Networking & wireless forum: Worth getting a N rated router if laptop has G card in it?

Get an N router if in the future you think you'll buy an N laptop.

If your laptop is wireless G and you buy a wireless N it won't have any features the N has (i.e. distance, speeds). It will be connected through G, and G only.

So my suggestion is that you stick with a G unless you are planning on purchasing an N laptop in the near future.

I'm not 100% sure about that one. If it's in the laptop it would be a very big hassel to change the wireless NIC seeing as how the antennas are around other hardwares and confined (since laptops are smaller than desktops).

Google around to make sure. I won't lie... I don't build computers so I can't really help you on that part.

Hope it helped,
Frank.

One of our clients runs a PC service and repair company and has had nothing but problems with N.

He said it will never be a standard, like G.

I asked him what was next and he said he didn't know, but to avoid N.

According to him, the problems are so severe that manufacturers are not planning to pursue the platform.

He has been hired to make N networks (from different manufacturers) work (for businesses)and in every case has ended up pulling out the N network and having the client either go wired or switch to G.

if my friend is wrong.

I like the purported advantages with N. But only if it works.

If your internet connection is up to 16 Mb/s, a G router will handle the speed easily (54 Mb/s). Unless you live in a steel framed house, the wireless signal will probably cover the whole house - mine does and half way down our small garden. If you want to transfer big files to your other machine, then you might notice the difference in speed but then if it's an occasional requirement, you might as well just bring the laptop to the router and plug in an Ethernet cable for the file transfer.

Depending where you live, an N router may be significantly more expensive - here in the UK, N or particularly, N1 is about twice the price of G.

Can you upgrade your laptop to N? Well as others have said, maybe. My laptop, a Samsung Centrino, has its wireless card in an internal mini-PCI slot, which has an external cover, so in principle, it should be easy but (and isn't there always a but?) the antenna is soldered to the wireless card. Obviously there would be risks in taking a soldering iron to it!

But replacing the internal wireless card isn't the only way to upgrade. If you have a PCMCIA slot or a PCMCIA Express slot, you can simply upgrade with the appropriate Wireless PCMCIA card. Or you could us a USB Wifi dongle. In fact, here, Belkin and Dlink both sell N kits that include a USB N Wifi key.

Remember also that 802.11N is still a draft standard. Most of the router manufacturers say their Draft N routers will be upgraded with a firmware patch but check if you decide to go down the N route.

I have a gateway laptop purchased 1 month ago. Also a older desk top(5 yrs). I live in a house with plaster walls. Does this affect my wireless on my laptop? I have beeen told it does because of the chicken wire in the walls.I have an n router.Should i get a range booster? I cant go 25 feet from the router without losing signal. Im not computer smart so please use laymens terms.Thanks in adavnce.

So i should get another router or a repeater?What is the difference? Sorry for so many questions.If I get another router does it have to be the exact same kind? Ex: n and g router or both n routers? Thanks again for your patience.Have a good day!

Im sorry i dont understand what the dd-wt means. Should i go buy another linksys wrt110 router and just plug it in another room? Does it have to have a cable going to it? (cat 5)From the main router?(which is connected to my desk top)Im not very computer literate.So I don't understand it.Or would a repeater be easier?Thanxs for your patience.

I have been running Pre N for at least a year with no problems. I use Vista 64 bit and Windows 2k3 with no problems. Drivers were included on the Retail Microsoft OS disk, so there wasn't an installation issue.