How To Buy a Wireless Router: The Short Version

[permka]

Dual-band dual-radio routers do not allow both radios to be set to the same band.

Copying pasting from the article
"Another way to separate the client types is to use a dual-band, dual-radio N router. You would connect your G devices to the 2.4 GHz radio and your dual-band N devices to the 5 GHz radio. But this has the downside of shorter range for the 5 GHz band devices."

So I assume that if I set them to different bands, the N in 5 Ghz, the G in 2.4 Ghz will they work simultaneously without problems and each one at full speed.

Is my lacking-grey-matter-ignorant brain, understanding this correctly?

Tnx!

 

[thiggins]

So I assume that if I set them to different bands, the N in 5 Ghz, the G in 2.4 Ghz will they work simultaneously without problems and each one at full speed.

Yes, the clients in each band will operate simultaneously.

 

[jalyst]

Thanks for the wonderful work again Tim,

Do you think the revised 610n due out soon may be able to earn a spot in your "best picks" for dual-band dual radio?

I guess there's no way of knowing until you can get hold of a unit... :-(

 

[thiggins]

I guess there's no way of knowing until you can get hold of a unit... :-(

Correct. No plans right now to review it.

 

[jalyst]

no worries, entirely your call

 

[Unregistered]

Thanks so much for this version. It's wonderful for the average person like me who needs to set up a new network. I had a Netgear RangeMax draft N and wanted to upgrade (going to get a couple of new computers and Windows 7) and Netgear recommended the WNR2000 just as you recommended. My daughter still has an older Dell desktop that uses XP and I have the same desktop with XP that the route is attached to. I also have a new laptop that runs Vista Ultimate 64 bit.

I had no problem connecting to the RangeMax network from the back of the house. But, when I connected a D-Link Dual Bank DIR 825 I couldn't connect from the same area of the house, and the laptop only recognized the 5 GHz band not the 2.4 GHz band. What you wrote in the article about not being able to connect from the same distance using the 5 GHz band makes sense. Since I just bought this D-Link router on Saturday I am hotfooting it back to MicroCenter and replacing it with a Single Band N router, probably the Netgear.

For some reason, I was under the mistaken impression that my daughter could connect faster if I bought a Dual Band router. She is a gamer whose computer is in the next room from the router.

Thanks SO much. Sorry for the long diatribe.

 

[johnw91498]

Silly question, but where is the article?

 

[jdabbs]

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/30905/228/

 

[johnw91498]

Thanks for the link

 

[thiggins]

Search also would have found it.

 

[Unregistered]

How to buy a router

I love this shorter version. I was confused about how they work and which one to buy with my G network. Now I feel alot more confident about what I need. Thank you so much for the info.

 

[Cole]

Am brand new net neophyte and really liked article! Since I am starting from scratch think I will stick with a single or dual radio N system.(?)

Am trying to set up my first net for home office base (desktop) and 3 laptops (me, wife, daughter all on Windows 7) and saw a schematic of a "typical" net somewhere in my meandering that showed Internet connection, several computers and a printer all connected to the router; can a router also connect a printer? Or do I need a seperate server? Or?

TIA

 

[ssl11]

Hi And Thanks!

Hi,
First of all, thank you for this great site!

30905-how-to-buy-a-wireless-router-short-version is a very important article for all N-Wireless newbies, like me

"Example Products" section lists some products, and the comment below:

I debated adding the WNDR3700 since it's just hitting the market as I write this. Proceed at your own risk and I'll update this once I test it

Looks like it's time to to update WNDR3700 , because you've tested it.

Also, I'd highly appreciate if you add a page with feature-set matrix and list all reviewed products and their major features, like Bands, Max Connections, Performance under different loads, SPI firewall, VPN/PPTP, VPN/LTP
Perhaps, this page will be hit#1 on your site.

Also, didn't hear about new products. Looks like D-Link is going to push 665 model based on 1GHz CPU (MIPS?).

Any news about non-draft models?

Please keep us informed.

-jv

 

[thiggins]

Thanks for your suggestions. Glad you like the site.

All N routers are non-draft now. Draft N routers were grandfathered to release status when the N spec was finalized.

 

[weedoggies]

simple routers

HI I am new to this and trying to learn about routers so i can set up computer for grand kids to play games on. what all do i need for D S L and a vista machine?

 

[DaveMcLain]

It all depends on how you want to use your DSL connection. If you only have one computer and you don't mind using a wired connection because it can sit close to the DSL modem and it's a desktop PC then you can get by without using a router to manage the connection. If you're planning a more elaborate setup using wireless which is still quite simple any G or N router can handle the job without any trouble.

 

[thiggins]

So in your experience, NAT is perfectly fine for security on a consumer network connection such as FIOS or cable?

That is correct.

 

[thiggins]

HI I am new to this and trying to learn about routers so i can set up computer for grand kids to play games on. what all do i need for D S L and a vista machine?

Any router will work.

 

[weedoggies]

It all depends on how you want to use your DSL connection. If you only have one computer and you don't mind using a wired connection because it can sit close to the DSL modem and it's a desktop PC then you can get by without using a router to manage the connection. If you're planning a more elaborate setup using wireless which is still quite simple any G or N router can handle the job without any trouble.

thanks Dave i have two computers mine is by the modem i am setting one up for grandkids in play room so i need a simple router to connect that one too wireless would be best is what i was told what will i need for that?

 

[IBMS514]

Combo Hardware

My ISP provider has made a new product available; it is the modem/router. They have both a N and a G model. I use it because now if I have a problem with my Internet they can not blaim it on the router and tell me to call D-Link...

My ISP is Rogers in Canada.