Wireless N routers WTF?

malcolm · Jan 2010

I got a wireless n router yesterday hoping it would have better wireless speed. Dlink 150n, first off I install the thing and it comes preset to wireless g mode which seems like a scam since this is supposed to be wireless n. So I log in to the router and switch the mode to wireless n and can see the router in win xp wireless networks list but when I try to connect to it it just says acquiring network address for about 60 seconds and then does nothing. I'm going to return this piece today but I'm wondering does this wireless n shit even work? I have win xp sp3 so I'm wondering do I need to install some secret driver or something. Totally lame.

SpeCter · Jan 2010

Do you have a Wireless Card with n-Mode?

Whargoul · Jan 2010

Get the dlink dir-615 instead - it's $40 I think. The 150 isn't a full speed proper N roputer I think, so saving $10 isn't worth it. I just got the other one and it ran perfectly. Used the wizard and it set it all up correctly - I just went in afterwords to tune a couple things (pre-set IPs for each machine linking to it, port forwarding for xbox live, bit torrent and a couple other things). Works great!

Now the only thing is I have the damn wireless network adapter for the xbox, and it's only G. I'd rather get a bridge than pay for their new N adapter

ES_139 · Jan 2010

i gave up completely on wireless after my experience with wireless N and went with these
[ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Max-Value-Mbps-Home-Double/dp/B000TV7FJ4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1262460673&sr=8-4[/ame]
i have to say i cant recommend them enough literally plug and play.

SpeCter · Jan 2010

I had one of these too, but after a while they went hot and my connection broke down very often

00Zero · Jan 2010

ugh, i dont even want to think about the weeks of trouble i had setting up a wireless network. this was back during wireless-b. i always dreamed of something that would just be literally plug n play and no worries but thats a fucking myth.

ES_139 · Jan 2010

no myth, i literally plugged those units into my wall socket and was online with no problems.

EarthQuake · Jan 2010

We've been redoing our basement, so i took the chance to run cat5 to pretty much every room in the house! Now i'll have a little "command center" thing with hookups to every room next to the router in the new office.

Lamont · Jan 2010

I do wired, unless it's a DS or a PSP.

It should work Malcolm, just make sure the hardware supports it.

malcolm · Jan 2010

Shit so you guys are saying I need a wireless n card to connect to it. There is a very good chance I don't have that. And the guy at bestbuy did not tell me I needed that even though I specifically asked him about it. I would imagine that is the problem. I'm going back to cat5 like most people I've had nothing but disappointment with wireless connections over the years.

MoP · Jan 2010

Yep in my experience wireless is still very unstable and inconsistent even with good hardware. It depends on so many other factors (including what your walls are made out of etc.) that in general it's often much simpler, faster and more reliable to stick with wired networks.

But yeah, sounds like the salesman was a numpty, you definitely need a card and router which are capable of the same standard before it will work. Otherwise the signal will just revert to the best available compatible mode (in your case, wireless-G, since I assume your wireless card is G).

Justin Meisse · Jan 2010

I haven't upgraded to wireless N yet but my old WRT54G router has been working like a champ for years and I haven't even loaded the customized hardware on it. I've got 2 computers, a 360, Wii, Tivo and PS3 connecting to it.

Everything but the PS3 works great, after some research it seems like the PS3 just has shitty WIFI so I might buy a second WRT54G for the entertainment center and set it up as a bridge.

r4ptur3 · Jan 2010

My room mates and I are on N, and it works pretty well. We had the same issue with the PS3 ... that thing is so moody with it's wifi. Unless the PS3 is right next to the router I'd totally plug it in directly.

_Calix_ · Jan 2010

Bah, don't got me started on wireless n.

Just threw £60 on a wireless n USB adaptor, to go with my newly acquired wireless n router, thinking it'll be 10x better then my £10 wireless g PCI card that i've got at the mo, turns out it's about 10x shitter. Returning it tomorrow.

Wireless N routers WTF?

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