Question about Wireless-N technology

[Chodite]

My 2007 Macbook, I'm pretty sure, maxes out at wireless-G.

I've got a wireless-G router and Apple TV 2. Blu-Ray rips have been giving me a tough time as of late, while streaming from Macbook (external HDD actually) to ATV2.

If I upgrade to a wireless-N router, will I truly be taking advantage of the technology, if my Macbook is only wireless-G?

 

[miles01110]

It was probably an N wireless card...

...but if it is g, upgrading to an 802.11-n router won't help you.

 

[Chodite]

Easiest way to check which wireless chip my Macbook has?

 

[ismailoe]

click on the apple logo in the top left corner, click on about this mac, on more information and the should be the information you need. must be under hardware or network

 

[Chodite]

Thanks. Will check when I get home.

2nd question: best bang for the buck, in terms of wireless-N router?

I'm currently looking to stay under $100 and am looking into the Netgear N600 and the Belkin Play N600. Both dual-band, both roughly $70.

Would love the Airport Express, but not paying $180 for a router.

 

[thetruth1985]

I'm guessing you are going to be hooking up the macbook via ethernet to the router right? If you are looking to buy a "N" router, I would look at getting one the has the 5GHZ band. A lot of cheap "N" routers are only 2.4GHZ and they are still susceptible to things on that frequency AFAIK.

 

[Tilpots]

Thanks. Will check when I get home.

2nd question: best bang for the buck, in terms of wireless-N router?

I'm currently looking to stay under $100 and am looking into the Netgear N600 and the Belkin Play N600. Both dual-band, both roughly $70.

Would love the Airport Express, but not paying $180 for a router.

The Airport Extreme is $180, not sure what the Express is. Also, the AEBS is only $129 in the refurb store. Got another day or so until mines delivered.


Side note: is that your blog in your sig? Because I checked it out and didn't see the one eyed Bohemian anywhere on the homepage. How us that possible with a blog called BeerinBaltimore???

 

[Chodite]

The Airport Extreme is $180, not sure what the Express is. Also, the AEBS is only $129 in the refurb store. Got another day or so until mines delivered.


Side note: is that your blog in your sig? Because I checked it out and didn't see the one eyed Bohemian anywhere on the homepage. How us that possible with a blog called BeerinBaltimore???

Thanks for the tips. Annnnd, great observation. Problem is, Natty Boh is no longer a Baltimore-brewed beer and in fact, now owned by part of the big bad S.A.B Miller corporation (South African owned!) Lots of other great local choices in terms of quality craft beer. But yes, my site

 

[Tilpots]

Thanks for the tips. Annnnd, great observation. Problem is, Natty Boh is no longer a Baltimore-brewed beer and in fact, now owned by part of the big bad S.A.B Miller corporation (South African owned!) Lots of other great local choices in terms of quality craft beer. But yes, my site

Say it ain't so! What a shame. I didn't realize. Haven't lived up that way in ages. Anway, cool site. I travel up that way often. Have to use your blog as a reference.

 

[Chodite]

So I ended up going with the Netgear N600 (WNDR3400) dual-band wireless-N router and am loving it. What a sick difference. My Blu-Ray rips now fly through the buffering on my ATV2 and all around, much zippier performance on my network (internet, etc.) $70 well spent.

 

[tomllama]

If you try to connect both your wireless-G laptop and your wireless-N ATV to a cheap wireless-N router, you will see no benefit as the -G laptop will slow it all down to -G speeds. If you buy a simultaneous dual-band router (actually 2 routers in 1), you can connect the -G laptop to one frequency and the -N other things to the other and maintain the higher speed of the -N.

I use a Linksys WRT610N and a Time Capsule to completely cover my house. I had planned to run the ATV via a gigabit ethernet connection but couldn't get the darn cable fished through the insulation in the wall. As a last resort, I tried a wireless connection and was shocked to see a full 50-Mbit connection from the -N router (even though the router is 3 rooms away down the hall or on the floor below).

 

[robanga]

I have read that a mixed environment with N and G devices, will slow down the N devices, but not exactly to G speed. There is a compromise though. (Wish i could remember the place to link to on that)

Like you I have a WRT610N with two networks broadcasting

 

[Chodite]

If you try to connect both your wireless-G laptop and your wireless-N ATV to a cheap wireless-N router, you will see no benefit as the -G laptop will slow it all down to -G speeds. If you buy a simultaneous dual-band router (actually 2 routers in 1), you can connect the -G laptop to one frequency and the -N other things to the other and maintain the higher speed of the -N.

I use a Linksys WRT610N and a Time Capsule to completely cover my house. I had planned to run the ATV via a gigabit ethernet connection but couldn't get the darn cable fished through the insulation in the wall. As a last resort, I tried a wireless connection and was shocked to see a full 50-Mbit connection from the -N router (even though the router is 3 rooms away down the hall or on the floor below).

My Macbook is wireless-N. And the Netgear NDR3400 dual-band router has been fantastic for both internet speeds on the Macbook (iPad too) as well as my new Apple TV2.