wireless router questions

[doug piston]

k i have a linksys 802.11g router. my xbox runs off of. my new laptop says it has wireless n. so should i get a n router? are the any better? my xbox360 says it has 4 full bars already but i am also about to get a ps3 also. question comments concerns...

[tennisfan16]

i have a wireless linksys router and i have my 360, ps3, and computer hooked up wired to the back of the router, then i have my lap top hooked up wireless.

[doug piston]

i love cats so much

[tennisfan16]

beastiality?

[Jerlent]

I wouldn't bother getting a wireless N router yet. I have a linksys router also and have my desktop pc wired, wireless laptop and my xbox 360 plus I let my sister in law use my wireless signal. I don't have any big loss of signal or lag. I don't think you'll have a problem with what you already have.

[doug piston]

thanks all. no beastiality for me... just cuddling

[HYPHY SiVIC]

can routers eventually wear out? cause mine doesn't even power up and b4 it did a couple weeks b4 the signals become weak...

[MordeKyle]

dont most routers do n and g?

[doug piston]

i think its either n or g... not both but not sure on that

[NightKidsGTR]

N routers are still expensive, so I say wait on that. Unless you REALLY need the transfer speed and range between your laptop and router; the 360 wireless receiver only doesn't support N-speeds so it'd be waste just to get it for the 360.

[doug piston]

Originally Posted by NightKidsGTR

N routers are still expensive, so I say wait on that. Unless you REALLY need the transfer speed and range between your laptop and router; the 360 wireless receiver only doesn't support N-speeds so it'd be waste just to get it for the 360.

its mainly for my laptop. but if my 360 gets fuul bars when its downstairs and router is upstairs i would think i already have enough power yes?

[GameTraveler]

For the most part, a wireless device will connect at the highest frequency it can, and then downgrade from there.

Any wireless access point will most likely transmit to all those devices at the most stable frequency.

Now, that being said, the problem with wireless computers, consoles, and other wireless network connected devices: The entire bandwidth is a shared 'media'.

If you have B, then you're looking at 11 Mbps (max). G, is about 54 Mbps, and N is supposed to be a multiple of 54 Mbps like 108 Mbps, since it's supposed to use multiple antennas to get the data across. Shared = max speed divided by the total number of devices connected; the caveat being that the rated speed is the maximum speed, and somewhere between two-thirds to one-half of that max speed is the average you should expect.

Sooooo, for your situation, a laptop + the Xbox or PS3 at the same time, would give you an explanation why the internet may seem slow or why your ping time in game is so high or why the lag is bad.

N > G > B which are supposed to be on the same frequency, just different methods to get there. As for buying one, if you already have one that works, then don't bother and just wait. N is still not solid enough as G is.

My $.02

[doug piston]

Originally Posted by GameTraveler

For the most part, a wireless device will connect at the highest frequency it can, and then downgrade from there.

Any wireless access point will most likely transmit to all those devices at the most stable frequency.

Now, that being said, the problem with wireless computers, consoles, and other wireless network connected devices: The entire bandwidth is a shared 'media'.

If you have B, then you're looking at 11 Mbps (max). G, is about 54 Mbps, and N is supposed to be a multiple of 54 Mbps like 108 Mbps, since it's supposed to use multiple antennas to get the data across. Shared = max speed divided by the total number of devices connected; the caveat being that the rated speed is the maximum speed, and somewhere between two-thirds to one-half of that max speed is the average you should expect.

Sooooo, for your situation, a laptop + the Xbox or PS3 at the same time, would give you an explanation why the internet may seem slow or why your ping time in game is so high or why the lag is bad.

N > G > B which are supposed to be on the same frequency, just different methods to get there. As for buying one, if you already have one that works, then don't bother and just wait. N is still not solid enough as G is.

My $.02

thank you very much for that info. also i never run more then 2 at a time

[RJJensen]

Originally Posted by doug piston

k i have a linksys 802.11g router. my xbox runs off of. my new laptop says it has wireless n. so should i get a n router? are the any better? my xbox360 says it has 4 full bars already but i am also about to get a ps3 also. question comments concerns...

ideally u would want the 360 to be connected via a wired connection...that way ur getting the 100Mbps not to mention all of the interference on the wireless conn from phones and microwave ovens etc

[gibbletz]

802.11n hasn't been chosen as a standard yet, so if they change their minds, your stuck with a non-industry standard router/ap. I use a 802.11g router and its fast enough for all my stuff I do and most internet connections are about <10mbps anyways for residential areas.

I have to deal with these Cisco 1200 AP's on a daily basis here at work and we set up B,G, and A bands for max compatibility due to it being a college campus. I didn't like the Meru setups that we had, they were too weak of a signal and my laptop hated the Meru AP's. A Cisco 1200 series AP can run you almost a grand though. The linksys model WRT54G APs are pretty decent and do both B and G. I've had mine over 2 years now and no problems with it.

[Cr8tive_leo]

Here's my two cents.

Do you own a T3 or Fibre line for your internet connection?

Or

Do you subscribe to an ISP with a service of 5mbps, 3mbps, 8, 9... 2... well, those are download speeds, not upload speeds. (11mb is faster than current isp services, and you have to look at send and receiving, not just sending the info)

If your router has a max capacity of 11mbps wireless, and you have one wireless connection, you're fine. If you're hardwired at 100mb, even better, most cable modems (DSL) can be uncapped to 30mbps max (Motorola surfer series)

It's good to get an 'N' router, newer technology. I use it at home for home networking, streaming video to my tv wirelessly, and other things. When you start adding wireless devices and wired devices your router has to be able to handle the work load. if you max. out a 'G' router with 4 wired and 6 wireless, you will definately see a slowdown, if you max out an 'N' router with the same amount of 'G' devices, there will not be as much of a slow down, it's processor can handle the added bandwidth no problem, it's designed to handle everything @ 108mpbs and not just 57mbps.

Just like your isp, it uses Fibre, fibre has a certain bandwidth, that's why they limit you with 5mb, 3mb, 16 or whatever. their fibrer could be 1000Kmb but whne they start adding users to their 'routers' they need to limit the bandwidth, very similar as to how your router functions when it needs to handle data, so , yes, get an 'N' router if you want to be sure you will run at optimum speed all the time. Or stick with 'G' if you are only going to limit your self to all the hardwired and maybe 1 wireless device.

That's it.. okay, it was a little more than two cents.

Hope it makes sense.

[Cr8tive_leo]

oh, and, I picked up an 'N' router for $30 @ Factory Direct (canadian). Check out Tiger Direct too. N does G,B no worries.

[doug piston]

how can i check my isp speed?

[Cybergypsy]

N gives you distance you will notice no speed increse with just browsing

[aodmisery]

wait... how did the thread go from routers to cuddling cats?