Help with new Macbook and wireless internet!

[hellomoto4]

Hey guys

Im about to get my new 2.0GHz Macbook, and after looking at the specs again, I see that 802.11n is listed under Wireless.

When it comes to wireless, I have no clue whats going on, but I know that when I look at my wireless settings for my current wireless base station, under "Mode" I only have a choice of "g and b", "g" and "only 108mbps".

Will my wireless router support this 802.11n thing on my new Macbook?

Please help!!

 

[vandozza]

looks like your router doesn't support wireless-n.

to be sure you could put the model number into google and see what the specifications are.

edit - and it probably won't matter, as the average internet connection in Australia isn't faster than wi-fi G anyways.
ie. you only benefit from wireless N if you are moving files around your home network, or your internet speed is above the speed of wi-fi G. (wi-fi N also has a greater range from what I understand, but for an average home, this also is unlikely to be an issue.)
i suppose what i'm suggesting is that as far as internet speed goes, you are more limited by the speed of your internet connection, rather than the speed difference between G and N, and for many home users (in Australia) this isn't an issue.

edit 2 - also wi-fi N is fully backwards compatible with wi-fi G/B, so the macbook with wi-fi N will connect to a wi-fi G/B router with no problems (in G/B mode the router runs at the speed of the slowest device on the network, if you have a B device on a G/B router, the entire network slows to run at B speeds, to support this slowest device. If you are only using G/N devices, the router will run at G speeds.)

 

[hellomoto4]

So what you're saying is that my router will still 'send' a connection to the Macbook, it just won't have "wireless-n" speeds.

As long as I have a connection, its all good!

 

[vandozza]

yes, it's backwards compatible, you can still connect without problems (i run this exact setup) but you only connect at G speeds (the fastest supported by the router.)

if you need more range, or want to move lots of files around a home network quickly, then upgrading the router to N might help. (however ALL devices have to be upgraded to N speeds/compatibility, or the router drops back speed to support the slowest device.)

 

[hellomoto4]

Ok, Thanks heaps for the help!

I've always had no clue about Wireless networking...

Thanks again.

 

[vandozza]

no problems!

if you've really got no clue, at least make sure you are using WPA2-PSK security, will stop people from "borrowing" your internet connection. (don't not have a password, or use WEP, or use the default router password!)

 

[hellomoto4]

Ok well I have a little bit of an idea of what I'm doing because I managed to get that set up