Roll your eyes at me for asking such a simple question. I am looking for a router. Have no N devices, only G. Small apartment now, and will be moving into a house. Is there an appreciable range difference between N and G? I know Time Warner doesn't even have internet fast enough to max out a G. I eventually will be setting up a desktop that I intend to pull videos, music etc off of using my other wireless devices. Thoughts? suggestions? I've done some of my own research, but wanted to see what you guys think. Thanks in advance.

5/29/2012 9:21:53 PM

Keep in mind that internal network bandwidth for things like streaming video should also be a factor in your decision making process. If you're planning to do any local streaming in HD you'll definitely want a dual channel wireless n. A dual channel router is basically 2 routers in one; one channel is used for web traffic and another for bandwidth-heavy internal traffic. Depending on what device is handling your streaming, you may have to invest another 40 bucks or so in a wireless bridge to pick up the 5 ghz frequency of the second channel.

This may be overkill for what you're trying to do, but the ability to stream a movie in 1080 while simultaneously downloading aother without any lag in either is more than worth it, IMO.

I can shoot you specifics on hardware and media server apps if you're interested.

5/29/2012 11:12:18 PM

go for the gold

get a spiffy new AC router

5/30/2012 3:37:40 AM

Quote :

"Is there an appreciable range difference between N and G? I know Time Warner doesn't even have internet fast enough to max out a G. "

This is a silly statement. While G is technically 54mbps it's rare you get 100% of that especially further away from the router and obviously when you have multiple devices streaming. Time Warner Cable goes all the way up to 50mbps.

Quote :

"This may be overkill for what you're trying to do, but the ability to stream a movie in 1080 while simultaneously downloading aother without any lag in either is more than worth it, IMO. I can shoot you specifics on hardware and media server apps if you're interested."

This is why I just hard wire everything (at least to my server and HTPC).

5/30/2012 9:37:33 AM

Quote :

"Keep in mind that internal network bandwidth for things like streaming video should also be a factor in your decision making process. If you're planning to do any local streaming in HD you'll definitely want a dual channel wireless n. A dual channel router is basically 2 routers in one; one channel is used for web traffic and another for bandwidth-heavy internal traffic. Depending on what device is handling your streaming, you may have to invest another 40 bucks or so in a wireless bridge to pick up the 5 ghz frequency of the second channel."

There's a lot of misleading and incorrect info there... so I'm just going to leave it alone.

Quote :

"Is there an appreciable range difference between N and G?"

There definitely can be, depending on if you're using 5GHz N or 2.4GHz N. Now, I know you said that you don't have any N devices, but it never hurts to plan for the future and get a router with a dual-band radio (ABGN). You can always turn it off until you want to use it. Or you can just get a 2.4 GHz router.

Quote :

"I know Time Warner doesn't even have internet fast enough to max out a G."

Pretty much what ^ said. You'll never get much faster than ~22Mbps due to overhead in encryption and the rest of the wireless frame.

I also hardwired everything in my house (desktop PCs, servers, and other media devices). Wireless is for handheld devices and laptops. All that said, unless you're doing a lot of bandwidth intensive streaming, such as high bitrate 1080p HD, you'll likely be fine with G-only as long as your signal quality is good. Otherwise, you'll need to go wired or move to 802.11n.

5/30/2012 11:12:58 AM

I tried streaming higher bitrate 1080p files over wireless N and I still couldn't get it to work smoothly even though the devices were 20 feet apart. Pretty much have to go wired.

5/30/2012 11:17:19 AM

Quote :

"A dual channel router is basically 2 routers in one; one channel is used for web traffic and another for bandwidth-heavy internal traffic. Depending on what device is handling your streaming, you may have to invest another 40 bucks or so in a wireless bridge to pick up the 5 ghz frequency of the second channel. "

[NO]

dual channel mimo N in the way to go. there's no reason to buy old tech. the best approach would be to get multiple cheap routers to put dd-wrt on to use as APs (tp-link are great) and use a wired backhaul between them. put all the APs on the same SSID with the same password so you can roam between them smoothly

5/30/2012 11:35:11 AM

Quote :

"put all the APs on the same SSID with the same password so you can roam between them smoothly"

This may not be the best thing to do if the coverage area isn't big enough to need it. If you do go with two, then definitely make sure the APs are on different, non-overlapping channels (pref 1, 6, 11).

Quote :

"I tried streaming higher bitrate 1080p files over wireless N and I still couldn't get it to work smoothly even though the devices were 20 feet apart. Pretty much have to go wired."

What data rate were you connected at? Also, were you on 2.4GHz or 5? If you were on 2.4, what's the rest of the radio spectrum around you look like? If it's busy with other peoples' networks on the same channel, then yeah, it won't work so well.

5/30/2012 11:52:04 AM

I tried both 2.4 and 5 and a couple different channels with no luck. The lower bitrate ones worked but the higher bitrate and uncompressed images didn't work at all.

5/30/2012 11:55:26 AM

^Interesting. What devices were you streaming between?

5/30/2012 12:54:51 PM

A computer to a computer. Both wireless N. Take it the 1080p files were anywhere from 15gBs to 50gBs but they wouldn't work consistently. I don't really see any point in going wireless unless you really can't run a wire for streaming.

5/30/2012 1:10:32 PM

Ordered this earlier this week. Should be arriving tomorrow. Very excited....

http://www.asus.com/Networks/Wireless_Routers/RTN66U/

5/30/2012 10:30:15 PM

^^And I'm assuming you didn't change routers? What are speeds of the wireless adapters on the PCs?

I've been able to stream from a pc w/ onboard video to the incredible POS that is the Logitech Revue without any issues after I ponied up for dual channel N and a wireless bridge, with the files sometimes approaching 30 GB. There's literally nothing else on the second channel other than video.

For no more than what's invested in $ and time, wireless is more than feasible for an HD streaming setup.

5/30/2012 10:46:16 PM

Yeah I guess I never really tried to trouble shoot. It was just easier to drop a network cable for gigabit.

5/31/2012 12:31:14 PM

Wow guys, I really opened up the flood gates here. Thanks! What I am taking away is that I definitely want to wired connectors as the wireless doesn't always work smoothly, which kills. I am also picking up that an N is a good idea, however a G will work since we have ruled out streaming wirelessly. So not to start another arguement, if I get an N do I really need 2 channel. If no to the two channel, why not just stick with an G? Sorry for running you guys around in circles.

6/1/2012 1:34:14 PM

I have the Asus N56U and overall it's been the best router I've owned. There's a stupid bug with RALink wireless adapters under linux (Including Apple computers), but it's been fixed in the open source Padavan firmware http://code.google.com/p/rt-n56u/

6/1/2012 3:24:48 PM

i have a 56u and while its ok, the qos options suck and i cant bridge it w/ my linksys e3000. i wish i could put tomato on it

6/1/2012 3:40:00 PM

^Use the Padavan firmware

6/1/2012 4:06:12 PM

What do you think of this router?

http://www.netgear.com/home/products/wirelessrouters/ultimate-performance/wndr4500.aspx

I want something that will work well with my 360 and PS3. Also my wife like Netflix and Hulu so she tends to stream while I'm gaming.

6/1/2012 11:43:57 PM

Just say [No] to Netgear.

6/2/2012 12:51:56 AM

Why's that?

6/2/2012 1:11:42 AM

there's no real brand of consumer hardware. there are like 8 main chipsets that just get packaged differently. if that router supports dd-wrt, it's decent enough, assuming it has the features you want

[Edited on June 2, 2012 at 3:54 AM. Reason : it should be noted that the ps3 and 360 are both 802.11g so N won't help anything]

6/2/2012 3:52:10 AM

I have the n600 and it more than meet my needs though I am running dd-wrt. Last poster was right though, both the 360 and the ps3 are wireless g, but the bigger issue there is that neither console can connect to the 5 ghz frequency so you won't get the benefit of the router's second channel. I use the Buffalo air station n300 wireless bridge to connect to the second channel. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZM17RK/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00 .

The PS3 puts the 360 to shame in its ability to maintain the visual fidelity of HD video, it also supports several audio codecs including DTS and AC3. There's always the risk of running into Cinavia issues on ps3, not the case with 360 as its not a blu ray player, so in using some combination if the 2 you should be ale to stream anything.

6/2/2012 8:36:11 AM

For me I'll direct connect to the 360 and PS3. My wife's laptop though is N. My current router is a linksys wrt54gs with tomato flashed. Which is a great router, but with the wife streaming movies or tv shows, sending pictures or emails to her friends and I'm trying to play a game it'll show it'll show it's age. I've got the 360 set as a priority, but she can still manage to find a way to slow it down..lol

The Asus router looks great and is comparable to the Netgear I posted. I know upgrading isn't quite necessary at the moment, but I know we're getting rid of cable after we move and I know our streaming uses will increase. So why not upgrade now and head off any issues that will come up and give us something to grow into.

Thanks for the advice guys. I've always had linksys and I haven't had to buy a router since 2001 or 2002.

6/3/2012 6:49:33 AM

it sounds more like you need a better than a better router. a user on wifi won't affect a user on a wired connection if there is adequate bandwidth for both operations

6/4/2012 12:17:52 AM

"a better" what?

I think you meant "tier of Internet service" or possibly just "modem"

6/4/2012 1:03:43 AM

The ISP is TWC and I've got the 20 down plan. I think part of the problem is the turbo boost they use and when she starts up a new show on hulu or netflix it'll kick in the boost for a couple of minutes and then drop off again.

I know, because tomato has nice bandwidth monitoring, that it's just not the turbo boost. There's downloading and uploading of photos and whatever else she shares with her friends. There's always something eating up the bandwidth when it comes to her. Bless her heart..lol

6/4/2012 1:49:32 AM

yeah, better internet connection

6/4/2012 7:45:59 AM

who's got the best router right now ?

6/10/2012 8:51:56 AM

Juniper?

6/10/2012 10:48:44 AM

unlikely your router is the problem, however there's not much difference in various top of the line consumer gear. they're all variations on a handful of chipsets. i'm a fan of tp-link as of late but anything with full dd-wrt support should be solid

6/10/2012 12:24:20 PM

Quote :

"it should be noted that the ps3 and 360 are both 802.11g so N won't help anything"

The 360 Slim is 802.11N 2.4ghz (built in), the older 360 wifi adapter was 802.11N dual band. Not G.

6/10/2012 3:11:44 PM

^^^ Thems fighting words

In my apartment I have the best router probably compared to all of you

Best home router? Dunno. Home/consumer routers are all about the same. AP's are where its at.
Best router, im not saying as Im not starting a fight, and most people wouldn't understand it.

6/10/2012 8:11:32 PM

ASUS RT-N66U will be in today!

6/26/2012 1:06:37 AM