Topic: Which wireless router standard should I get? B, G, "extreme G", etc.

[Nick in Edinboro]

Looking for opinions.

I have a new laptop for work, and would like to have wireless internet capability at home.  I will not need to transfer files between local PC's and the laptop at all on the local network.  This makes me think that I really only need the B standard.

Anyone think of other reasons I should go with G?  The internet ain't fast enough as is for B as far as I know and the only benefits are within local network traffic right?

I will be just VPN'ing into work with it to check mail and work on projects, etc. from home..

Just double checking with smarter people here than I   Thanks in advance.

Nick

[rdptha2nd]

Keep in mind that the "Extreme G" router is only faster if the "Extreme G" card is also used.

[Nick in Edinboro]

Ya, I understand that, thanks for the heads up though.

I'm going to be getting both a card and a router and I'll be sure both are the same standard

[dnsacks]

Aren't the prices for the various protocols REALLY close? (i.e. isn't it only trivially more expensive to get a "g" or "extreme g" standard instead of the "b" standard)

If so, I'd drop the extra $$$ to get the fastest protocol I can afford.  Your current needs may not require it, but you could well need/want a faster local speed in the future (to do stuff like stream music/video to your listening room).

[Brian Skalinder]

I just upgraded from B to G.  I only use wireless for distributing DSL access throughout the apt and am wired for everything else. 

Theoretically, G should not provide any speed improvement over B for this type of usage.  But IME it has provided speed improvement.  FWIW, YMMV, etc.

Sorry, no idea about "extreme G".

[Nick in Edinboro]

Darrin, good point, I might want to eventually add other computers/services which could benefit from G down the line.

There also might have been improvements in signal strength, etc. when they upgraded protocols and similar improvements beyond speed itself.

I guess I'll go with G or "extreme G".  Thanks for the help guys +T

[mmedley.]

I got a Netgear Turbo G...does 108mbps (WRT624?).....love it.....range is awesome. You will get much much much better range with G than B. You can get a good deal on these usually for around $50. Watch the Sunday circulars or check pricewatch.com.

[phanophish]

I'd go G, just since the additional cost is so little and the extra speed might come in handy down the line.  If you go with the enhanced or "extreme" hardware you have to run the same manufacturer on both your access pont and laptop/PC.  Lots of new laptops come with built in wireless so they would not be capable of running faster then the standard b/g spec...

[ford prefect]

In case anyone else reads this down the road...

G = 54mbits/sec
B = 11mbits/sec

Your ISP = 3mbits/sec

The only reason G is better than B for a home network is for moving around those SHN/FLAC sized files between home computers.  Since most of us have 3mbits/sec or less for internet, it won't pay to get G if you only have 1 computer.

That "Extreme" tag is a load of crap.  It does nothing for downloading/uploading of large audio files.  More money for nothing in our camp.

-Brad

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

Get the 802.11G.  It's only marginally more expensive.  Even if you don't need it today, you will grow into it.

It's better for more than just moving flac/shn files around on the LAN.  If you have a shared printer on one machine in your house, you can spool to the printer faster.  Access to search shared networked drives is faster.  If you export the UI from a remote machine, that will be faster.  Pretty much anything that you do between machines will enjoy a performance improvement.  It also gives some much needed headroom if you are streaming media on your lan.  Streaming video will eat 802.11B bandwidth but with the higher rate, you can do other things with less potential to affect the performance of media stream.  I'm playing with that application now for work.

Even though you have just one machine, you may want people bring over a laptop to swap shows over your wireless lan.  The G will be faster.  Of course, if the one bringing the laptop is some hotty, maybe you would prefer the longer transfer times.

[Cooker]

i think the reason that G seems faster is probably related to packet loss.... i agree that using mine at G speed seems faster than if i pop my B card back in. that might also be related to the newer devices being better... who knows.

i run a mix of B and G devices on my home network. my netgear pcmcia card which came with my router is the only G device, the other laptop and desktops have B.

[Tim]

I have B in my apartment just for wireless access for my laptop, I do not have the desktop on a network with the lappy so no file transfers. For downloading shows and surfing the internet B has worked great.