802.11AC 867mbps vs 802.11 Ultimate-N 450mbps

[HardwareHandyMan]

Everyone knows that with AC you get a faster connection speed compared to N however do the practical applications of this make it a waste of money now but better in the long term, as AC routers are expensive compared to the popularity of N network routers at a cheaper price also the wide availability of these networks in public places every where from MacDonald's to Starbucks. What is better in terms of where technology is at now and will be in the next couple of years. I understand that an AC NIC is backward compatible however gives slower speeds on an N network compared to Intel's Ultimate-N NIC.

Give comments on this as I was considering either of these options for a NIC and router.

 

[DarkSable]

It's entirely up to you as to whether you would rather spend more money and get faster wireless or not. Also consider whether your devices you're using are capable of using AC, or just N.

...what does there being wifi in starbucks have anything to do with your home network, though?

 

[HardwareHandyMan]

It's entirely up to you as to whether you would rather spend more money and get faster wireless or not. Also consider whether your devices you're using are capable of using AC, or just N.

...what does there being wifi in starbucks have anything to do with your home network, though?

For everyday life you can connect to the internet via hotspots on the move and they use N networks and not AC this means with an N NIC I will be able to get faster speeds when out and about instead of fast speeds at home with AC this is for a laptop for use connecting to a wide range of APs when outside the home

 

[bill001g]

I guess you need to first define what is faster speed. You can never of course go faster than the ISP connection you buy and even most old 802.11g routers can exceed most people internet connection. The only way you can really go faster is if you are transferring data between machine inside your house. Best of course if one device is wired so it does not fight for the bandwidth.

Next big issue with 802.11ac is it only runs on the 5g band. This means is has less penetration ability in your average house. So if you compare running 802.11n on 2.4g to 802.11ac on 5g you may actually get more speed on the 802.11n just because you are getting more signal. This is almost impossible to predict because of huge difference in houses and all the competition for the 2.4g band. You neighbors signals also do not penetrate you house as well on 5g so in theory you get less interference. The other issues with 802.11ac is eventually the same problem will occur on the 5g band as on the 2.4g. Since 802.11ac uses 80mhz of bandwidth (ie 4 5g channels) and there really are only 2 usable blocks in the USA that can run 80mhz you can only have 2 people running 802.11ac without interference. In some countries you are not allowed to use the higher group of channels so there really is only 1 block. Now there are many other usable channels in the 5g band but all but the bottom 4 and the top 5 are subject to rules that require them to detect weather radar and disable themselves. Some router are too lazy to do this and do not even give you access to the channels.

On top of all this many of the 802.11ac routers on the market do not actually meet the standard that was just finalized. They do not have the beam forming feature. Not sure how useful this will be is hard to say but if it works it should give more range by using multiple antenna to increase the signal in a single direction and it can switch around for different users. These are still very expensive so I was going to wait to see if it really works before I buy.

 

[DarkSable]

For everyday life you can connect to the internet via hotspots on the move and they use N networks and not AC this means with an N NIC I will be able to get faster speeds when out and about instead of fast speeds at home with AC this is for a laptop for use connecting to a wide range of APs when outside the home

...what? You know that even if your laptop can connect with wireless AC technology, it will also have a wireless N receiver in it, right? Which means that wireless AC isn't actually slower or less connective no matter what the situation is.

Bill, I've tried the beamforming feature, and it's actually pretty useful - And as for the internet connection, you're correct about most people's internet connection capping out before even .11g becomes a cap, but then you have to factor in reliability - I find N to be significantly more useful than g, simply because it doesn't drop connections as much. (That could just be my experiences with the technologies, though.)

 

[Rob_C]

I agree with User "bill001g" in their first paragraph (ONLY).

The slowest point in your Network will determine the fastest speed. Thus, you can get faster speeds by 'cutting out' the slowest Point.

While you are out and not using your Computer you can download with your "slow" Internet Connection to your "Main Computer" (your 'Media Server', or an old retired junker). This Computer should have the newest Router (remember: all WiFi Products, Routers/Network Adapters, should come from the same Mfg.) so it will be the fastest and able to support the most simultaneous connections.

Now you can go to your Living Room, Den, Bedroom and use a Computer or Tablet with WiFi (hopefully AC, but N is OK) and get a 'full speed connection' (as fast as the Computer/Tablet can go). A few other people should also be able to (simultaneously) get the fastest possible connection too.

If your Main Computer has a new AC Router and your Computer/Tablet also has AC Networking then the connection speed between the two can be extreme, as close to the maximum rating as possible.

THAT (and future-proofing) is the reason to get AC, otherwise N is good; enough until your can afford a faster Internet Connection (300+MBPS, probably a couple of hundred a month). If you are buying 'new' you might as well get AC for a Router (and pay extra for the best) but if your getting a USB Stick then an inexpensive N version is likely enough (and same brand not mandatory, only for best speed).

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As to "bill001g" other paragraphs, there I disagree.

This is incorrect: "Next big issue with 802.11ac is it only runs on the 5g band. This means is has less penetration ability in your average house. So if you compare running 802.11n on 2.4g to 802.11ac on 5g you may actually get more speed on the 802.11n just because you are getting more signal. This is almost impossible to predict because ...".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11ac#Data_rates_and_speed


AC Networking, albeit proprietary, can run Dual-Band (thus the 'need' to use only one Mfgs. Equipment), you can squeeze out 600 Mbit/s in the 2.4 GHz Band and 2,600 Mbit/s in the 5 GHz Band (from the Router to ALL Devices, minus the IP overhead (headers)). The higher frequency does not 'penetrate' better but the technology behind it is a 'smarter mouse' that finds it's way through the cracks better -- it uses advanced Algorithms to detect interference and avoid/cancel it.

The Network Device runs a 'cooperative electronic warfare' with your Neighbours Device (assuming you do not cheat and reprogram yours) which shares the Bandwidth as best as it possible while providing the highest connection speeds possible. Read a few Reviews to see which particular Mfg. makes the fastest Unit (at this particular time) and then buy Routers/Network Adapters that are all the same Brand.

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The person also says: "They do not have the beam forming feature. Not sure how useful this will be is hard to say ...".

I have "N" Networking Cards with Beamforming, there is no reason to say AC Cards are not going to have any of that ...

It (Beamforming) is useful, once I am connected I can see minor improvements in Network speed that are maintained; that is it 'tuning in' and optimizing.

It IS Beamforming that makes WiFi great, it adds to the speed by providing a stronger Signal that is harder to block (fewer retransmissions).

You should make sure that the Device you buy does meet CURRENT Standards but proprietary extensions are the best as that is where the extra speed comes from. You can only get "CURRENT Standards and proprietary extensions" by buying NEW, and buying AC.

The more Antennas the better, do not buy if there is less that three nice big ones, (unless it's a micro sized USB Stick). You need three for Beamforming, trying to beamform with two Antennas is a joke (or a cheap unit that provides much poorer performance). With a Desktop Computer (that does not move) you can actually adjust each of those moveable Antennas and increase your connection speed slightly (unless it is already optimal) and the Router will beamform with the Desktop Adapter and learn it's position (maximizing the connection speed and cancelling interference).

In the end, if your trying to get neighbourhood bragging right for connection speed then those Tips will help, you probably don't share your Connection with enough active Users to justify buying the fastest Internet speed possible and probably don't have a Media Server that each member of the (large) Family downloads big Movies to and then each watches on a separate Device (at the same time) -- so you don't really need AC, but I recommend buying it (or the lowest cost 'N USB Stick' you can find, but not (ever) for your Main Computer).


Do not be offended by the Title, this Intel Book may help: http://www.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/pdf/next-gen-80211ac-wifi-for-dummies.pdf