Are you confused about this whole wireless networking thing? Which Wireless N do I get? Which one do I need? What’s all this b/g/n stuff?
I will give you some information and guidance here to help you make the best choice…. a quality Linksys router for a great price!
One of my favourite brands is Linksys, and has been for quite a few years. Yes, there are quite a few other brands out there, and in other lenses, I will look at them all. I’m keeping it simple here for you, one brand at a time, and three categories.
“I just need a cheap, easy solution for a couple computers to share Internet access”
“I’ve got several computers and a wireless printer I want to share without slowing things down”
“All of the above, with downloading and online gaming too!”
B G or N. Huh? What do those letters mean? In a nutshell, speed.
Wireless B is the oldest protocol, or language, of the three, and is not really used anymore. Wireless G is still widely used but is rapidly being replaced by wireless N as more and more people upgrade their routers and computers to the latest technology.
One very important thing to remember is that the newer N is backwards compatible with G and B. This means that if you have a wireless N router and a wireless G network adapter in your computer…. it WILL work. The catch is that the speed will be the slower of the two, which means the G speed.
Now, before you panic, and think that you have to go out and upgrade your computer as well, consider what you are using the connection for:
1 – Sharing Internet connection
2 – Sharing a printer
3 – Online gaming and streaming movies
4 – Moving files from one computer to another through your home network
If you are in the first two general uses ONLY – then wireless G speeds will be fine. At a speed of 54 Mb/sec (that’s mega-bits per second), that’s still TWICE AS FAST as the fastest residential Internet service that I’m aware of. Most high speed Internet access is anywhere from 3 to 10 Mb/sec. So, go ahead and get that Wireless N router and don’t worry about your computer for now.
If you are into online gaming, have more than 3 computers online at once, or share files between computers, then you will want more bandwidth, which is what wireless N offers. Wireless N gives you up to 160 Mb/sec transfer speeds in the real world. This added speed is what allows you to share the Internet connection with several computers at once without slowing down. If your laptop only has wireless G, you can upgrade that by purchasing a USB wireless N adapter. This little device plugs into a free USB port on your laptop and will give you the faster wireless N connection that you want.
The “Just a router” Answer: My recommendation is for an inexpensive, basic wireless router – Linksys WRT54G2
This easy-to-set-up wireless network lets you access your broadband Internet connection to surf the Web and send email – or connect between computers to share music, photos and other files, or print to your printer. All without wires, from all around your home. No trading cables, no waiting for someone else to finish what they’re doing, no being stuck in one place.
Keep your digital photos or music in one place; share them from any computer on your network. Four built-in 10/100 Ethernet ports make it easy to connect additional wired computers, storage devices, printers, and other wired devices to your network so you can access them from your wireless-enabled computers.
Wireless security and firewall protection designed to help safeguard your home network and computers from most Internet attacks.
I need more, but without spending a fortune. My recommended solution for the productive network – Linksys WRT160N
The speed and bandwidth of Wireless-N, today’s most advanced wireless technology, makes it easy for multiple users to share Internet access, files and printing. Enjoy media-intensive activities like gaming, video and Voice-over-IP phone calls – all at once, with less lag and performance degradation. Achieves faster speeds when used with Wireless-N enabled devices, but is fully compatible with Wireless-G and -B equipment.
Experience coverage you can count on, all around your home. Wireless-N’s Multiple in, Multiple Out MIMO technology actually uses the signal reflections that confuse ordinary wireless technologies to boost range and reduce dead spots.
Four 10/100 Ethernet ports let you connect printers, networked storage drives, and other Ethernet-enabled devices to your network, so you can access and share them wirelessly from all your computers at once. No need to trade cables, or wait for someone else to finish their work before you do yours.
Advanced wireless security and SPI firewall protection designed to help safeguard your home network and computers from most Internet attacks.
You need it ALL – Then go with the best…. Linksys WRT610N
Experience faster wireless connectivity with fewer interruptions with two bands of Wireless-N, today’s most advanced wireless technology. The 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands are designed to work separately yet simultaneously, so you can easily customize your ideal configuration – for example, use the 2.4 GHz band to surf, email and print while keeping the less crowded 5 GHz band free for time sensitive traffic like music, gaming and high-definition video. Built-in Media Optimized Networking technology gives time-sensitive traffic priority, so your media can run more smoothly, with fewer interruptions.
Coverage you can count on, all around your home. Wireless-N’s Multiple in, Multiple Out MIMO technology actually uses the signal reflections that confuse ordinary wireless technologies to help boost range and reduce dead spots, while its ultra-wide bandwidth greatly reduces interference from nearby wireless devices.
Four integrated Gigabit Ethernet ports let you connect networked storage, computers, and other devices directly to your network and access them at much faster speeds. Storage Link provides USB connectivity for hard drives and memory stick.
Advanced wireless security and SPI firewall protection is designed to help safeguard your home network and computers from most Internet attacks.
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