What makes Wireless WiFi 802.11N Networking Better than G?
So you have the same standard wifi, add a letter, make it faster. And send it out the door to the masses. We mindless consumers buy it up like hot cakes without wondering if there is any advantage to it. And with little clue as to how to take advantage of it, or why we should.
I’ve had a Wireless NETGEAR WNDR3700 Router for a while, 6 months. I had to purchase the higher end version to get the uPnp so the XBOX360 could tell it the ports to open. In other words it supports gaming. At the time most our devices are still using B (11Mbps) or G (54 Mbps) networking. And only in the 2.4Ghz band.
Since the Mac OSX is new to me, It really did not occur to me to use the N network, or 5 Ghz band. It didn’t occur to me to test it out. So the change over was really transparent from the older Linksys router.
On an old PC upstairs, the 802.11b only supported WEP, and the change to WPA left it unable to connect.
Off to Fry’s to buy a new inexpensive USB network fob.
I picked up an Asus USB N13 Network fob. When I plugged it in, and started using it. Wow the speed difference was night and day.
Not only this, I could access my shared drives, read and write, I could list other folders and directories while doing the copy operations, and still surf the internet at the same time. It was like I was wired to the Router!
The Asus USB N13 is very attractive. Windows 7, XP, Vista, and Linux kernel support. That last one on the list was never listed on devices about two years ago.
I looked up the Airport Extreme technical specs, and it mentions a MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) feature of the 802.11N
Devices made after October 2009 will support the MIMO as this was when it was approved. You will be able to tell immediately when you do file operations and attempt to surf the internet. The file copy operation will be transparent, and the internet will be extremely responsive, instead of large lag delays.
How does it work? Read up on the N standard on Wikipedia
So before you go rushing out to buy a Netgear router, or the Asus USB N13 Fob. Double check your manuals. Upgrades get expensive quickly. Some of your hardware may already have this feature.
If your thinking of upgrading your computer that is slow thinking its the problem. It may just be old network hardware that your connecting to. If a wired connection is faster than WiFi when using the internet, you’ve identified the problem. Investigate, see if your 802.11N equipment supports the MIMO standard.
Note: On this NETGEAR WNDR3700 Router, MIMO is called “Dual Band”, and is also identified by the listing of the 5Ghz band.