Are N Spec Wireless USB Adapters worth the Extra?

Speed · 27 Jan 2009 at 14:09

Hi Guys,

Looking to buy a Wireless USB Adapter for a SFF PC that doesn't have have PCI slot, so USB is the only option.

So are the N draft spec adapters worth the extra over the G spec ones? I don't actually have a N spec wireless router yet, but this could well be an option in the future.

Just wondered what people think and what makes to go for and avoid. The OS will be Vista 64bit.

Thanks,

Mark

Viberious · 27 Jan 2009 at 15:17

Well the N allows for additional range / speed - however you will need N type router aswell to take advantage of it.

mangobreeder · 27 Jan 2009 at 19:49

nah, just get a MIMO one

N spec, are a little bit faste, for a hugh amount more money,

Speed · 27 Jan 2009 at 20:09

Well it's not a huge outlay, they can be had for around £20-25. I just thought it might be worth the extra as N spec should be finalized in November 2009 and hopefully N Spec routers will become cheaper.

What advantage do G spec MIMO adapters have over standard ones?

FrenchTart · 27 Jan 2009 at 20:17

Perhaps just wait till the spec is properly finalised. People still have a fair few extra problems with wireless N at the moment.

kefkef · 28 Jan 2009 at 10:45

Not much help about whether they are worth the extra or not, but i recently purchased a Belkin F5D8051C N1 Wireless adaptor for my SFF PC to replace an aged Wg311V2 PCI card that i had hacked to pieces to get into a half height PCI slot (metal hacksaw to the back plate!) that worked fine in XP pbut gave me loads of problems in Vista 32/64 (worked in 32 bit fine, didn't work in 64 bit atall, also didn't like the 4gb memory in 32 bit Vista).

The new USB stick from Belkin is sooo much better at picking up the connections, resuming from sleep, has better connection rates than the old card (i know it's like comparing apples and oranges). If yo do go for a wireless USB stick of the N variety i can recommend this one. Purchased for less than £40 delivered which i was happy with also.

mangobreeder · 28 Jan 2009 at 13:43

Speed said:
Well it's not a huge outlay, they can be had for around £20-25. I just thought it might be worth the extra as N spec should be finalized in November 2009 and hopefully N Spec routers will become cheaper.

What advantage do G spec MIMO adapters have over standard ones?

MIMO - stands for Mulitple In Miltiple Out

standard ones a SINO - single in Single out

i dont know any more than that, apart from multiple is probally better then Single.

Speed · 28 Jan 2009 at 13:57

kefkef said:
Not much help about whether they are worth the extra or not, but i recently purchased a Belkin F5D8051C N1 Wireless adaptor for my SFF PC to replace an aged Wg311V2 PCI card that i had hacked to pieces to get into a half height PCI slot (metal hacksaw to the back plate!) that worked fine in XP pbut gave me loads of problems in Vista 32/64 (worked in 32 bit fine, didn't work in 64 bit atall, also didn't like the 4gb memory in 32 bit Vista).

The new USB stick from Belkin is sooo much better at picking up the connections, resuming from sleep, has better connection rates than the old card (i know it's like comparing apples and oranges). If yo do go for a wireless USB stick of the N variety i can recommend this one. Purchased for less than £40 delivered which i was happy with also.

Thanks for the info!

mangobreeder said:
MIMO - stands for Mulitple In Miltiple Out

standard ones a SINO - single in Single out

i dont know any more than that, apart from multiple is probally better then Single.

Indeed, I think N Spec adapters use MIMO as standard anyways.

These two look good, both support N Spec up to 300m/bit and have MIMO, although not sure what the difference is. Wonder if it is just the USB dock, although strange how the one with the dock is cheaper.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-012-EX&groupid=46&catid=1002&subcat=220

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-006-EX&groupid=46&catid=1002&subcat=220

worthingsaxovtr · 28 Jan 2009 at 14:16

looks like one support qos and one doesnt

Speed · 28 Jan 2009 at 14:22

Strange, you'd think that would be on the more expensive one.

Also according to the Edimax website the EW-7718UN only supports up to 150mbps:

* 11b: 1/2/5.5/11Mbps
* 11g: 6/9/12/24/36/48/54Mbps
* 11n (20MHz): MCS0-7 (up to 72Mbps)
* 11n (40MHz): MCS0-7 (up to 150Mbps)

EW-7717UN:

* 11b: 1/2/5.5/11Mbps
* 11g: 6/9/12/24/36/48/54Mbps
* 11n (20MHz): MCS0-15, 32 with Half Guard Interval Support (up to 　144Mbps)
* 11n (40MHz): MCS0-15, 32 with Half Guard Interval Support (up to 300Mbps)

Speed · 29 Jan 2009 at 15:16

Right well I got a reply from Edimax regarding the difference between the 7717 and 7718

"EW-7717Un with the dock is the latest version. Both technical specifications are similar."

errata · 29 Jan 2009 at 16:57

If you dont have a laptop or need wifi everhwhere have a look at homeplug AV adapters (etehrnet over mains wiring). Homeplug Av units will give a housewide service with no n-draft this or that or 32bit or 64 bit usb or network drivers to worry about. They install out of the case which helps with SFF pc's

You would also get a bigger choice of cheaper (better) routers as the wifi bit would be irrelvant to your choice.

Not buying standard kit (router and adapter) should easily cover the cost of 2 generic AV homeplugs.
Money saved on

Speed · 29 Jan 2009 at 16:59

Thanks for the idea, but I already have a linksys wireless router.

errata · 30 Jan 2009 at 14:02

you already said you its not n grade so you will have to change it to get any real advantage out of a n usb adapter.

If you keep the linksys you only have to look at adding 2 homplugs (£25 to £50 depending on speed)