G-mimo/N comparison

So I went to buy a wireless router today and ended up going with a Netgear G mimo rangemax for about 70 bucks...I have a laptop with an N card in it but the guy there was pretty convincing that the range was the same-or better- and the speed was less, but the price was cheaper.

I'm really just concerned with range since I want to try to get it about 400 feet through some trees if possible. We have satellite internet and two locations that we'd like to use it. Was this a good idea? Would I really notice the speed difference-even with satellite?

If it doesn't work or I'm better off doing something else it's not a big deal to take it back and replace it with a different unit. I kind of have a funny feeling knowing that I have N-which is supposed to be better-yet I bought G...is it possible the range is any better or the same as N?

Thanks!

 

At that distance, with obstruction you will probably need to install some high gain parabolic antennas. MIMO is a form a channel bonding using up 2 channels and most of the time interfers with other wireless devices. I have not seen a 11n with removable antennas, but I have not looked. If your trying to just tie 2 networks together, invest in the antennas will save a lot of trouble. The Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 has an extra amp on the receiver side to boost signals from weaker devices. But these are scarce as hensteeth right now due to a court injunction. 2 of these would be a very good attempt. In any case try to get a router that gives you full control of the radio power. You will need to load aftermarket firmware like dd-wrt to turn the routers into a bridge. Router to router does not work, you need a AP in bridge mode.

11n and 11g both use the same freq 2.4ghz, the range is actually the same no matter which one you have. The difference is the sensitivity of the radio receiver in the ability to reject noise. The reason some 11g hardware is a lot better than others.

 

sorry I'm new to routers and wireless networks in general...you mentioned two WHR-HP-G54...I'm pretty confused on how two can be put together. How exactly does the bridge work since router to router doesn't work?

If there are any links for info on this please let me know...I basically just want good wireless in the house and the ability to try to get it to the other building. The building is uphill through the woods about 400 feet away. There is an unobstructed view if I move to the far end of my garage, which is ~70-80 feet away from the house.

With my limited understanding with wireless, is it possible to have some sort of antenna or something that boosts it in one direction toward the building if I can divert it to a location behind my garage first (in order to get a clear view)? That is, use a router in the house and pick up the signal that 80 ft distance, which is unobstructed, then boost it the ~280-300 feet directly to the other building which is also unobstructed view. The building is really small so a wireless 'beam' signal would work. Basically, the woods are in the middle but I could bypass them by using some sort of intermediary receiver/producer of signal.

Hope this makes sense...thanks again

 

For what it's worth, here's my 2 cents on your questions...

G-mimo was pretty good stuff, depending on the brand you bought. I did a ton of research back when I purchased a few years ago and went w/ a Belkin Pre-N router (3 antenna model) F5D8230-4. Pre-N was really just a proprietary G-mimo design, no real difference, some companies just chose to call it Pre-N and others G-mimo. Belkin actually used both names. This unit, at the time, was getting pretty good reviews but there were only a couple of other Pre-N units by other companies to compare to. As time has progressed, the Belkin Pre-N (which used an Airgo 1st gen Pre-N chipset) has become the 'standard' with which all other range tests are compared. With my unit, I have range for hundreds of feet, not thru trees, but I can definitely walk down the street, probabably a couple hundred yards and still pick it up at the neighborhood pool. While it shows a connection of 54Mbs, it really only acheives thruput of around 17Mbs, which is just the nature of wireless, you never REALLY get what Windows or the router itself reports or is rated at, it's always something less, sometimes significantly less.

I recently switched out for Draft N to get more thruput and I'm happy w/ my decision. I still get most of the range I got w/ my Belkin but not quite. That being said, I get way more thruput, with an N client now. I'm running a D-Link DIR-625 w/ Intel 4965agn cards in my laptops. Within 25 feet of my router (walls and floors in between), I connect at 100+ Mbs according to windows and I test out at around 40Mbs average. Beyond 25 feet, I start to drop down, but never below the 17Mbs I got w/ my Belkin. I have not tried to go down the street w/ the Draft N gear, but that was more an academic test w/ the Belkin. I really never used that capability and distance.

So, I guess my point would be, couldn't hurt to try the N stuff, there are some cheap options like the D-Link DIR-615 ($50 right now in some places) and the D-Link DIR-625 ($80 right now in some places).

Reviews of N gear are all over the map though and most reviews say it's no better than G-mimo. I have to disagree w/ that. Draft N might not have the range of some of the G-mimo gear, but thruput is signficantly better across multiple brands (like if your laptop/desktop card is not the same as your router). Draft N can exceed thruput more if you are using matching card/router chipsets.

My plan has and is to go cheap right now, maintain as much range while getting more thruput until the N standard is ratified and some standard gear starts to emerge.

Oh yea, your other question...getting a directional antenna and/or even considering a high gain omni-directional antenna can definitely improve reception in your case...since you want to blast it one direction thru trees. I would try some of the omni-directional first, if the stock router doesn't quite reach.

Chris

 

thanks for the info chris...

I guess I'll wait and see how my range is before I get too involved...we're not getting internet here until next tuesday. I failed to mention I have the Intel 4965agn card too...should I stick with the G-mimo or go with an N? The first post about more interference w/ G mimo kind of makes me wonder with all the other things we have in the house.

 

You could use either. As long as the router uses more than one antenna and are the removable rubber duck type with a RP-SMA connector:



You would use one of the antenna ports to route a cable to an external access point or antenna and get some great disance if needed. It will cost though.

 

I'd personally go w/ a cheap N router for the extra speed you'll get w/ your Intel AGN card and if you have range issues, replace the stock antennas w/ hi-gain upgrades. Just make sure you buy a router w/ antennas that come off (i.e. Belkin's antennas do not come off, easily).

I'm not necessarily recommending the D-Link I have, only been running it for a couple weeks now...but I'm VERY happy w/ the price and performance. The DIR-615 and DIR-625 are pretty cheap, get pretty good reviews as routers go, and have upgradeable antennas. I had a DIR-615 for $50, it had a bad capacitor or something (made a buzzing/whine noise), was gonna swap for another DIR-615 but the DIR-625 went on sale for $80 so I got it for the QoS feature and any possible better range w/ it's 'rangebooster' marketing gimmick.

Chris

 

A bridge is a hardware setting that allows 2 networks talk to each other to tie the 2 networks together as 1. Std firmware supplied by mfg does not support this. On some AP this is an option. There is after market firmware like dd-wrt that adds this feature to a router. So getting a router that can take aftermarket firmware (linux) you expand your capability. You will find when you try to go long distance the problem generally lies on the client side. Notebooks do not produce the same power as a router. But if you need amps and high gain antennas http://www.hyperlinktech.com/web/24ghz_amplifiers.php this site has them.

With my normal house setup I can go ~50' through 4 walls and still have full speed (54mbps). Provided I do not try to shoot through the refigerator or furnace, these kill a signal. So 70' should be easliy done in line of site. But Highgain antenna (5dbi+) on the router is going to be a must. Most ship with a 2dbi.