Wireless N broadband router

[jskamm]

Want to purchase a wireless N - 4 port router for my home network. Have two older desktops (using SMC EZ card 10/100) that are connected via cat5 cables and one laptop connected wirelessly. Current router is wireless G - 4port router.

Is it pointless to purchase the wireless N router if my NIC cards can't use the wireless N technology?

 

[Geoff]

Your home desktops don't have anything to do with it, however if your wireless card only supports 802.11g, then yes it's pointless. The only way it will help is if both your laptop and the router supports 802.11n.

 

[jskamm]

Thanks for the info!

 

[wildbill]

802.11g IS backwards compatible. Meaning if you got a wireless N router, it'll support wireless G, N, and B.
Only thing is, you won't achieve the highest speeds from N to G or B.

http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/WRT160N

 

[Geoff]

802.11g IS backwards compatible. Meaning if you got a wireless N router, it'll support wireless G, N, and B.
Only thing is, you won't achieve the highest speeds from N to G or B.

http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/WRT160N

However there really is no point in upgrading if he doesn't have any compatible 802.11n hardware on the computers.