i need help with routers

white-e · 30-09-2009, 18:17

please help, i now have a laptop instead of a pc and want to go wireless but dont know which router to buy whats the difference between "G" and "N" and how do i know which one to get.i also want to get my ps3 online and dont know if this effects which router i should buy

---------- Post added at 17:17 ---------- Previous post was at 16:58 ----------

i know its probably a stupid question but i could really do with a point in the right direction
mainly on what wireless "G" and "N" are and if there's a right or wrong one to choose.
please if anyone could help

mikkyh · 30-09-2009, 21:29

'B', 'G' and 'N' are all wireless specifications on wireless routers (I have listed in order of their capable connection rate - 'B' being the slowest).

The 802.11n specification is the latest release and is the fastest, but wireless routers and adapters that are compatiable with the 'N' specification are generally more expensive than the ones compatiable with, for example, only the 'B' and/or 'G' specification. Now, I THINK that the PS3 is only capable of using the 'G' and 'B' connections (though not quite sure), however if you have an N router the PS3 will still be able to connect as it should have a B/G connection mode enabled as well - mine certainly does.

Nearly all wireless 'N' routers can run all three specifications, for example I have the Belkin N1 Wireless Router. The 'N' specification is the fastest of them all - with a physical connection rate of up to 300Mbps wirelessly (though actual data throughput will be lower).

Before I go on, do you have a wireless card built into your laptop ?

Aragorn · 30-09-2009, 23:10

We would also need to know whether you are on VM Cable Broadband or on an ADSL line, and what speed broadband. Not much point paying extra for a router that supports 300Mbps if you have 2Mbps ADSL!