Hi all,My Linksys WRT54G wireless router decided to quit on me. It won't power up anymore and Linksys tech support is out of ideas. I know absolutely nothing about wireless routers other than that I need another one. The one I'm using, or used to use I should say, was a wireless G, but it would appear that all of the devices I use it with accept wireless N. This includes a second desktop PC, laptop, Playstation 3, XBox 360 (with the adapter), Nintendo Wii, and my television. Any reason why I shouldn't go with a wireless N? Would I be just as good replacing what I have with the same thing - it has worked great until recently. I've concluded (perhaps incorrectly?) that I need to be looking for a router that supports 802.11g, whatever that is, but it appears that all of the wireless N routers I've researched are backwards compatible.Any help much appreciated. I'm looking for speed and reliability, but most of all for compatibility with all of the aformentioned devices.

Hi all,My Linksys WRT54G wireless router decided to quit on me. It won't power up anymore and Linksys tech support is out of ideas. I know absolutely nothing about wireless routers other than that I need another one. The one I'm using, or used to use I should say, was a wireless G, but it would appear that all of the devices I use it with accept wireless N. This includes a second desktop PC, laptop, Playstation 3, XBox 360 (with the adapter), Nintendo Wii, and my television. Any reason why I shouldn't go with a wireless N? Would I be just as good replacing what I have with the same thing - it has worked great until recently. I've concluded (perhaps incorrectly?) that I need to be looking for a router that supports 802.11g, whatever that is, but it appears that all of the wireless N routers I've researched are backwards compatible.Any help much appreciated. I'm looking for speed and reliability, but most of all for compatibility with all of the aformentioned devices.

Go with an "N" router with backward compatibility to "G" (all but the 5 GHz ones generally are).Make sure that the router supports the encryption protocols that your devices use...if there are compatibility issues, it's usually here, not in the comm protocol. Some of the newer routers don't support some of the older WEP/WPA protocols...bad news if one or more of your older devices can't use or be upgraded to use an encryption protocol compatible with the router.CheersBob ScottColonel, USAF (ret)ATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-VColorado Springs, CO

Go with an "N" router with backward compatibility to "G" (all but the 5 GHz ones generally are).Make sure that the router supports the encryption protocols that your devices use...if there are compatibility issues, it's usually here, not in the comm protocol. Some of the newer routers don't support some of the older WEP/WPA protocols...bad news if one or more of your older devices can't use or be upgraded to use an encryption protocol compatible with the router.CheersBob ScottColonel, USAF (ret)ATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-VColorado Springs, CO

Much obliged Colonel. I'm going to copy your post, write down all the specs and head out to Best Buy. Anyone recommend a specific brand? Linksys treated me good, and I seem to remember my old D-Link getting the job done. *EDIT* Went with Netgear N+, I hope their good.

I have only owned Belkin and Linksys and found the Linksys better. I have family members with DLink, and when they have problems I find the DLink manual sucks for me, but maybe that's just because I don't have enough experience with it. I don't think it makes all that much difference. Every now and then my Linksys goes stupid, I unplug and replug and all is back. What else is there?scott s..

I have only owned Belkin and Linksys and found the Linksys better. I have family members with DLink, and when they have problems I find the DLink manual sucks for me, but maybe that's just because I don't have enough experience with it. I don't think it makes all that much difference. Every now and then my Linksys goes stupid, I unplug and replug and all is back. What else is there?scott s..

There's also Netgear, which is what I got. So far it's been great. I've noticed that the wireless I'm sending to other devices in the house is notably faster than with my Linkys G. I saw the Belkin routers, but the Best Buy I went to only had the G, and I've been told to use (upgrade?) to N. No complaints thus far.

I'm not sure what app really can make use of "N" speed, though I guess if you are doing video streaming within your house it might have a benefit. At one time there was problems with cross-manufacturer compatibility of N equipment, though I guess that's probably sorted out these days. The other thing is that IIUC N requires two channels, so if you have some close neighbors with their own access points there might be channel interference if you don't have 2 clear channels. scott s..

I'm not sure what app really can make use of "N" speed, though I guess if you are doing video streaming within your house it might have a benefit. At one time there was problems with cross-manufacturer compatibility of N equipment, though I guess that's probably sorted out these days. The other thing is that IIUC N requires two channels, so if you have some close neighbors with their own access points there might be channel interference if you don't have 2 clear channels. scott s..

You hit it in the first sentence. I use Netflix through the Playstation 3 and XBox 360, and that's where moving up to an "N" has really paid off.

I had the same misfortune late last year - my trusty Linksys "gave up the ghost."I bought a D-Link DIR-628 (on sale at the time at BestBuy for, I believe, $70). I use N (XBox 360 now has an N-adapter available) but also keep "G" turned on for one Apple i Touch in the house.I've been quite happy with the D-Link box - the longest wireless distance is from my study to my boys' bedroom 75 feet and one-story away - N has brought a noticeable improvement in connection reliability and speed over my previous Linksys "G" box.Good luck with whatever you buy - they all seem to be decent these days.Cheers!

There's also Netgear, which is what I got. So far it's been great. I've noticed that the wireless I'm sending to other devices in the house is notably faster than with my Linkys G. I saw the Belkin routers, but the Best Buy I went to only had the G, and I've been told to use (upgrade?) to N. No complaints thus far.

802.11n can operate in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands. The advantage of going with the 5 GHz band is that it (at least at the moment) is far less crowded than the 2.4 GHz one. Also 802.11g maxes out at 54 Mbps. 802.11n can reach bandwidths of 300+ Mbps.The latest re-incarnation of wireless routers allow for providing wireless networks on both bands simultaneously. The advantage of this is that you can "dedicate" the slower 2.4 GHz band for day-to-day stuff, like web browsing, and then, use the higher speed 5 GHz band for streaming HD video.I currently use an Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station, but Cisco/Linksys and a number of other vendors provide similar simultaneous dual-band models as well.