Wireless N router advice..

[Le Pacha]

I'm currently shopping for a wireless router in attempt to upgrade my existing connectivity. Currently I have D-Link DI-524 router connected to my DSL modem and I'm living in a 3-story house with a large backyard.

So I was considering buying a wireless N router, looking for the better range rather than the higher speed since my DSL has a maximum of 1 Mbps anyway.

Is getting an N router a smart move, or should I stick to the cheaper G routers? Is it better to get G with MIMO rather than N?

Is there Draft-N that is less advanced than N?

I'm currently looking at Linksys WRT160N vs the Netgear WNDR3300. One guy at BestBuy recommended Netgear WPN824 since I don't need the N anyway.

I'm also concerned about VoIP, I use Vonage as my primary home phone, so is any of those router known to handle VoIP better, Qos may be?

One last issue is interference, I have 3-4 cordless phones running on Dect 6.0 or other so-called network friendly bandwidth, does that mean I should be looking for any specific operating frequency on the router that I'll buy?

Thanks

[cmillar6]

I am partial to Linksys so my opinion may be biased but unless you also have N capability in your laptop/desktop you will not realize the true benefits of wireless N. My advice is to go get yourself a Linksys MIMO wireless G router. They have fantastic speed and range. Your phones are at 6 GHz so that won't interfere with 2.4 GHz wireless. Not sure about Vonage but I don't forsee a problem, Linksys seems to work with everything.

[mojo]

DECT 6.0 actually runs at 1.9 Ghz. This still will not interfere with your wifi, but I don't like to see false information spread around. Since it's at 1.9 Ghz it will also not interfere with the 5.8 Ghz version of wireless N.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dect#DECT_6.0

[Le Pacha]

Thanks for the replies. Still, does the linksys MIMO, assuming the WRT110, does it have QoS, is this feature really worth going after? Does MIMO enhance coverage rather than speed?

[glc]

I'm old school. I'd get a WRT54GL (mail order only, Newegg has it) and load it with 3rd party firmware such as DD-WRT and crank up the power. DD-WRT also has very good QoS.

[Le Pacha]

hmm, interesting, that doesn't have MIMO, no N, so does it have good range? I need that almost more than anything else..

What do you mean "crank up the power"?

[glc]

The stock transmit power is 28mw. The DD-WRT firmware allows you to increase it, threby increasing range. I'm running mine at 100mw and I can go across the street into my neighbor's house and get a good signal. It also has twin detchable antennas that can be replaced with high gain antennas to help even more.

[mojo]

If you install 3rd party firmware on it it lets you adjust the wifi power level. With a combination of boosted power and the movable antennas that it has, it has excellent range. I have this router acting as an AP located in my upstairs bedroom, and it has great signal all the way down to the basement.

[Le Pacha]

Well, seems I can't argue with this router..