Do You Need to Upgrade Your Wi-Fi to 802.11n?

If you've set-up a Wi-Fi network in your house any time in the past couple of years, you're probably vaguely familiar with the fact that there are several wireless standards. First came 802.11a and 802.11b, and then 802.11g, which is the current most widespread wireless standard. Each of these standards has promised improved security, distance, and capacity.

The latest standard headed for the default slot is 802.11n, which is purportedly ten times faster than the current 802.11g, has better security features, and lets you smoothly do multiple bandwidth-hogging tasks—VoIP calls, gaming, HD streaming—at once. Plenty of 802.11n routers—including the Belkin N1 and the D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N—are already out there, even though the standard is still being formalized. It's still a bit of an early-adopter purchase, but one worth considering if one needs a lot of power from their Wi-Fi hotspot.

Ever useful Laptop magazine just put out a handy article exploring, validating, and debunking 802.11n myths, so you can decide whether you should go out and upgrade to 802.11n now or wait until the standard gets ironed out. The piece is also a useful primer on 802.11n, covering everything from how you'll get the best performance out of 802.11n to whether or not you can really play video games and make phone calls all at once.

Ultimately, it sounds like it's worth the upgrade, as long as you make sure you've got a wireless router and a wireless card from the same company. In other words, you won't get the top 802.11n speed using your laptop's built-in Wi-Fi capability—you'll have to insert a separate wireless card into the PC card slot, just like the old days.

If you've upgraded to 802.11n, please share your experiences. 

Related links:

Hands-on Review: Belkin N1 Wi-Fi Router

802.11n Wi-Fi Inching Closer to Reality...with a Twist