Transfer rate increase moving from G to N router?

[Daneel]

I'm currently on Virgin Media's L (10Mb) package and manage to get 9.5Mb through my wireless connection when it's working well.

I'm considering switching to BE There's Ultimate package, which in my area (very close to the exchange) should give around 20Mb. I'll be surprised if I manage to get more than 10Mb through a wireless G router, so am considering replacing what BE supply me with a wireless N router.

My router is located downstairs and is serving my desktop upstairs, the walls are paper thin though.

Can anyone give real world experience of such a swap increasing transfer rates? Any suggestions what the max rate you can get is in practice?

Thanks.

[mrt9888]

I get around 5-7MB at most using wireless N 2.4ghz with nine other wireless networks which I can see near me.

Wireless G should be enough for 20Mb internet if you are not using the network for copying files or streaming at the same time or it might lag.

[nibbler]

I don't think that G would have any problems with a 20mb connection.

[Jay]

G is 54Mbps (TX = 27Mbps + RX = 27Mbps) so you should get 27Mbps throughput.

[badass]

G is 54Mbps (TX = 27Mbps + RX = 27Mbps) so you should get 27Mbps throughput.

In the real world you'll get around 20 Mbit. That's what I've noticed in the field.

Wireless N really surprises me though. 100 Mbit real world throughput is not uncommon even through walls, however in the same location I see anything from 40 Mbit with mine to 100 Mbit.

[Daneel]

Wow, that's quite a difference, one guy saying 5-7Mb, and another saying 40-100Mb!

I can't seem to find any wireless router reviews looking at this kind of thing. Is my google-fu just weak, or is not out there?

[Biscuit]

When you run the router in mixed mode it will probably connect on the lowest common denominator (which could be as low as A or B) speed anyway so it will probably make little difference unless you do some upgrading to the rest of your kit. I personally run both a G (the router that o2 supplied us) and an N (D-Link 655) so that the N devices run as fast as possible.

Dont forget the difference between MB (Mega Byte) and Mb (Mega Bit).

[jim]

It's a bit hit and miss, definitely. At home our G router was faster and more reliable than our N router - it's not as clear-cut as you might think.

Worth a go, but no guarantees.