best n based router?? what do you say is the best draft n out there

exactly as the title states.. thanks

 

I would be interested in this as well!

 

I bought a linksys N. I regret it. Linksys usually has the best reviews for wireless routers so I took the plunge early. With draft N they have the worst reviews and my router stinks to confirm it.

One suggestion that I will impliment when I replace my router and I will. Get a N router will dual band. The different bands are good to penetrate different types of barriers. It is worth the upgrade over a single band router.

So, the best router is not a linksys and is one with dual band. I have not tried the rest but have only read reviews beyond that.

 

I have heard go things about Buffalo and D-link N routers...anyone want to confirm?

 

I have heard the same thing.

 

yeah im looking at the buffalo n one now.

 

Go to smallnetbuilder.com they have tested all 3 dual band 11n routers on the market. Still to early to buy, like most having problems with firmware.

 

I hear good things about Buffalo.

The ones I would recommend are the Linksys 350N V1 and the Asus WL500.

The Asus is the best one out of the box.

However both of them are great once loaded with DD-WRT. Buffalo is great out of the box and with DD-WRT as well but it's hard to get now.

I run a Linksys 350N V1 with DD-WRT and I have a SMB server, VPN host and XBconnect type app hosted on it, a NAS connected, 2 laptops, 1 printer, Xbox and Xbox 360. The laptop are using WPA2-AES and it's running solid for 2 months with heavy BT once in a while.

 

I did a lot of looking before settling on my D-Link DIR-655. I almost pulled the trigger on the new DGL-4500 (also from D-Link) which has dual-band, but I couldn't justify the extra 50% in cost. Note that the Intel Centrino 4965AGN chipset requires dual band (specifically A) to be able to use the full 300Mbps bandwidth, otherwise it can only achieve 140Mbps (or whatever) on the single band.

Buffalo is IMO equally good for Draft-N, but something to be aware of is that the current stock of Buffalo routers in the USA is not being replenished due to the ongoing 802.11B/G patent issues. I'm sure this will eventually be resolved, but I'm guessing that Buffalo routers will soon become scarce in the states.

 

many many web site still have the buffalo's available though

 

and the lnksys 350 is not fully compatable with the intel n card

 

No router is really compatible with intel's backwards N technology. They'll all work crippled N mode, 130mbs and not 300. Intel will only channel bond when it's 2.4 and 5ghz not any one alone. The 350N with DD-WRT will work fine.

I blame this one on Intel and not the router companies. The only router that will channel bond the Intel is the double band Buffalo.

 

Tebore best answer so far. Wish I could give you rep points, but I need to spread out around first apparently...

 

which model buffalo are you reffering to? and is this proven it will in fact work with the intel card?

there are other dualband routers they will nto work with the intel?

 

I can't remember the model and I can't search buffalo's site due to the law suit going on.

I'm fairly sure it was the first 2.4 & 5Ghz consumer N router and is still the best. Again due to the law suit it's a rare model.

It's got beefy specs that make running DD-WRT great.

 

This one...
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2181293,00.asp

 

Best suggestion I can think of is to make sure you get a router compatible with your notebook's wireless card. N is still in Draft stage, so there is no standard yet.

 

They're all "compatible" at this stage all the N routers are really capable G routers with better range than the G only routers. This is due to better antennas, more powerful radios, more powerful processors, more RAM and ROM.

So if N fails to work they will still do G. The 350N is draft N 2.0 compatible. The only downside to the 350N i forgot to mention is the lack of removable antennas.

The best N routers I'd recommend is the Buffalo in PCMag review, Asus WL500, linksys 350N V1 (serial starting in PNQ), and the Dlink DIR-655 Rev A.

In that order. Pricing is also in order from most to least expensive.

The Asus WL500 is like a perfected Linksys 350N sharing a lot of the same hardware.

 

Yup. If it fails to connect at Draft N they should fall back to G, which is an industry standard. But why would you buy an N router if your card is incapable of connecting to it at N speed?

 

The only routers that are truly compatible with intel's integrated n cards have Certified for intel graphics. The asus wl 500 does but im not sure about the others. You can check this if you go to the manufacturers website.

http://www.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/wireless/connect.htm
http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=12&l2=43&l3=0&l4=0&model=1277&modelmenu=1

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833162018

will that buffalo work with dual channel on intel's n card does anyone know

 

No, it doesn't have the 5 GHz band. Both 802.11b and 802.11g (the "dual channel" you are referring to) are actually single band, at 2.4GHz. The 4965AGN requires the 5GHz band to achieve full Draft-N speeds.

EDIT: For clarification - it will still work perfectly fine for 802.11b and 802.11g.

 

I say the DIR-655 is the best, when used with other D-Link Xtreme N cards. I have the DWA-643 in my laptop, the DWA-652 in my wife's laptop, and the DWA-552 in my son's desktop. Great range, 300Mbps connections, great stuff. I also had no problems connecting with my Intel 3945ABG (had to wait a few days for my 643), as I was honestly expecting trouble getting it to get G speeds.

If there are any D-Link users not getting 300Mbps, you should check out the D-Link forums - every board has a "how to get 300Mbps" sticky. It's just a matter of making sure the router is set up properly (AES cypher, Auto 20/40, 802.11n selected), otherwise you get 130Mbps.

The only hiccup I encountered was a mysterious dropped connection on the 643 with large file transfers - once I deactivated my TwonkyVision media server (on a NAS), the problem vanished.

 

hmmm ive heard a lot of bad things about that router though.. and you also had the d-link xtreme card.. i have the 4965 a whole different ball game there. using the dlink router with the dlink cards should def net 300mbs..my problems are not my network speeds as i said they are internet based. i get the full speeds on my network just fine, but i pay for a 20down fios line and only get 10 with the intel card

 

Well, I don't know about best or fastest, but I can tell you stay the hell away from Linksys! That company has really taken a dive IMO. I bought there top of the line N router a few weeks ago, and suck city all the way. I've since returned it and went with the new TRENDnet Wireless N Gigabit Router
TEW-633GR, and could not be happier!

 

what card are you using in your notebook?? also that one does not appear to be dual band

 

Well, it's not mine, but it's an Intel. I'll be able to tell you more when my new notebook arrives, but that's still two weeks away.

 

D-Link ones are good, i have one of them. And TrendNet is very nice too.


Hope I could Help

 

Just buy from a place with an acceptable return policy and give one a try.