Advice on router

Heaven Can Wait · 30 Nov 2006 at 00:28

Moving my computer upstairs so looking at buying a router, this would be for two computers for gaming/lan and two laptops for browsing, is wireless n worth getting or getting a cheap router and waiting for some future improvement?
Was looking at the Linksys WRT300N-UK.
Does it have to be wired to a main computer to work, or?
Thanks for any information.

Heaven Can Wait · 30 Nov 2006 at 09:42

Bump

Captain Fizz · 30 Nov 2006 at 12:22

The price of wireless routers - It would be rude not to get one these days.

You would probably need a wired connection to set it up initially, but once configured - You can rely on wireless if you wish.

Cables will always be faster than wireless - So if there are a lot of file transfers going on, I'd put cables on the PC's that would do this the most.
For browsing etc, wireless will be fine.

Can't really advise on different routers as I get mine free but of the ones I've seen/configured - They all pretty much have the same functionality.

HomerJ · 30 Nov 2006 at 14:19

Hi

I would not get the draft N (pre N) router at the moment as the standard is not ratified so it is possible that the draft N equipment would not be compatible with the final standard. Unless you really need to get draft N then I would say buy a cheap G router and wait till the N standard stuff is all properly sorted.

Heaven Can Wait · 30 Nov 2006 at 22:04

Thanks a bunch, few more brains to pick

I actually have a G router, bought it 6+ months back, still in warranty, Belkin something, only recently came to set it up, only to find that the socket where the ethernet cable goes was poorly manufactured, and the cable just falls out

Don't have the reciept and belkin charge for each missing part, box,cables etc.

Any idea when the 'real' N routers will be coming out? are they that much better in reality than the G router? distance etc?

Again, thanks.

HomerJ · 1 Dec 2006 at 10:04

I think the next N standard meeting is due to happen early next year and depending on how that goes they might aprrove the next draft or it might have to go to a 3rd draft.

Based on the spec the range will increase and the speed will increase a lot the main issue they are having at the moment is the problem of the "Bad neighbour" which is where the N router signal is basically squashing out the signal of neighbouring B and G routers.

I would defiantely wait for the N standard to be ratified before purchasing the kit as depending on changes they make on draft 1 to draft 2 it is possible that it would require a hardware change which means all the current draft N stuff would not be able to be compliant.

You can pick up a G modem/router for about £50 if you are not happy with the belkin one you have currently.