anyone use 802.11 N ?

[Wesley]

is the N that much better than the G?

I ordered a D-link N router (I think the DIR-655 11N model)


Just wondering if anyone has some experience with this or is a tech person at work!

[Cleatus703]

It's all about what you're doing with the system. If you're just browsing internet wirelessly from one computer over a short range, even the first generation wireless capability will probably do you just fine. If you're doing longer range applications or high volume stuff on your network internally (multiple simultaneous computers connecting, or video, music, and/or other large files in high volumes) then .11n will be what you want. If you're working over a high speed internet connection, you're probably getting single-digit Mbps and sending it over a network with multiple tens of Mbps capability. That's a whole lot better than the reverse.

[Lord ZOG]

It's been my experience that Wireless N is long on promise, short on delivery.

They promised longer range AND greater speed, and in reality it's only marginally faster and barely produces greater signal strength. 90% of mainstream notebooks come with Wireless-G adapters in them. To implement any kind of fully N standard wireless you'd have to fork over a substantial amount of cash, and deal with 3rd party, add-in adapters and software. I'll pass.

Wireless is all about perception, and expectation. don't expect much and you'll be happy. Blindly think wireless is effortless and simple, prepare yourself for a lifetime of misery.

[Darknut]

Don't expect your internet download speeds to be any quicker.

[Lord ZOG]

One interesting side-note;

I had a client whose local broadband provider (RCN) offered a 20MB download speed for a reasonable price.

He jumped at it, but after a week he realized that less than 15% of the sites he visited used services that couldn't match his download capability.

He was a doctor, and would connect to a service at work from his home that would allow him to view, edit and notate X-Rays of clients. They were big, huge .TIF files...easily 20MB or more in size and even with his mega-Internet his workplace's servers couldn't upload the data any quicker than when he used a "run-of-the-mill" 6MB/768K cable modem.

He cancelled the service after a week, and resumed using his basic cable speed package.

[Darknut]

That's the reason why those packages are only good if you plan to upload a lot. Regular cable can do 4MB/s–6MB/s but your average "fast" download speed is 0.5MB/s. I've gotten, on rare occasions a 1MB/s speed and had a download spike of 9MB/s that lasted for about three to four minutes.

I also have people come into my work looking to buy a new computer to improve their internet surfing speeds because their dial-up isn't fast enough anymore. I hate the ones that refuse to believe that the ISP controls your download speed. Sure, buy the $2,000 ultra media center PC and have fun doing nothing on your 56Kbps modem.

[Lord ZOG]

Part of the high tech industry is based on smoke and mirrors, and preying on the naiveté of end users.

Every time I hear some service claim it's "as easy and point and click!" I want to crawl through my radio and strangle the dope claiming that.

Companies release new software and or hardware every year, not because the new product is actually any better than their previous version, but because they know the mindless public will believe their claims and throw cash at them like it's laced with anthrax.

Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Steve Case...they're the 21st century version of P.T. Barnum.

[Wesley]

thanks for the info smackers.
the router just arrived at the front door
nothing like <24hr free shipping from Newegg

Also got a stick of ram to put me up to 1.5 so the smackers stop lag killing me

[Chacal]

My concern would be on using Dlink. Personally I wouldn't buy anything other than Linksys.