Do faster routers matter?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
A

alansilverman

Honorable
Mar 21, 2013
3
0
10,510
Just read this tech update about new faster wifi:
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/2013/03/20/the-new-big-bucks-but-big-boost-speed/zvHuas8NVHM7GHH4ewwfgM/story.html

But if my cable company gives me 20mps download speed (or even 50mps for fios), why would this matter if I can get 150 or 300 or 500 mps from my router to my computer? A standard 54mps G router should do fine.

OK, so an N router or this new technology might give a stronger signal further, but what they advertise is the raw speed of the router. Am I missing something here?
Thank,
Al

PS I've been in IT for almost 30 years, from mainframes to PCs
 
Solution
T
Not generally for your external connection. However, if you have a NAS plugged in via gigabit and then three wireless people on 300Mbps . . . oh wait, you still won't even max out the gigabit since the wireless will probably be more like 10MB/s each at best.

It will matter for internal traffic, and it may help improve latency slightly (but not noticeably), but if you were concerned about latency and stability you wouldn't be using wireless anyway.
Sort by date Sort by votes
T

Traciatim

Distinguished
Nov 11, 2006
2,057
0
20,460
Not generally for your external connection. However, if you have a NAS plugged in via gigabit and then three wireless people on 300Mbps . . . oh wait, you still won't even max out the gigabit since the wireless will probably be more like 10MB/s each at best.

It will matter for internal traffic, and it may help improve latency slightly (but not noticeably), but if you were concerned about latency and stability you wouldn't be using wireless anyway.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
A

alansilverman

Honorable
Mar 21, 2013
3
0
10,510
That's what I thought. But I'd like to hear from others on this. If this is true then all the advertising and focus on router speed is basically a scam. It's just a way to get people to spend more money for unusable function.
Thanks,
Al
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
techguy911

techguy911

Distinguished
Jun 8, 2007
1,075
0
19,460
What that article was getting at the new format AC can transfer files locally at gigabit speeds so if you have a media server and beam the video files to a local AC compatible device it will be much faster or transferring files from one pc to another pc on local network wireless from AC to AC files will take less time.
The only way you would see benefit from AC with your internet is if you have multiple computers accessing the internet with AC on each one while streaming video,surfing,game playing it has more bandwidth.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
T

Traciatim

Distinguished
Nov 11, 2006
2,057
0
20,460


and sports cars can go the same 75MPH as everyone else on the highway . . . but when you go on the track it's still faster than the minivan. If the device does it then why wouldn't they advertise it? If you ever move data within your own network then the speed matters.

Usually I've found your actual data throughput is about half of your rated speed on wireless. So try copying 50GB of pictures from one wireless device to another on your 54Mbps G (2-3MB/s) vs 300Mbps (15MB/s or so). 280 minutes or 60 minutes.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom