Wireless Printer, G Router adding N Router - Help

[theoak]

I have a wireless printer (G), a G based router along with G based laptops.

The world is happy.

I now have a couple of N based laptops ... in addition to the G based laptops I already have.

I want to introduce a N based router to capitolize my N based laptops.

Question 1: I have heard that it was best that when you have a mixed G and N environment, to have a dedicated G and a dedicated N. Is that still the case?

Question 2: How can I introduce the N based router and still be able to access my printer that is connected to the G router?

 

[tipstir]

See you're happy with your G wireless network. So you don't need to buy a N wireless router. Just get wireless N access point. These N access points will still have B, G, N modes. But just set it up for N AP and you're set. This way you keep all your G devices and N devices on a different channel and different SSID name.

 

[thiggins]

Question 1: I have heard that it was best that when you have a mixed G and N environment, to have a dedicated G and a dedicated N. Is that still the case?

See http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...-smallnetbuilders-wireless-faq-the-essentials

Question 2: How can I introduce the N based router and still be able to access my printer that is connected to the G router?

You can use any router, convert it to an access point and connect it to your current router.
How To Convert a Wireless Router into an Access Point
How To Add an Access Point to a Wireless Router

 

[stevech]

I now have a couple of N based laptops ... in addition to the G based laptops I already have.I want to introduce a N based router to capitolize my N based laptops.

Ask yourself: Do I need faster than 11g? Is my ISP faster than 24Mbps?
Do I want to do 100Mbps inter-PC file transfers wirelessly in my home?
If the answers are all no, then 11n isn't essential.

 

[theoak]

All good points.

With my WiMax internet (CLEAR), I do get bursts of up to 14Mbps though ... so just over half way there ...

Seriously though ...

The whole cost versus use ratio I am still balancing out.

I am relatively cheap ... so I will probably stay G for a while yet. Right now, if I need to transfer files, the USB stick works great.

If I could go N for under $40, I would be real tempted though. Maybe come Thanksgiving/Christmas there will be some good deals.

Thanks all for your replies.

 

[tipstir]

All good points.

With my WiMax internet (CLEAR), I do get bursts of up to 14Mbps though ... so just over half way there ...

Seriously though ...

The whole cost versus use ratio I am still balancing out.

I am relatively cheap ... so I will probably stay G for a while yet. Right now, if I need to transfer files, the USB stick works great.

If I could go N for under $40, I would be real tempted though. Maybe come Thanksgiving/Christmas there will be some good deals.

Thanks all for your replies.

Well you can if you pickup the ESR-9850 by EnGenius. This is what I am using right now. $50+ Prices vary though. Really don't have to spend a lot on a good router today for great performance. Reviews on the ESR-9850 on here on youtube by me.

Anyway stick with the G wireless router for now until you're ready to make the jump into N or go the mix mode of G/N, which I am doing right now. Since my all-in-one from Lexmark Pro Series uses 802.11g, the wife company laptop is sill on 802.11g for VPN into her company domain. So this is why I am still have to run and support 802.11g and run 802.11n on my other network gear here. Most of my business clients still run 802.11g. Some use 802.11n only.

 

[thiggins]

If I could go N for under $40, I would be real tempted though. Maybe come Thanksgiving/Christmas there will be some good deals.

Don't go too cheap. Stay away from the "N150" / single stream N routers. They won't really provide the full value of 802.11n.

 

[stevech]

And don't forget: BOTH ends of the link (client too) must support the same set of 11n standards to get the benefits of advanced OPTIONS in 11n, such as the dual-stream MIMO mentioned above.