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    My new vostro has AGN

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by irv_bryan, Dec 9, 2007.

  1. irv_bryan

    irv_bryan Notebook Enthusiast

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    So I got my vostro 1500 delivered and I'm looking into what router to buy and wondering if I should bother getting a router capable of the (pre) N standard. The choice is pretty confusing as this is my first trip down the wireless route, save for some work in previous employment using Apple airports. I have Virgin cable 2meg broadband and wont really be running any other wireless machines for a while.

    What would you recommend? I see netgear and linksys routers for around the £40 mark but should I bother with N or should I be looking for backwards compatability? I also suspect that the Intel card isn't compatible with MIMO routers?

    Thanks for any help.

    B
     
  2. dtwn

    dtwn C'thulhu fhtagn

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    N cards have backward compatibility with older standards.
     
  3. Soulburner

    Soulburner Notebook Evangelist

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    What you would be buying is not Pre-N, but draft-N which is pretty much final and any last tweaks to the standard can be updated to your router's firmware.

    See the following example of my D-Link DIR-655:

    Firmware 1.01
    ¤ Fixed L2TP Passthru.
    ¤ Fixed session information between 2 WLAN Clients. 10/19/2006

    Firmware 1.02
    Please note that firmware version 1.01 must be currently uploaded on your DIR-655 prior to uploading firmware version 1.02

    ¤ Passes 'Works with Vista" Logo Certification.
    ¤ Add WiFi Protected Setup. (Pin Support only)
    ¤ Improved 11n performance.
    ¤ Improved wired and wireless QoS Engine. 11/21/2006

    Firmware 1.03
    ¤ Passes "Connect with Centrino" Logo Certification program.
    ¤ Upgrade Wireless driver to 802.11n Draft 2.0 specification.
    ¤ Added Bridge Mode in Internet Settings. 5/8/2007

    Firmware 1.04
    ¤ Passes 802.1n Draft 2.0 WiFi certification.
    ¤ Enhanced wireless performance. 7/2/2007

    Firmware 1.05
    ¤ Implemented Yahoo Widget Support..
    ¤ Added Website Blocking Feature.
    ¤ Added Wireless Broadcast Schedule.
    ¤ Passes WiFi Protected Setup certification 8/9/2007

    Firmware 1.10
    ¤ Updated Firmware Query UI.
    ¤ Improved LAN performance. 10/25/2007

    I would buy an N capable router (in fact I have one already).
     
  4. irv_bryan

    irv_bryan Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks for the great info Soulburner. Mind if I ask what router you have then?
    Does anyone else have a recommendation for a good quality/price N router?

    Cheers.
    B