PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

PCMag UK

Buying Guide: Draft-N Wireless Routers

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS

You Can Trust Our Reviews

Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Read our editorial mission & see how we test.

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

    Buying Guide: Buying Guide: Draft-N Wireless Routers

    VIEW ALL PHOTOS IN GALLERY

    Contents

    Small companies (and consumers) seeking higher wireless speed and improved range can now go ahead and purchase 802.11n products with confidence. Larger companies might wait for wireless switches supporting 802.11n to emerge, but companies with less than 100 employees that need at most one or two routers or access points can find the right 802.11n products today.

    D-Link Xtreme N Gigabit Router (DIR-655)
    Linksys WRT150n
    Netgear WNR834B
    Apple AirPort Extreme
    VIEW ALL PHOTOS IN GALLERY
    Six months ago, the situation looked bleak, as the initial 802.11n products fell flat. But the latest batch of products supporting the newer draft—which began shipping late last year—are much better, and the enticing speed of 802.11n can't be ignored. The prices are outstanding, many new notebook computers have the option of 802.11n, and compatibility has looked good in some early testing. If you want to wait until 802.11n is ratified, you'll be waiting until 2009, but for most small businesses the undeniable benefits are worth taking advantage of now. We're going to focus on what to look for in wireless-n routers and which of the early contenders are best.

    Wireless today is mostly used in notebook computers for easy network and Internet connectivity in conference rooms, cafés, and airports, although it's slower than Fast Ethernet. But with speeds rivaling or exceeding those of Fast Ethernet wired networks, 802.11n wireless may find its way onto desktops as well, providing flexibility while saving the expense of a professional cable installation.

    Today's 802.11b/g Wi-Fi networks suffer from spotty coverage, limited range, dead spots, interference, and sluggish performance. Wireless-n promises to eliminate many of the problems that plague 802.11b and 802.11g devices. In our early testing, we found that 802.11n lives up to its claims, delivering wireless networking with enough speed, range, and reliability to handle even bandwidth-hungry business applications such as file transfers, backup, and voice over IP (VoIP) calls. — next: Speed, Speed, Speed
    VIEW ALL PHOTOS IN GALLERY