Internet connection speed - plus is N worth it over G?

[HXGuy]

I currently have a G wireless router and using the Speedtest.net app, I got about 7GB/sec download.

Would a Wireless N network do better and would it really affect my browsing experience?

To compare, my desktop got 18GB/sec via LAN cable.

 

[gillybean]

What websites are you visiting that require reading more than 7 gigabytes of data per second?

 

[HXGuy]

So then the answer is no, right?

 

[budselectjr]

So then the answer is no, right?

Yeah. It's only useful for streaming and file transfers within your network.

But I think they both have there strengths and weaknesses in terms of signal strength and range. I forget what they are though.

 

[aerospace]

It's been awhile but when shopping for routers some claimed 1000 foot range on a N router, speed isn't really an issue unless your running a website out of your basement.

 

[kalex]

I currently have a G wireless router and using the Speedtest.net app, I got about 7GB/sec download.

Would a Wireless N network do better and would it really affect my browsing experience?

To compare, my desktop got 18GB/sec via LAN cable.

You sure about those speeds?

 

[flopticalcube]

I currently have a G wireless router and using the Speedtest.net app, I got about 7GB/sec download.

Would a Wireless N network do better and would it really affect my browsing experience?

To compare, my desktop got 18GB/sec via LAN cable.

7GB/sec is impressive since G is only spec'd to 54mbps or slightly le4ss than 7MB/sec.

 

[loteq]

you likely meant 7 "MB" not "GB" per sec. Thats about right for Wifi G. Most people wont see any benefit for their internet connection by going from G to N, only on internal network speeds with transferring between computers etc. If you needed a new router for some reason than dont spend 50 bucks on a G model when you can get an N for 80 or 90. Most DSL speeds in the US and Canada wont exceed much more than about 1 "MB" per sec. The fastest Ive gotten on Shaw here in Canada with a Nitro acocunt is about 8 MBps (megaBYTES per second) on about a 100mbit connection at work. At home I have a fiber at 40mbit per sec and will see about 4MBps pretty often on sustained transfers but 99 percent (or more) of web users in the US wont have that for a few more years.

In short, dont worry about upgrading from G to N if all your doing is web surfing. If you need faster xfers at home for media or file xfer, then go with N, but make sure your computers will support it as well.

 

[alphaod]

I currently have a G wireless router and using the Speedtest.net app, I got about 7GB/sec download.

Would a Wireless N network do better and would it really affect my browsing experience?

To compare, my desktop got 18GB/sec via LAN cable.

Damn my fiber channel doesn't even go fast!

 

[Mitchrapp]

Yeah what the he'll, 7 gig per second. No freaking way.

 

[HXGuy]

Sorry immeant MB not GB.

 

[Mitchrapp]

Sorry immeant MB not GB.

If you're downloading a lot, it's always worth upgrading. Browsing, not so much.

 

[h00ligan]

Ok a let me offer a real world diff. I use aebs n only at home my gf has my old link sys wet54g with tomato installed. I'm not going to argue specs with anyone just tell you that the aebs loads pages much faster than the old g. I am an it pro. Dont bother quoting numbers to dispute me. Just try both and see what you think. I abx'd with an express and passed with flying colours. So yah, if you can get some n going it's worth it. It's not just about raw throughput numbers.

 

[nStyle]

Sorry immeant MB not GB.

You mean 7 megabits. No, the N router will not be worth it. I get my full 6Mbps on my laptop with my old WRT54G.

 

[Blackforge]

Ok a let me offer a real world diff. I use aebs n only at home my gf has my old link sys wet54g with tomato installed. I'm not going to argue specs with anyone just tell you that the aebs loads pages much faster than the old g. I am an it pro. Dont bother quoting numbers to dispute me. Just try both and see what you think. I abx'd with an express and passed with flying colours. So yah, if you can get some n going it's worth it. It's not just about raw throughput numbers.

In a lot of cases it has less to do than the wireless speeds and more to do with the processors in the newer wireless routers. If it can handle switching/routing faster the overall speed on the network goes up. I had seen this happen with my power line adapters when I swapped my WRT54GS running tomato with a WRT600N. Same thing happened again when I swapped the WRT600N (due to wireless issues) for my current Netgear WNDR3700. http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/ has some good benchmarks about it.