WIFI standards - can someone help please?

[Kpnuts]

I recently bought a Belkin wireless router/modem - using the 'N' standard.

Although my PC used to be able to connect to my old G router, using a USB wifi dongle, it doesn't recognise the new 'n' wireless network. I suspect because the dongle is about 6 years old.

I went out today to buy a PCI wifi network card, and got this:

http://www.tehnoveikals.bit2u.biz/l...02_11N_ADAPTER_PCI_NMAX_EW-7727IN_EDIMAX.html

- My only issue is that it says it is WIFI, b, g and N-draft certified.

The 'draft' part worries me, is this an ok adapter to use? Or does it use some older technology that wont let me get the best speed out of my router?

Thanks, hope someone can help

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Nothing about it indicates it shouldn't work flawlessly with your N-based router.

 

[Lindley]

Most N routers can be configured to be backwards-compatible with g, and sometimes even b.

However, the network may slow down when a device using one of the older protocols joins it.

 

[Marc]

Most N routers can be configured to be backwards-compatible with g, and sometimes even b.

However, the network may slow down when a device using one of the older protocols joins it.

But the catch is the operation mode of the router. You can set them to be N only in which case it won't allow connection from G and B devices (which also means you don't get at performance hit).

If I was the OP I'd be checking that router isn't set to N only.

I thought the Draft-N situation was behind us but according to Wiki, they've only recently finally settled the 802.11n standard (After 6 years).

 

[Mr. B]

You're draft hardware should work fine, although it's not exactly a 100% guarantee. Early draft-N hardware probably won't reach final spec performance but it should "work."

 

[ThunderAeroI]

Is N even out of DRAFT yet?

 

[Brent]

It just recently came out of draft and was finalized. Most N-Draft hardware should work with the final N spec.

 

[Marc]

It just recently came out of draft and was finalized. Most N-Draft hardware should work with the final N spec.

Though I'm not sure about the very early 802.11n equipment (iirc referred to as pre-N)

I recall at one stage they started to change the draft-N standard and there were backwards compatability issues but can't remember the details

but from wiki

Major networking manufacturers have been releasing 'pre-N', 'draft n' or 'MIMO-based' products based on early specs since late 2006. These vendors anticipated the final version will not be significantly different from the draft, and in a bid to get the early mover advantage pushed ahead with many of the new technologies. Depending on the manufacturer, a firmware update should make current "Draft-N" hardware compatible with the final version.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/802.11n#Backward_compatibility