Choosing a wireless N router (big house, long range)

[shyam]

Hey Guys,

Looking for advice on buying a new Wireless N router.

I currently have a WRT54GS wireless setup, with a laptop, PC, and 360 all connecting wirelessly on the same floor with excellent speed and stability (On Virgin Medias cable 20MB package, speeds of about 2000kb/s).

I have recently moved my PC up, not one floor but 2 floors, into a new area in an extension recently built, it is on the other side of the house, and TWO floors higher. Unfortunately I can't pick up any wireless signal at all, and there isn't a chance of moving the modem up a floor..

I've heard that it is very likely I will get a signal with a "wireless N" router, and possibly even a good signal with good download speeds.. There are quite a few out, so I was wondering on advice on what is the model for me.. Answers from people who have also used the routers in very long distances, like myself would really be appreciated.

I will also need to buy a wireless card/usb adapter for my desktop so it can be compatible with the wireless N..

I've seen lots of models around, the Belkin N1 and D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit seem the most highly rated, but I don't really know much about it..

I'm really looking for the router that will give me the best signal, on the longest distance and the highest speeds.

Thans for your advice everyone!

[Funkstar]

Someone asked a similar question a couple of weeks ago.

I don't think there is much experience with Pre-N hardware at the moment, most people are waiting until the standard is actually ratified before spending money on hardware that could become unusable.

The general consensus is that is you can wire it using Ethernet, then do that. Wireless is OK, but nothing beats a length of copper

[shyam]

Someone asked a similar question a couple of weeks ago.

I don't think there is much experience with Pre-N hardware at the moment, most people are waiting until the standard is actually ratified before spending money on hardware that could become unusable.

The general consensus is that is you can wire it using Ethernet, then do that. Wireless is OK, but nothing beats a length of copper

Can't wire it, and a normal wireless G router simply won't be good enough!

[Funkstar]

Have you looked at Powerline Ethernet?

Others may have tried Pre-N gear by now, but i doubt there is many. I think most sales of it are to people walking into the large highstreet computer places and being told it is the next greatest thing

[tigerboyce]

how about the homeplug setup?

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=118774

[shyam]

Yes, I'd heard about homeplug, but I was a bit worried about spending money on it as the PC is in the extension recently built and I'm pretty sure that the wiring is seperate..

[vrykyl]

Iv got a full pre-N wireless setup...
running a Netgear dg834n with matching wn311b card for my main rig and 2x wn511b laptop cards.
The router is great and very customisable, its STABLE and can be left up for litteraly months without needing checked or rebooted. Has all the advanced abilities you'd expect, and a has a freaking MASSIVE range Firmware update to latest means network speed doesnt drop to 54mbs when you have a G device connected along side 270mb kit.
Next door to us (detached, so through 2 outside walls, across a driveway and 2 internal walls) still gets 84mbs out of 270mbs....thats a fair distance to cover. My old linksys router didnt breach the outer walls of the house.
Speedwise, I can play BF2, run teamspeak and the mrs can use her laptop and download stuff etc without any slowdown....old 54mb couldnt. Can also stream video around the house with no issues either

Only issues - netgear driver utitility for the wireless cards is rubbish - install them, mak a copy of the drivers and uninstall the whole lot....then add just the drivers manually and use windows own wireless config. Router software is great.
Security - the router can be done up as tightly as current wireless security allowed...which is good. BUT you WILL need to put all the security in place, as the range is large enough to easily cover an unpolicable area....not the routers fault, and technically both points are good, but you get my point

[shyam]

Well Netgear seems like the company to go for, I've been looking at their homeplug reviews on Amazon and the reviews are amazing!

Now I'm stuck between these 3 options:

Netgear DG834N wireless set up
Netgear Homeplugs - not sure which one yet
Netgear Range Extender (with current WRT54GS setup)

Please could you advise me on which of the above is more likely to get me a better signal, speed, and stability?

Thanks all!

[EtheAv8r]

I have replaced wifi in my house with Devolo 200 HomePlugs.... Absolutly brilliant the reliability, performance and throughput improvement is well worth it. I have NetGear DG834PN, but Devolo is way better in the HomePlug arena.

[aidanjt]

If you have fixed computers, it's better to use homeplug, or proper ethernet if you can.

[s_kinton]

I agree with the above. Don't bother replacing all you current hardware for pre-N.

Either:
- Buy an access point and integrate it into your current wireless system
OR
- Buy a Homeplug system