802.11n Wi-fi technology

[Scottish Business Owner]

I've read in a few places that this has now been approved as a technology but I think it has been out for a while.

What is 802.11n and why is it different? I assume you would need to buy a new router to get this and also make sure that your laptop/desktop is capable of using it. In some places it's saying it's six times faster!

Is this all hype or should I be rushing out to upgrade?

 

[Former Member 1]

Up to 110Mbs apparently? And the use of diversity receivers? But then that doesn't seem like too much that's actually very new or much faster or particularly clever. There are a few other improvements...

Apparently it's not 'fully specced' yet; and what's available just now is running to a 2007 draft spec? Personally I've never been keen on being an early adopter. I'd wait at least a year and see how it matures.

Anyway; I've got the radio section of my router switched off 99% of the time and only switch it on to transfer stuff to my laptop (which I hardly use) or my Palmtop.... Which connects just as well though its USB cable...

If you're a heavy user of WiFi it could have advantages though...

Came across this....


http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/col...7_ns767_Networking_Solutions_White_Paper.html

 

[stugster]

IEEE - "The IEEE name was originally an acronym for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. Today, the organization's scope of interest has expanded into so many related fields, that it is simply referred to by the letters I-E-E-E (pronounced Eye-triple-E). "

802.11: IEEE 802.11 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The first release was 802.11a, pretty grim in comparison to what we have now. It supports around 54mbps but only travels around 15 meters.

802.11b, 11mbps but up to 45 meters.

802.11g, 54mbps but up to 45 meters.

and now... 802.11n, 300mbps but up to 91 meters.


Yes, the technology is considerably faster and over a longer range. But no, it's nothing that Joe Public should be getting excited about.

The marketing will obviously be pushed to get you to go out and buy one, and they're not that much more expensive.

The real question is though, do you need it?

If your broadband is 10mbps (10 Meg/MB),then you're never going to be using the full potential of your wireless network anyway (unless you're transferring lots of files between two nodes on the LAN).

As Matt says, if you're a heavy user (streaming around the house) then yes, it might have advantages.

Ebuyer sell a Cisco/Linksys a Cable Broadband one for around £60. Linksys by Cisco WRT160N Wireless-N Router - Ebuyer

At those prices, you'd be daft to buy an older model if you actually needed a new one.

 

[Canary Dwarf]

You should rush out to upgrade ONLY if you:
need faster network throughput from your wireless devices
have n-grade interfaces in your wireless devices
you need to extend your wireless reach, or
you like having the latest technology

Bear in moind that these routers will not make internet browsing any quicker or your emails go faster (unless you send large attachments)

I've been recommending n-grade routers for my clients by default for a while, but I'm not going to replace my g-grade just yet, as I have a wire for file transfers.

The n standard has been ratified recently, but it is essentially similar to the draft technology that's been in place for months, if not years.

As stu says, wireless networks started off at around 11Mb/s (theoretical),now we're at 300Mb/s (also theoretical),it's just progress not dissimilar to that of modems a few years back.

In technology, you buy WHAT you need WHEN you need it, otherwise you'll pay too much for something that gets little use

 

[Lanarkshire IT Services]

Hi All

Yeah I agree with the comments above.

Dunno how many people I've seen running out to buy a wireless n router, thinking it will give them an excellent connection, when they are still sitting with b/g interfaces or struggling to get a signal at all.

It's like the BT advert where they tout "an unbeatable wireless connection" which is a laugh when they don't even know what type of equipment the person has or the signal strength they can / will recieve, or if they will even get any signal.

That's my 2p worth.

Regards

 

[DickW]

Only of use if you sit on a local network that can handle it...... Home users and small businesses connected to conventional broadband needn't bother......

 

[stugster]

Home users and small businesses connected to conventional broadband needn't bother......

Not necessarily. Remember, the wireless will allow LAN access. So if the company transfers large files across their LAN a lot, it'll definitely benefit them.

 

[DickW]

Errr..... That's what I meant by local network... Anyway I read somewhere that 1Gb is on its way to a mother board near you fairly soon.

However - if you want real bandwidth you go for switchless fibre technology as developed by Lockheed Martin in the early 90s.... I've played with a demo net that ran twenty workstations all using milspec video cams, overhead projectors, smart whiteboards and a host of other kit and we couldn't kill it cos it was running at close to 1Tb/sec..... The tech used was called Fibre Optic Bus Wave Division Multiplexing..... Google it or FOBWDM ..... Cisco hated it .... no switches...!!!

 

[stugster]

Anyway I read somewhere that 1Gb is on its way to a mother board near you fairly soon.

Been around for many years Our office network runs on gigabit

 

[Lanarkshire IT Services]

"switchless fibre technology"? - Seems a bit much for SME even with 20 workstations and not to mention the cost. Way over an SME budget I think.

As as I was aware fibre was a WAN technology tho I could be wrong.

I don't I'll be recommending "switchless fibre technology" to any SME any time in the near future.

Regards