So, what is the advantage of a wireless N router if you have 35/35?
zich61
Contributor - Level 1

It appears if you want a wireless N router (Rev G gigabit) the options are; 1) upgrade to 150/35, or  buy your own, but what, precisely, is the advantage if you have 35/35 over the previous router Revs?

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Re: So, what is the advantage of a wireless N router if you have 35/35?
jumpin68ny
Master - Level 2

One thing to remember about having more speed available is you can pump more data through your Internet connection.

In my home for example I have 5 PCs, smart phones, Xbox/Wii, Itouch, work VOIP phone  (connection goes Coast to Coast)  and my vonage phone in addition to 4 tvs.

Having all the bandwidth to you makes all this possible without interuption from each other.  On top of that speed, you can download HD movies from VOD or other providers, again run everything without stepping on each other.

The important thing to remember with a lot of bandwidth is not always the speed (since there will be a choke point along the way) but rather how much data you can potentially pump through your Internet Connection.

just my 2 cents

Jim

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Re: So, what is the advantage of a wireless N router if you have 35/35?
jackmcgann
Specialist - Level 1

@zich6 wrote:

It appears if you want a wireless N router (Rev G gigabit) the options are; 1) upgrade to 150/35, or  buy your own, but what, precisely, is the advantage if you have 35/35 over the previous router Revs?



You'll only get the 35/35 nominal Internet speeds, but properly equipped, your INTRANET speeds will be at a much higher level. That's particularly important for local media and video use.

Re: So, what is the advantage of a wireless N router if you have 35/35?
tns
Master - Level 2

You typically can only get about 20/20 wireless without wireless N.

Re: So, what is the advantage of a wireless N router if you have 35/35?
jmw1950
Specialist - Level 2

The advantages depend upon the uses you have in mind. In a perfect world, 802.11g can attain 54mbps, however since your home isn't an anechoic chamber, it is very tough to get past about 20mbps with 802.11g, while 35mbps should be easily attainable under the same conditions with 802.11n. I should point out that some wireless devices have 'hardwired' receive windows that can limit the effective wireless speed to something considerably less than even 802.11g can provide.

You can check to see if that is going to be an issue with http;//ndt.anl.gov which is a speed test from the Argonne National Laboratory, and measures various networking parameters. The information you need will be at the bottom of the info you get by clicking on the 'more details' radio button.

The other feature that comes with the Actiontec with official 802.11n support is gigabit ethernet. That would increase the speeds on your local network assuming the PC and other devices connected also supported Gigabit Ethernet. The standard versions of the Actiontec routers in circulation are limited to 100mbps Ethernet.

Re: So, what is the advantage of a wireless N router if you have 35/35?
zich61
Contributor - Level 1

The Argonne server says I'm getting 20 down and 19 up on my using the wireless connection on the Actiontec, with a LAN max of 38 and change.  So adding an N router will bring us up to 35/35 for wireless? 

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Re: So, what is the advantage of a wireless N router if you have 35/35?
jmw1950
Specialist - Level 2

I don't think there is much doubt you would get higher data rates with 802.11n, the question is how much higher.

The issue is at 35mbps, you are bumping the limits on your performance from other issues. My guess is you could get north of 30mbps, but I doubt you can get to 35mbps.

One other question. Which version of Windows are you running? Windows7 (and probably Vista)  tweaks the receive buffers on the fly, and the 38 mbps limit may be a result of Windows7 not rolling out the buffers adequately.

Did you try the test more than once?

In Windows XP the Verizon High speed optimizer will adjust the buffering for you to get maximum performance.

The fly in the ointment is that some wireless cards have the buffer 'on board', so what ever it is on the board, that is what you are stuck with (I have a laptop with that problem)....

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Re: So, what is the advantage of a wireless N router if you have 35/35?
zich61
Contributor - Level 1

I'm running W7.

I tried the test twice and got slightly lower values the 2nd time.

The laptop card is a Dell Wireless 1397 WLAN.

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Re: So, what is the advantage of a wireless N router if you have 35/35?
smith6612
Community Leader
Community Leader

The Dell 1397 card is a Wireless G unit from Broadcom. Getting an N router won't get you anywhere higher with that card unless you swap it out for another one.

Re: So, what is the advantage of a wireless N router if you have 35/35?
zich61
Contributor - Level 1

So, if I replace the card, I can get at least 30/30 with an N router?  Thanks.

Re: So, what is the advantage of a wireless N router if you have 35/35?
jumpin68ny
Master - Level 2

One thing to remember about having more speed available is you can pump more data through your Internet connection.

In my home for example I have 5 PCs, smart phones, Xbox/Wii, Itouch, work VOIP phone  (connection goes Coast to Coast)  and my vonage phone in addition to 4 tvs.

Having all the bandwidth to you makes all this possible without interuption from each other.  On top of that speed, you can download HD movies from VOD or other providers, again run everything without stepping on each other.

The important thing to remember with a lot of bandwidth is not always the speed (since there will be a choke point along the way) but rather how much data you can potentially pump through your Internet Connection.

just my 2 cents

Jim