Vistors coming - mxiing N and G with caution

[Mediaman]

Setup

- 1 G/N router (DIR-655) as main router set for G only
- 2 addtional G routers as access points
- 1 mac laptop with G/N nic, used on G only
- 1 Dell laptop with G nic
- mutilple hardwired desktops

With the above, all laptops work on G and all is fine in the world.

Scenario : Long term visitors:
We are getting two visitors for about a year, with mac laptops. The above setup will still work (as the macs can work on G), ie

- 1 G/N router (DIR-655) as main router set for G only
- 2 addtional G routers as access points
- THREE mac laptops with G/N nic, used on G only
- 1 Dell laptop with G nic
- mutilple hardwired desktops

So dont hsve to do anything. But I know the MAC users will be heavy users, and have N capability, so, I could dedicate one router, for N only , for the N only mac users, ie
----------------
- 1 G/N router (DIR-655) as main router set for N only
- THREE mac laptops with G/N nic, used on N only
----------------
- 2 addtional G routers as access points
- 1 laptop with G nic
- 1 Dell laptop with G nic
- mutilple hardwired desktops
----------------

...but I am thinking NO, because

• the house is already flooded with a strong G signals, thus no real benefit from N
• the WPA2 performance hit on draft N can be significant.
• the cautions of an N network degrading G clients ( though not sure that is applicable here)

Have I got that right? So G-only is the correct way to go?

 

[thiggins]

You could try setting up the separate N network. What's your Internet download speed?

If you set up a separate N network, use 20 MHz bandwidth mode only and set it to a different channel than the other APs, using only channels 1, 6 11. Also different SSID.