Wireless router buying suggestion needed - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

Fishbone · 2009-01-20, 07:20 PM

I am currently using an Apple Airport Express to transmit music files from my PC to my Squeezebox 3s, however, the Squeezebox in my upstairs bedroom is now constantly "rebuffering", likely due to too many wireless networks in my area. I am considering trying to use a stronger wireless router to improve the signal and see if that works. Any suggestions on a router? I understand that some automatically change channels to optimize the signal strength.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Lawrence

hugh · 2009-01-20, 08:13 PM

Dlink DIR 655 is a good one. serveral threads discussing it and a few others around here.

bdoyledimou · 2009-02-06, 09:55 PM

I just upgraded to the dlink DIR 855 and love it.. i can split my data and multimedia broadcasts across two separate wireless networks, all from one router..

cigar7 · 2009-02-06, 10:38 PM

I have been using the DIR 655 for a year, and I have no complaints. Does a great job, wired and wireless.

jcol · 2009-02-08, 03:27 PM

I've had a D-Link Dir-655 router for some time now. It works fine, however until now I've only ever had G devices on my network. Today I purchased a wireless card for my sons desktop computer. The card supports B, G and N. I installed the card and changed my router setting from G only to G and N. Computer sees the router and can now access the internet and the other computers on our home network, however I see that it has connected as a G device. The wireless config program that came with the N card even reconizes the network as a G and N but it does seem to want to connect as an N device. I'm running a WEP for security. Is there are rule about mixed devices or am I missing something else. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

cambo · 2009-02-08, 04:01 PM

For true Wireless N, you must use WPA, as WEP is being phased out.

Alan Toronto · 2009-02-08, 04:27 PM

For good reason: WEP is very insecure.

sharpnfuzzy · 2009-02-09, 08:25 AM

Your network "speed" will always drop to that of the lowest connected device. So N will drop to G if you have even 1 G device connected and B if you have even 1 B device connected.

To get an N network you need ALL N devices connected.

hugh · 2009-02-09, 08:29 AM

jcol,

I have the Dlink-655 and I use an External N adapter in the basement and I use WEP. I get N speeds.

I don't know the answer to your problem but I can assure you that you should get N speeds regardless of other wireless devices and encryption methods.

I would investigate your router, network card setup options and ensure the firmware on your devices is current.

Jeff Flowerday · 2009-02-10, 03:09 PM

DIR 655 is your best option.

Tezster · 2009-02-10, 03:42 PM

I've been looking at the same exact router to replace my el-cheapo TrendNet for both Wireless N + wired gigabit capability.

jcol · 2009-02-11, 07:02 PM

Thanks for the replies. I went ahead and changed from WEP to WAP2, it was relatively painless. I didn't play around to much with my original WEP setup but I'm sure the computer with the N card was not connection as an N device before. After changing to WAP2 and rebooting the router the router now shows that the computer is connected as an N device. It also lists a much higher data rate and better signal strength. Seems pretty fast. So I'm not sure whether it was the change from WEP to WAP2, or perhaps it was simply the reboot but I can state that I am getting N speeds from my router to this computer even though I have G devices on the network as well.

e268 · 2009-02-11, 08:02 PM

That is right, it does not go to the lower speed device in the network. Each is on its own. My G router is configured to run G & B, I get 54 mbps on my G desktop, and my N laptop, but only 11 mbps on my b laptop.

dennism3 · 2009-02-12, 02:06 AM

Some documentation suggest mixing slows down the network but not to the lowest common denominator. Right on.

sharpnfuzzy · 2009-02-12, 09:43 AM

The point is that you will not get N level throughput on a network with any lower devices. A/B/G have no clue what N is, (A has no clue about B, and B about G, etc.) yet they all need to be able to talk to the router and listen for when the channel is free to transmit.

Therefore your router will always be switching between all the different speeds slowing down your overall throughput to some mean value of all the devices that are connected and can only guarantee the throughput of the slowest connected device.

Of course this is all assuming you're not using dual band etc.

2009-01-20, 07:20 PM	#1
Fishbone Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Markham Posts: 17	Wireless Router Choice? I am currently using an Apple Airport Express to transmit music files from my PC to my Squeezebox 3s, however, the Squeezebox in my upstairs bedroom is now constantly "rebuffering", likely due to too many wireless networks in my area. I am considering trying to use a stronger wireless router to improve the signal and see if that works. Any suggestions on a router? I understand that some automatically change channels to optimize the signal strength. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Lawrence

2009-01-20, 08:13 PM	#2
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,501	Dlink DIR 655 is a good one. serveral threads discussing it and a few others around here. __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2009-02-06, 10:38 PM	#4
cigar7 Rookie Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 5	Dlink I have been using the DIR 655 for a year, and I have no complaints. Does a great job, wired and wireless.

2009-02-08, 03:27 PM	#5
jcol Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 427	Wireless N ? I've had a D-Link Dir-655 router for some time now. It works fine, however until now I've only ever had G devices on my network. Today I purchased a wireless card for my sons desktop computer. The card supports B, G and N. I installed the card and changed my router setting from G only to G and N. Computer sees the router and can now access the internet and the other computers on our home network, however I see that it has connected as a G device. The wireless config program that came with the N card even reconizes the network as a G and N but it does seem to want to connect as an N device. I'm running a WEP for security. Is there are rule about mixed devices or am I missing something else. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

2009-02-08, 04:01 PM	#6
cambo Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Whitby, Ontario Posts: 357	Wireless N For true Wireless N, you must use WPA, as WEP is being phased out.

2009-02-06, 09:55 PM	#3
bdoyledimou Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 233	I just upgraded to the dlink DIR 855 and love it.. i can split my data and multimedia broadcasts across two separate wireless networks, all from one router..

2009-02-08, 04:27 PM	#7
Alan Toronto Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto, Rogers, SA8300HD + 640GB external drive. Samsung LCD LN40A750 1080p 120Hz. Blu-Ray BD-P1500 Posts: 377	For good reason: WEP is very insecure.

2009-02-09, 08:25 AM	#8
sharpnfuzzy Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ottawa Posts: 331	Your network "speed" will always drop to that of the lowest connected device. So N will drop to G if you have even 1 G device connected and B if you have even 1 B device connected. To get an N network you need ALL N devices connected.

2009-02-09, 08:29 AM	#9
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,501	jcol, I have the Dlink-655 and I use an External N adapter in the basement and I use WEP. I get N speeds. I don't know the answer to your problem but I can assure you that you should get N speeds regardless of other wireless devices and encryption methods. I would investigate your router, network card setup options and ensure the firmware on your devices is current. __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2009-02-10, 03:09 PM	#10
Jeff Flowerday Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 168	DIR 655 is your best option. __________________ Band: Scotch on Sunday

2009-02-10, 03:42 PM	#11
Tezster Veteran Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Mississauga Posts: 1,985	I've been looking at the same exact router to replace my el-cheapo TrendNet for both Wireless N + wired gigabit capability.

2009-02-11, 07:02 PM	#12
jcol Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 427	Thanks for the replies. I went ahead and changed from WEP to WAP2, it was relatively painless. I didn't play around to much with my original WEP setup but I'm sure the computer with the N card was not connection as an N device before. After changing to WAP2 and rebooting the router the router now shows that the computer is connected as an N device. It also lists a much higher data rate and better signal strength. Seems pretty fast. So I'm not sure whether it was the change from WEP to WAP2, or perhaps it was simply the reboot but I can state that I am getting N speeds from my router to this computer even though I have G devices on the network as well.

2009-02-11, 08:02 PM	#13
e268 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Toronto, Rogers 8300HD,Sony KDE42XBR950, Posts: 1,025	That is right, it does not go to the lower speed device in the network. Each is on its own. My G router is configured to run G & B, I get 54 mbps on my G desktop, and my N laptop, but only 11 mbps on my b laptop. __________________ Yammy RXV2400 & CDC815, Celestion DL8 fr Mission 73Ci ctr Sansui rear Velodyne CHT8, Vaio TT180, i7-920@3.8Ghz

2009-02-12, 02:06 AM	#14
dennism3 Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 531	Some documentation suggest mixing slows down the network but not to the lowest common denominator. Right on.

2009-02-12, 09:43 AM	#15
sharpnfuzzy Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Ottawa Posts: 331	The point is that you will not get N level throughput on a network with any lower devices. A/B/G have no clue what N is, (A has no clue about B, and B about G, etc.) yet they all need to be able to talk to the router and listen for when the channel is free to transmit. Therefore your router will always be switching between all the different speeds slowing down your overall throughput to some mean value of all the devices that are connected and can only guarantee the throughput of the slowest connected device. Of course this is all assuming you're not using dual band etc.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode