Advantages of using a N Router with G Wireless Cards ?

Are there any advantages of using a wireless n router as opposed to
a g router in terms of speed or distance when used with a g wireless
adapter only ?

"(E-Mail Removed)" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>Are there any advantages of using a wireless n router as opposed to
>a g router in terms of speed or distance when used with a g wireless
>adapter only ?

Yes and no. That's because there are no "wireless n routers". They're
all Pre-N. 802.11n has yet to be ratified. However, that hasn't
stopped the Wi-Fi Alliance from certifying Pre-N devices. Anything for
a buck.

The Pre-N stuff also comes in several radically different
technologies. They use either multiple streams as in the Airgo
chipset, or beam forming as in Ruckus Wireless.
<http://www.cdmatech.com/products/wlan.jsp>
<http://www.ruckuswireless.com/technology/beamflex.php>

In the case of Arigo, it's you need to have a MIMO device at both
ends, complete with multiple antennas and high sticker prices.

However, for the beam forming, you don't need a compatible client. In
fact, there is no compatible client. The technology "points" the
antenna to the clients it wants to hear, and puts nulls in the
direction of sources of interference. It works with any client.

The down side of both of these technologies is that you can *NOT* use
external antennas on the access point.

--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

On Jun 8, 2:09 pm, "frankdowli...@yahoo.com" <frankdowli...@yahoo.com>
wrote:
> Are there any advantages of using a wireless n router as opposed to
> a g router in terms of speed or distance when used with a g wireless
> adapter only ?

Jeff ,

thanks for the reply - it is for a friend who is enamoured with new
technology.
I told him to apply the 3rd party firmware to his vesion 4 wrt54g
Linksys router ( I would install)
Which products are which - Which are the beam forming products ?
Another question from this same fellow - how about a Linksys "
range extender" ? Are they a good idea ? I tried to talk him out of
it .

"(E-Mail Removed)" <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:

>On Jun 8, 2:09 pm, "frankdowli...@yahoo.com" <frankdowli...@yahoo.com>
>wrote:
>> Are there any advantages of using a wireless n router as opposed to
>> a g router in terms of speed or distance when used with a g wireless
>> adapter only ?

> thanks for the reply - it is for a friend who is enamoured with new
>technology.

My kind of customer. Buys the latest greatest newest gizmos, and then
wonders why they're overpriced, flakey, full or suprises, and fail to
meet expectations. I call to your attention that 802.11n is being
billed as a speed increase standard, and not as a reliability or range
increase mechanism. This should give you a clue as to where the
problems are hiding.

> I told him to apply the 3rd party firmware to his vesion 4 wrt54g
>Linksys router ( I would install)

There are a huge number of settings and features. Be prepared to
learn more than a few new things. You can see what's available with
online simulators:

DD-WRT v23
http://www.informatione.gmxhome.de/D...nal/index.html

DD-WRT v24 VPN beta
http://www.informatione.gmxhome.de/D...VPN/index.html

Not everything works on the simulator, but it's good enough for a
shopping list of features.

> Which products are which - Which are the beam forming products ?

Beam forming products usually use an Atheros chipset with technology
from Ruckus Wireless. Netgear uses their chips in some of their
various MIMO products. Generally, it's the ones with no visible
antennas such as the WPN824:
<http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/24729/96/>
The one's with visible antennas use spacial multiplexing (Airgo).

A readable FAQ on MIMO technology at:
<http://www.veriwave.com/gurus/index.asp>

Netgear also has the WNR854T which uses the Marvell Pre-N Draft 2.0
chipset.

Incidentally, the Netgear WPNT834 RangeMax 240 is a current example of
an Airgo based wireless router. Much as I like Airgo, there are
problems. See the comments under "Cons" at:
<http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/24763/96/>
which largely answer your questions.

MIMO Face Off (Old but worth reading):
<http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/24214/96/>

> Another question from this same fellow - how about a Linksys "
>range extender" ? Are they a good idea ? I tried to talk him out of
>it .

Repeaters, range extenders, and store and forward mesh networks are in
my never humble opinion a bad idea. Range extenders can allegedly be
made to work, but I haven't been able to do it. They invariable cause
problems with thruput and packet loss. If you're desperate, try one.
DD-WRT firmware will turn your router into a repeater. WDS will also
do the same thing. If you want it to work well, do everything you can
to REDUCE the number of transmitters involved and work with the
antennas.


--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558