What is wireless N?
Wireless n routers are routers or access points which conform to one of the 802.11n standards for wireless local area networks. What this means is that routers conforming to this standard operate over a wider area than the previous wireless standards (802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g), and because of the way this new standard works the wireless routers are also faster. So you get a faster and stronger wireless signal for your wireless network.
Great!
Well, not so quick. Although, the wireless n or 802.11n standard has now been finalised, many manufacturers sold routers before it was. If you look closely you'll
see that on the box for some wireless n routers or modem routers it will actually say "draft n" or "draft 2". These were
two drafts of the standard that manufacturers seized upon and used to get wireless routers and modems with the above
advantages onto the market early.
But does it matter if you buy one of these or go for the full 802.11n wireless standard?
The good news is that if you buy all your kit from one manufacturer then all draft 1 equipment will work just fine and will be quicker and
provide a stronger wireless signal over the older 802.11g standard. Draft 2
routers and modems are safer still as draft 2 is agreed to be compatible with the final standard. So draft 2 kit should allow
you to mix and match manufacturers kits. You are safest of all with the full standard but in reality there isn't a huge difference between draft 2 and the full stndard.
To give you an idea of the differences between the standards:
| Standard | Max Speed | Distance (outdoors) |
|---|---|---|
| 802.11a | 54 Mbit/s | 120meters or 131yards |
| 802.11b | 11 Mbit/s | 140meters or 153yards |
| 802.11g | 54 Mbit/s | 140m or 153yards |
| 802.11n * | 248 Mbit/s | 250m or 273yards |
Distance is affected by the number and density of objects in the way.
Other differences you'll notice will be that wireless n routers tend to have multiple aerials (normally 3 or more) unlike the 802.11g
routers which normally had only one or two. The benefits of having a faster wireless link that can send High-definition tv
or faster internet access around your home are clear, and the increase in signal strength means that the quality of connection
will be better with fewer interruptions and greater distance available to you. With wireless n you really can work
on the laptop in the garden.
In my opinion the time is right to get a wireless n router or modem router. For our ratings of the various options available
to you why not check out our reviews of wireless n routers.
