9/22/07 5:05 AM In reply to: home networking by Jason239Yes, 802.11n is better than 802.11g. I just swapped out my home g network for a shiny new D-Link Extreme N router and card for my laptop, and the difference in performance is genuinely startling. The n signal reaches to every corner of my home and gives me a 300mbps (three times faster than my wired 10/100 card) connection even in the farthest corner. Web pages now flash onto the screen with the throughput limited only by the source and not by any aspect of my home network. File transfers between the three machines connected to my home network are now lightning quick, almost like copying to a different location on an internal hard drive.
Yes, it's more expensive. It costs the same to manufacture, but that darn free market thing lets them charge more for things that work better. But if you've got the money, pay the toll and you won't regret it.
PRE N, WAY TO GO!
by naebanks - 9/22/07 5:32 AM In reply to: home networking by Jason239The answer is YES! Go with the Pre N.
Three years ago I started with Linksys B which had limited range in my wood frame house. Two years ago I saw a Belkin pre N package at Costco for about $150. I decide to try it because of Costco excellent return policies. After a quick and easy setup I turned it on.
Whoa, I had speed and range like never before, on my laptop with the preN card. The speed and range are also excellent, with my built in Wireless B/G laptop. There is only one draw back, people always ask me if I am doing something illegal with that box on my wall with the THREE antenna comming out of it.
Use cat6 ethernet instead
by Kbreiner - 10/17/07 1:25 PM In reply to: home networking by Jason239This may sound nuts, but I say scrap the wifi and install cat6 ethernet cabling instead. Yes, this means installing wall jacks and running wire, but ethernet is STILL faster, generally cheaper, definitely more secure.
I have gigabit ethernet throughout my house and enjoy a gigabit of bandwidth between machines, which I use for video transfer to a media server.
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