Some newbie questions about wireless

[Lucifiel]

Hi, ever since my family expressed a desire to go Wireless(3 computers sharing a 3mbps line), I've been on a huge rush to read up about 802.11. Now I know more, which is a leap from knowing nothing about wireless.

Okay, just for starters: a question: Just what is the difference between Draft N and Wireless G(apart from the mbps thing)?

I've read up quite a bit on Draft N but some of it seems to be speculation?

What I know is that N is faster than G but only if you've a gigabit card installed and that you might only feel the performance gain if you're sharing gigabytes of files between computers.

And that G has an efficiency rate of 60% to 70% of your total connection speed?

[YeOldeStonecat]

One huuuuuuge advantage to N...is an increase in the range. Since Pre-N/MIMO came out, most of my installs have been with that, over the prior "G". Even if you have old G and even ancient B adapter cards in the client PCs...they still benefit from the huge increase in range the MIMO gives you.

Less compliants of "I can't get the wireless upstairs", or "I can't get the wireless if I go down the hall into the other room".

For web surfing..not having full N speed isn't an issue..as even an old B card will yield you the up to 11 megs. If you run media center 'n stream video...yes you'll want N on both sides to realize the increase in speed also.

A lot of people say "I'm not getting N because it's not even official yet". Who cares? It's not like if you purchase Draft-N now...it will stop working when N becomes officially ratified. What's important to me, is that it works with existing products such as G cards, and it will continue to do so. When N becomes officially ratified in the next 1-2 years and hits the store shelves....many of todays current Draft-N routers will be upgradeable to the official N via firmware upgrade. And even if they aren't..either continue to use them as they are (hey..they still work), or...since they're so dirt cheap now..if for some reason you have to have to have to have official N...go purchase another one..as you'll have easily gotten your monies worth out of the current one for a couple of years.

[Lucifiel]

Range, hmm? The walls are around : 10 cm to 14 cm (4 to 5.5 inches thick) and the kitchen is at least 6 to 8 meters(16 feet to 26 feet) away from the main computer room, and the computer room is around 3 to 4 meters(10 feet to 13 feet) apart from the other rooms.

Mmm... thank goodness the doors are only around 4 cm(about 1.6 inch) thick.

I guess it's going to be a bit complicated: one laptop is running winxp, one laptop is running Vista home basic(I think?), and this computer is currently on Linux(soon to dual boot with Win xp and Linux again).

Oh btw, would you happen to know a decent wireless N card which will support Linux as well?


Thank you.

[YeOldeStonecat]

It's impossible to judge how wireless will perform for someone..even if they give distance specs 'n such. Too many other variables....what your walls are made of, construction of the house, materials used, how it's wired, what you have for appliances, microwave ovens, cordless phones.

Add to this..what your neighbors have for wireless, if any neighboring ones on the same channel, what they have for appliances, cordless phones, etc.

I haven't played around with N adapter drivers for linux...hitting up some forums such as Ubuntu show people getting them going.

[Lucifiel]

Wow, it's still rocket science, huh? :)

Yeah... I'll continue to research through the Ubuntu forums and other forums. :)


Thank you for all your help!
Lucifiel