So you are in the networking section of some local store and you are trying to decipher the difference between the multitude of routers and adapters. Wireless G or N? Do I need a router or an adapter? You want something that is going to work but are not sure what is right for you. Here is a little bit to help you understand in layman’s terms what you may want to purchase when looking for a fast wireless connection.
If you would like to spread out the internet connection in your house then you are going to need to purchase a router. This handy device can intelligently disperses the internet connection from your modem to your desktop, laptop and other network capable devices like an iPad or cellphone. It is the middle man between your modem (that small box with the flashing lights that was installed by a technician from your Internet Service Provider) and whatever devices that need to get online.
Over the last couple years, Wireless N (802.11n) technology has become more prevalent. People’s home and office networking demand faster wireless speeds and the G standard (802.11g) is slowly on its way out. It will be a long time before Wireless G routers are completely gone as there are so many devices that are still G capable only. An important point to note is that Wireless N routers can only take advantage of these faster speeds as long as all connected devices are Wireless N (130-160 Mbps) capable. If there is a Wireless G laptop connected to the router, all other devices will be brought down to its slower (54 Mbps) .
The benefit to 802.11n is that is operates at a band of 5GHz. This is different from 802.11g which operates at 2.4GHz. Have you ever looked at your wireless home telephone and seen 2.4GHz written on there somewhere? That is a problem as it can interfere with you home router. Home telephones, microwaves, bluetooth, car alarms, etc. generally operate at this band and interfere with each other. By operating at a band of 5GHz, 802.11n stays out of range of many other devices in the area.
Wireless N uses a technology know in the industry as MIMO. This basically means that there are many antennae inside the router giving it greater power and reception. Wireless N is far more effective the Wireless G at penetrating thicker walls.
