Wireless B/G/N ?

waterman3 · 17 January 2010 at 5:13PM

Hi all

I'm looking to buy a new laptop just to use wirelessly in my house.

I've been comparing them and i'm just wondering because some I've looked at - next to wifi it says "802.11 B/G/N" or "802.11 B/G"

I take it it's the old story - the bigger the number, the better it is?

Also, is B/G/N better than B/G or vice versa.

Sorry to be so simplistic about it but i don't know anything about these things.

thanks for any help.

Lil306 · 17 January 2010 at 5:20PM

802.11 is just Wireless technology

Theoretical "maximum" speeds

A - no clue
B - 11MBps
G - 54MBps
N - 300MBps (I think)

There's also an inbetween one that supposedly supports 108MBps by Linksys I think it's called G+

Basically look for N or N+ on your wireless, which shouldn't be hard as 99% of them should be N by now

busenbust · 17 January 2010 at 5:32PM

Also be aware of the flavor of the router: single (2.4ghz) or dual-band (2.4ghz & 5.0ghz); the latter is the best as it allows (theoretically) selective streaming with faster throughput of approx. 270-300mbs.

HTH.

waterman3 · 17 January 2010 at 5:48PM

So, if it just says B/G, that's not as good as B/G/N?

busenbust · 17 January 2010 at 5:57PM

busenbust wrote: »

Also be aware of the flavor of the router: single (2.4ghz) or dual-band (2.4ghz & 5.0ghz); the latter is the best as it allows (theoretically) selective streaming with faster throughput of approx. 270-300mbs.

HTH.

waterman3 wrote: »

So, if it just says B/G, that's not as good as B/G/N?

Correct, especially if the theoretical maximum speed offered by N (compared to B/G) is important to you.

Taffybiker · 17 January 2010 at 5:59PM

N is the fastest wireless signal. A router marked B/G will still work but at a reduced speed. You could get a B/G/N model and try to connect a mobile device that may only be B rated, but it will still work.

In a nutshell, the B/G/N model will allow the fastest speeds that a wireless device connecting to it is capable of.

waterman3 · 17 January 2010 at 6:08PM

It's a laptop i'm looking at buying at the moment not a router but i'm sure the same is true for both.

Taffybiker · 17 January 2010 at 6:11PM

In that case definately get the N model, since this will allow the fastest connection to a suitable N router, but will also work with slower routers

BillScarab · 17 January 2010 at 6:27PM

Bear in mind it's not really that important as even G is 54mbps and your broadband will be a lot slower than that so you won't see faster browsing with N.

Having said that there is little point in getting a laptop that doesn't support N as all devices in the future will be N standard.

busenbust · 17 January 2010 at 6:30PM

Agree with Taffy; and it's backwards compatible

.

Taffybiker · 17 January 2010 at 6:32PM

BillScarab wrote: »

Bear in mind it's not really that important as even G is 54mbps and your broadband will be a lot slower than that so you won't see faster browsing with N.

Very true Bill, but transfer between computers on a home network will see the difference.

Wireless B/G/N ?

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