Wireless router questions--

[PeterK]

Kind of a dummy at this stuff. I have multiple Apple products, a couple PCs, wireless HP printer, all running wireless N with Cox Cable as provider using their Motorola Internet modem and their fastest offered speed. Wanting to add wired connections to my new Blu-ray player, Apple Mini and soon to be purchased new AV receiver. Currently using a basic Cisco Linksys E1500 b-g-n router single band. This router has Ethernet connections but are 10/100 speed. House is 1900 sq ft on one floor. If I do streaming or movie/video downloads, it will be by hardwire from the router - not wireless - to either my Blu-ray player, Apple Mini or through the receiver. Never done this yet but will have to start as no longer have any movie rental places other than Redbox and their limited selection.

Is there an advantage to purchasing a dual band router with my setup? When does the second band (5Ghz) become useful?
Is there an advantage to getting a router with the faster Gigabit Ethernet ports? When is that useful? Is the Gigahertz port even needed?
Is there any advantage to even replacing my existing wireless router?

Thanks for helping out the old guy.  [embarassed]

 

[GPowers]

If you want a faster connection between the different device through out your house set up a Gigabit backbone. Just buy an 8 or 12 port gigabit hub/switch. Connect it too your router(use the up-link port if the Gig hub/switch has one, most newer hub/switch have auto-sensing) and then connect everything else to the gigabit hub/switch.

You can even buy a second gigabit hub/switch (make sure it is 10/100/1000 auto sensing) and place it by your TV. Then connect you TV, Blu-ray, Apple TV and Game console to this second  hub/switch and connect the second Gigabit hub/switch to the first one. This will reduce the number of Ethernet cable runs you will need to make.

 

[woodie]

For streaming content from a 3rd party like Netflix or iTunes a 10/100 router or switch should be plenty. HD video from either of these providers typically consumes around 4-8Mbit/s. Now if you have 13 people streaming HD content at the same time, you might be in trouble. The weak link with streaming is more often related to the speed provided by your internet service provider. If your paying for 10Mbit/s you’re probably only getting 8Mbit/s (not saying this is what you have, It's just an example).

Gigabit really shines when you need to transfer large files from PC to PC within your home. Backing photos or videos up to an external NAS (Network Attached Storage) drive is a great example.

As far as wireless data goes, the faster the access point the better. The new simultaneous dual band routers are a nice improvement over earlier 802.11n offerings. These allow you to get the speed and range benefits of “n” while still supporting legacy devices. However that’s the catch, you’ll only receive the speed and range benefit 802.11n offers if your devices (PC, laptop, stream-box) have an 802.11n card. I think 802.11n has a theoretical speed of up to 300Mbit/s. Real world results are typically closer to 50Mbit/s.

 

[PeterK]

Thanks for the info!
Don't see the need to do high speed PC to PC data transfers. Just me and the wife and she sure doesn't load up the network. All of my computers are N type devices. Not sure what the iPad2 is. Guess my main question was to do with streaming movies via ethernet and that would be done local to the modem and router direct to the end device. Sounds like I don't need to upgrade right now and in the future when I replace this router get a dual band which will probably come with the Gigabit ports.

 

[edanielvijay]

Just my 2 cents....I have a wired connection to my TV/Bluray/Denon AV Receiver from my Router. I am not sure if you have heard of Ethernet over powerline. You can get this device and connect it - this would convert your power cables to transmit the internet.

http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Theater-Internet-Connection-Black/dp/B002FB684E/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1344670732&sr=8-6&keywords=netgear+ethernet+over+powerline

Thanks,
Danny

 

[Sparktrician]

Gigabit really shines when you need to transfer large files from PC to PC within your home. Backing photos or videos up to an external NAS (Network Attached Storage) drive is a great example.

Bingo!!!  If you back up entire computers to a NAS, the difference made by GigE is huge.  For browsing or watching videos, it has no effect whatsoever.  I find GigE useful when syncing personal data on three PCs in minimal time. 

[smile]