AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Anyone know when the WNR3500 is likely to be available in the UK?

I'm after an 802.11n access point and would really like to be able to use the 5.0 GHz band, seeing as how my neighbours and I all have 2.4 GHz kit.

Does anyone know of any other 802.11n access points that can use the 5.0 GHz band?

My laptop has an Intel 4965AGN card which supports both.

ChrisB

It's the WNDR3300 that does 802.11a (5Ghz) Andy.

Just spoke to one of our Netgear contacts and he reckons April or May for them to reach the UK. They're on Netgear.com as they were launched as CES apparently. ADSL version will follow but cable target to start with as that's the bigger market in the US.

As for alternatives that do A and N, hmmm!

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Doesn't the WNR3500 do both? Broadbandbuyer.co.uk | NETGEAR WNR3500 RangeMax Wireless-N Draft 2.0 Gigabit Broadband Router

I understood that 802.11n operates in both the 2.4GHz band, which only has room for 3 or 4 non-overlapping 40MHz channels, and also in the 5.0GHz band which has poorer propagation characteristics but makes up for it with many more channels and (currently) much less interference.

Lots of current 802.11n kit only uses the 2.4 GHz band and has to fall back to performance not much better than 802.11g in the presence of other networks, simply because there isn't room for the 40MHz channel it needs to achieve the greater throughput.

ChrisB

The way I read it Andy is the WNR3500 says:

WNDR3300:

I didn't realise .11n went into 5Ghz though.

I reckon you'd have 5Ghz to yourself, I don't think I've ever seen a client on some of the a/b/g networks I've setup.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

That's weird - I think you're right about the two models, but putting the Gbit ports on the unit that doesn't have dual-band capability and not on the one that does, is just plain bonkers!

I guess neither is ever likely to achieve >100 Mbit/s in practise, but still it seems odd.

RoadrunnerV2

The final 11n spec is dual band

11n can achieve real throughput over 100Mbps, currently max is around 120Mbps on some 11n kit. Normally throughput is around 60-80 Mbps.

If your looking at 11n kit then I would suggest considering a router with gigabit connectivity. Good routers to consider as an alternative are the Linksys WRT600N, D-Link DGL-4300 & D-Link DIR-855 which all are due to be released April-May.

AndyC_772

iTrader: (2)

Thanks, I'll take a look at them. I want a Gbit switch anyway, so if I can get a router that incorporates one, so much the better.