Are there disadvantages to 3x3 antenna for WiFi/Broadband?

[schester]

When choosing between Centrino Ultimate 6300 and Advanced 6200, are there any disadvantages to having 3x3 antenna for either WiFi or Broadband? or is 3x3 basically always better?

[bill bolton]

or is 3x3 basically always better?

You need a 3x3 capable router/access point (that is, it needs to be 2T3R or 3T3R) to get a benefit from it.

If you have a 3x3 router/AP, 3x3 on the laptop will indeed be always better.

Cheers,

Bill B. (typing this across a 802.11n WIFi connection with 360Mbps raw link speed - Intel 5300 card + LinkSys e4200 router)

[schester]

How do I find out if a router is 3T3R/2T3R?

Does the Netgear WNDR3700 have this? http://www.netgear.com/home/products/wi ... R3700.aspx

[bill bolton]

How do I find out if a router is 3T3R/2T3R?

Netgear, as usual, doesn't provide much real detail in their specs however the WNDR3700 is a 2T3R router

Cheers,

Bill B.

[loyukfai]

Check out smallnetbuilder.com if you want to find out more information.

3T3R routers are rare, and IIRC, their performance benefits are so-so as of writing.

Cheers.

[bill bolton]

Check out smallnetbuilder.com if you want to find out more information.

Real world user reports across the Internet vary considerably from Smallnet builder tests of recent wireless routers.

3T3R routers are rare

They are in fact readily available, so not rare in any sense.

their performance benefits are so-so as of writing.

Real world user reports are gnerally good, as noted above. I have one and I am very satisfied with the significant step up in WiFi performance from a 2T3R router, when used with 3T3R devices.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[loyukfai]

Ooops... Sorry I wasn't aware of that. Could you point to me where are the real world reports are...?

I think "rare" is a relative term, maybe a better question/answer should be - How many 3T3R routers are out there?

Besides, there are many implementations, it could be misleading if you compare brand A's 2T3R model with brand B's 3T3R model. Even models from the same brand may differ vastly (one may use Atheros' and another may use Broadcom's). One has to compare the top-end 2T3R and top-end 3T3R to better tell the differences.

Cheers.