Dell Wireless N and routers

I've got a D430 (4965AGN)
a XPS-M1330 (4965AGN)
and a Inspiron 6400 (3940ABG)

I currently own a SMCWBR14-GM router which is 54g + MIMO however the RALINK 2600 MIMO X chipset does not work very well with Intel based clients (no MIMO and no further reach)
Which means i am enjoying "normal" 54G performance.

So i am thinking of buying a new router
which also needs to have a 4 ports Gigabit switch

I've now got 2 questions:
1. What is the best Gigabit router to work with the 4965AGN as Wireless N client? and what is the maximum throughput you can obtain (300Mbps?)
2. is the 3940ABG card on the Inspiron Mini PCi Express? can i upgrade it with a 4965AGN card?

Routerwise i've seen 2 candidates so far: Linksys WRT350N > Bad choice, not Centrino compatible and very unstable performance

DLink DIR-655, very fast great reach and optimized for Centrino

Curious what your experience is and what would currently be the best router for Intel based clients......

 

I can already answer my 2nd question: the 6400 only has 2 antenna connectors. The 4965AGN needs 3....

 

I used to hate Dlink, maybe its because my first ever wireless router was a Dlink Wirelsss - B, so I switched to Linksys, when the wireless N routers started coming out I picked one up and it was major junk, after reading some reviews I saw the new Dlink DIR-655. I picked it up and its awesome. Dlink has gotten a lot better in the last 7 years.

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=530

 

The DIR-655 got my vote. The reviews were great and the kicker is that Costco had them - $116 (or $119) if I remember.

 

Anyone have any experience with the DLink using Dell's wireless 1505N card?

 

Likewise: what is the performance to be expected from the DIR-655 with the 4965BGN card?

 

Got it! the DIR-655 does a steady 54Mbit with the 3945BG card and 130 < 300Mbit with the 4965nbg card. No disconnects or dropouts or unintentional router reboots.... I AM IMPRESSED

 

sweet - this is good to hear - ive had the dir655 for a few months (to replace a defunct linksys wrt54g) - but none of my computers have draft-n cards - i selected the intel card for my vostro - its nice to hear that everything functions smoothly

sheesh - im like a little kid waiting for a new toy! i want my laptop!

 

I only get 130Mbit with my Dell 1505 and DIR-655.

 

I have bad luck with all the intel cards. 3945 and even the 4965agn.

First I had a Netgear 854T Gigabit Edition Wireless N and either it would accept a notebook with a Dell 1500N card, or my notebook with the 4965AGN.

I replaced the Netgear router with a D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N and it works with both, so I'm happy.

However,

Before I bought the D-link router, I borrowed my brother's Dell 1500N so that I could use the D-link router.

I later tried to swith cards, and the damn 4965AGN card wouldn't work in my notebook anymore, but it works fine in his.

Both notebooks work fine with the D-link router though

 

In mixed mode i get up to 130mbit as well, when selectig N only it goed up to 300 (according to NETWORK tab in task manager)

 

Can it be this easy???

I've never done wireless before. Have a new D630 with Dell 1505 Draft-N card.

Just bought a D-Link DIR-655 and plugged it in....and, bingo. Tested 9.5/900 on dslreports (not sure how to test speed other than that.) Didn't use D-Link's setup/install CD----just plug & play!

All seems good---I was expecting a hassle.

Now I have to figure out how to secure it and which type to use, etc. Need maximum-security for when I'm trading, and moderate security for other tasks. Steep learning curve ahead.

 

How/what are you testing to get those numbers?

 

I got my D430 with 4965AGN also, but its made by Intel.

I still use G. N routers are expensive.

 

^ lol - i actually have an n router, but im too lazy to change the security keys on the rest of my wifi devices - so im still running g as well

i suppose i should get around to that eventually...

 

What do you mean the WRT 350n is not Centrino compatible?
I just ordered a WRT330n am i going to have a problem with it?

 

Anyone? ?

 

I'm sorry, I have to bump this thread, I really need a answer.
Does anyone know what hes talking about?

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16833124081

there are a tonne of reviews there, maybe one of them can shed some light?

google didnt return much so cant really help im afraid.

 

Firmware release notes from LinkSys website seem to show Centrino compatibility:


Linksys, A division of Cisco Systems, Inc.
Product: WRT330N
Classification: Firmware Release History
Firmware Date: 01/12/2007
Release Date: 02/07/2007
Last Firmware Version: 1.00.3
__________________________________________________________________________
Firmware 1.00.3
- Resolved issue with Intel Centrino clients
- Resolved issue with Adjust Time Automatically option
- Resolved issue with Security LED behavior
- Resolved issue with UPnP device name displaying incorrectly
- Resolved issue with web GUI Firefox compatibility
- Resolved DHCP issue with certain wireless clients
- Resolved issue with Internet filter behavior when firewall is disabled
- Resolved issue with SSID containing escape characters
- Resolved issue where MAC filters accepts illegal values
- Resolved issue with L2TP WAN connection compatibility
- Resolved issue with PPPoE Passthrough
- Resolved issue with Fragmentation threshold values causing router to crash
- Resolved issue with extension channel setting
- Resolved issue with web GUI login
- Resolved issue with WEP key setting
- Resolved issue where firmware version is displayed incorrectly
- Updated wireless driver
- Resolved issue where wireless beacons are not sent according to specs
- Resolved issue with wireless data rate not being able to be set correctly
- Resolved issue with upstream data rate measurement
- Removed 42Mbps data rate
- Resolved issue where DTIM interval is out of range
- Resolved issue with NTP time server stability
- Resolved issue with remote management setting
- Resolved issue where router icon does not display in Windows Vist network map

Link to Linksys page with above info