RangeMax / Wireless-N: Is it worth it?

[da.Guvna]

I've been considering buying a Wireless-N router recently (either Netgear or Linksys), not so much for my benefit, but for my neighbour's.
He's got a REALLY crap dial-up connection (lucky to get 2kps), but doesn't use the internet enough to justify paying for ADSL.
I'd like to set him up on our wireless network, but at the moment I've just got a rubbish 54g router that barely provides coverage to my bedroom, let alone next door.

Here's the big question: Would wireless-N be good enough to provide a signal through 5 walls (2 of which are cavity walls) over a distance of about 50 metres?

It's a big ask, I know.

The two routers I'm considering are:
Netgear DG834PN
Linksys Wireless-N Broadband Router - I'll have to wait for them to bring out one that includes an ADSL modem first.

[nichomach]

After mucking about with a Rangemax access point, the coverage is good, but unless it's being matched with either a RangeMax PCI card or RangeMax Cardbus card, it won't get you that much. DO NOT bother with the "Rangemax" USB adapter. Pointless piece of cack - it's a non-MIMO USB stick. Theoretically does 108Mbps, but because it's a single antenna, doesn't actually give any range/coverage advantage.

[da.Guvna]

Yeah, I assumed that would be the case.

Can you buy MIMO PCI cards yet though? I thought it was just the PCMCIA ones...

I'm not so bothered about speed....as long as it's faster than about my ADSL connection it doesn't matter, I just want the range/coverage.

[ultim8um]

Erm don't know what the layout of your premises are but attempting to go through several walls directly is NOT the best way to achieve this...! You could get around this problem several ways though... Assuming your neighbour doesn't have his PC in the room closest to your house, he could setup a wireless bridge that is in the closest room and wire his PC to that...? Alternatively you could setup a passive reflector somewhere outside that reflectors or bounces some of your signal in his general direction... Other than that you would probably be looking at hi gain antenna's (and then the reception would probably be flakey at best).

[davidstone28]

I doubt that you could get a signal through 5 walls, particularly if you have 2 cavity walls.

I had a Belkin Pre-N Mimo and tried to pick up a signal from the house next to my next door neighbours house, and couldn't do it.

Both the router and the receiving PC were located in the centre of the house (which didn't help). Moving the receiving PC next to the window at the back of the house, resulted in 1 bar of signal strength on the Windsows utility out of a maximum of 5 bars but the throughout was so poor that it was unusable even for web browsing.

As far as I'm aware, things like Pre-N, Mimo, RangeMax etc are primarily all about distances with a clear line of sight rather than around obstacles.

[nichomach]

No, it's supposed to cope better with obstacles through optimising the selection of transmission direction and that sort of thing. Did you have a MIMO card as well as router?

[da.Guvna]

Yeah MIMO stands for 'Multi-In, Multi-Out', the Multi part being that you have several antennae providing different signal routes, so the router can pick the strongest one.

I had considered the wireless bridge option, but I'm trying to keep cost down (as I want to pay for it all out of my pocket). Would a wireless bridge on a regular 11g wireless network be ok in my situation, or would I still have to go Pre-N?

[ultim8um]

A standard 54G wireless link will work fine. LOS is the most important thing and if you can't get that than passive reflection is your best bet...

[Agent]

Forget b/g, look at 802.11a. It'll be much more suited to what your doing as its uses the 5ghz range.

[davidstone28]

No, it's supposed to cope better with obstacles through optimising the selection of transmission direction and that sort of thing. Did you have a MIMO card as well as router?

Yeah but what its supposed to do (according to the manufacturer) and what it actually does in 'real world' conditions are two different things.

[da.Guvna]

Forget b/g, look at 802.11a. It'll be much more suited to what your doing as its uses the 5ghz range.

But if I went to 802.11a, would I have to buy entirely new hardware to replace all my existing 11g equipment?

[Agent]

But if I went to 802.11a, would I have to buy entirely new hardware to replace all my existing 11g equipment?

what other equipment are you using ?
The way your first post come across, you didnt have the equipment yet

edit - see below.

[da.Guvna]

I'd like to set him up on our wireless network, but at the moment I've just got a rubbish 54g router that barely provides coverage to my bedroom, let alone next door.

I've got 2x 11b PCMCIA cards for my laptops, and 1x 54g Linksys USB adaptor.

[Agent]

I've been considering buying a Wireless-N router recently

Thats what made me think you were willing to buy new stuff

Either way, your 11b cards will work fine with it, well atleast all equipment i have seen supports a/b/g. It'll simply fall back and connect at b speeds
If you want to use "a" speeds on those cards, then you will need to change them.

[da.Guvna]

Hmm, ok cool, cheers