# Wireless N Router and Wireless G Devices **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 4, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-n-router-and-wireless-g-devices/595173 "2011-09-04T17:07:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-n-router-and-wireless-g-devices/595173/1 "2011-09-04T17:07:33Z")
Ok, I’ve got a question for you network gurus. I’ve currently got a several devices using a wireless network, and everything is wireless G. In some areas signal strength is pretty bad however. I know upgrading to a wireless N router would be backwards compatible with the wireless G devices, but would I get the better signal strength I’m looking for that way, or would I need to update the other devices to wireless N to actually get better signal strength? ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-n-router-and-wireless-g-devices/595173/2 "2011-09-04T17:53:46Z")
> [@Santos\_L\_Halper](#): > > Ok, I’ve got a question for you network gurus. I’ve currently got a several devices using a wireless network, and everything is wireless G. In some areas signal strength is pretty bad however. I know upgrading to a wireless N router would be backwards compatible with the wireless G devices, but would I get the better signal strength I’m looking for that way, or would I need to update the other devices to wireless N to actually get better signal strength? Upgrading any of the devices (including the router) won’t increase your range. The N router will provide higher maximum throughput to other N adapters but only at very close ranges. At lower signal strength (i.e. further away) the N adapters will connect approximately as slowly as the G adapters. But the range won’t change meaningfully. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-n-router-and-wireless-g-devices/595173/3 "2011-09-04T19:10:22Z")
> [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](#): > > Upgrading any of the devices (including the router) won’t increase your range. The N router will provide higher maximum throughput to other N adapters but only at very close ranges. At lower signal strength (i.e. further away) the N adapters will connect approximately as slowly as the G adapters. But the range won’t change meaningfully. Why do you think that? According to an uncited Wikipedia entry, [802.11n could nearly double 802.11g’s indoor range](https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/802.11n#Comparison). This [forum thread](https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ZIKn25ayfBEJ:forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/931840+&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a) talks about a few more details. Having MIMO (multiple antennas) on both sides helps further. Also, if you run your n router in the 5Ghz range instead of 2.4, you might get a lot less interference (which can feel like greater range in that your signal isn’t drowned out by other neighboring hotspots). ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-n-router-and-wireless-g-devices/595173/4 "2011-09-05T04:06:58Z")
I can offer some real word experience with this punching from one end of single level house to another approx 70 feet through walls etc. . With all G devices going from Wireless Router G (Linksys 54G) to Wireless Router MIMO G (Linksys SRX-400) gave better coverage, and going from Wireless Router MIMO G to Wireless Router N (Linksys N)was better still. The higher quality, more stable connections with N generally means fewer dropouts and better throughout. The speed is of course limited to Wireless G specs by the receiving G devices but that is plenty fast for most uses. So yes, wireless G connections will be better overall with a wireless N router. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless-n-router-and-wireless-g-devices/595173/5 "2011-09-05T16:03:29Z")
Thanks, all. So which would help more, upgrading to a wireless N router or keeping the current router and getting a wireless repeater? I’m thinking going with a wireless N repeater would probably give the best coverage.