wireless network speeds

[Dale]

Hopefully one of the local network wizards can assist me with what is possibly a dumb question ....

If I setup a wireless network with a router (apple airport extreme), a couple of laptops, desktops, etc and they all have 802 "n" cards in them, then the network will presumably run at 'n' speed ... but ...

If someone with an older b or g network card comes along and logs onto the network, will the whole network slow down to match the speed of the slower machine? or will the router still talk to the n-machines at n-speed and talk to the old machine at g-speed?

Reason for asking is partly curiosity but partly because I need to buy a router and wireless printer, etc and am wodering if it's worth the extra cash to get the ones with the "n" standard if the network is only going to run at the speed of the oldest machine.

Lastly, is "n" that much better than "g" anyway?

TIA,
Dale

 

[Steve]

If someone with an older b or g network card comes along and logs onto the network, will the whole network slow down to match the speed of the slower machine?

No

or will the router still talk to the n-machines at n-speed and talk to the old machine at g-speed?

Yes

Lastly, is "n" that much better than "g" anyway?

Can't help you on that one.

 

[judge]

Lastly, is "n" that much better than "g" anyway?

As Steve has answered the rest, I'll do this bit...

Not necessarily is the answer, I have a Belkin MIMO 'G' Router and in tests it outperformed both Belkin's on 'N' or 'Draft N' as it was then and Netgears, in fact its ability to maintain a fast speed over distance is what attracted me to it.

You need to ignore the manufacturers claims and delve into some product tests as I did, in theory the 'N' stuff should have wiped the floor with the older G equipment but it didn't.

More important in your situation of multiple users, I'd get one with QoS facilities that allows you to prioritise what services get top billing through the router, you wouldn't want someone with a download habit to risk your ability say to pull in your email or other service deemed vital.

 

[cookie]

the apple AE actually has 2 selectable frequencies it can run on in n mode. one will not allow g spec stuff to run on it. er, i think.

i have one running on the default frequency with 2 n spec macs connected, 2 g PCs on ethernet + an older g spec Airport Express. runs fast enough for me, but i'm not on a 24MB connection

 

[Dale]

Many thanks gents. nice to know I'm not throwing good money down the tube.

More important in your situation of multiple users, I'd get one with QoS facilities that allows you to prioritise what services get top billing through the router, you wouldn't want someone with a download habit to risk your ability say to pull in your email or other service deemed vital.

You learn something new everyday - didn't know such a gadget existed! top advice, thanks.

regards,
Dale