Draft-N Wi-Fi Router Reviews Vary
Buying Guide for Draft-N: Faster and Stronger Wireless?
A buyer has to do a little research before investing in a Draft-N router if they want to get a good deal. Buyers should consider the following suggestions when shopping for a Draft-N (802.11n) router or other hardware.
Since Draft-N routers first appeared in 2006, many professional reviews of hardware from various manufacturers have been less than kind, citing problems with range and throughput, the very things that the new standard was supposed to improve. Other reports have been much more positive, stating significant improvements over the old earlier versions of the standard.
Draft-N Interference Problems
Just like its predecessors, 802.11n wireless networking equipment is susceptible to interference from other common household appliances. Interference from wireless phones and microwaves continue to be the 2 most problematic issues with Wi-Fi connections, however the problems are definitely less pronounced when the home is equipped with phones that operate on higher frequencies (5.8 GHz). Wi-Fi broadband routers should be kept well away from such sources of interference to maximize bandwidth and range over the network.
Draft-N Range Issues
Draft -N routers are supposed to get a lot better range than their 802.11g counterparts. There are many anecdotal reports that this is not usually the case, however there are also reports that 802.11n performs far better than expected. The bottom line on range of Wi-Fi equipment is that the environment is incredibly important to the overall range of the router. Outdoors, with no obstructions the Wi-Fi signal can travel 300 feet or more, but every wall, window, appliance, or piece of furniture between the router and the computer will diminish the overall quality and speed of the signal.
Which Draft-N Wi-Fi Router Is Best?
Despite all of the previously mentioned drawbacks, Draft-N will still likely perform better than older 802.11g or 802.11b equipment. People looking to purchase a Draft-N router should stick with well-known brands and research units that have performed better than others in the same class. The Apple Airport Extreme Router is an excellent choice whether operating Macintosh computers or PC's. Users with many computers should look at the Linksys WRT600N which allows differing Wi-Fi versions to connect at full speed even when more than one 802.11 version is being used.
As always, users should place the router away from equipment that may cause interference and always hang on to the receipt until satisfied.
