Thinkpads Forum

I notice that wireless network card manufacturers have stopped mentioning "a" functionality. I read somewhere that Wireless-N cards with both 2.4 and 5MHz radios are backwards compatible with Wireless-a (?) Anybody know if this is true? I have a heavy investment in "a" computers as I like the speed and lack of interference (and limited range so as not to get pilfered by the neighbors!), but want to move with the times (my latest T61p purchase is N-conpatible and I would like to try this).

So, if I buy a 2.4/5MHz Wireless-N router, will it be backwards compatible with my "a" gear?

yeah most definitely. I'm using A now with my N router and N card.

Cool:

Which router and which "N" card? And what "A" card are you using with the system that works?

well the router is the WRT600N and the A cards are the Intel 3945AG and 4965AGN cards. It doesn't matter which A card as any card that's capable of the A standard will connect fine. A/B/G are completed standards there shouldn't be an major issues when connecting.

OK, so if I understand correctly, your 3945AG works fine with the WRT600N? If that's the case, sounds like I'll be getting the WRT600N!

Thanks again.

Keith, I wouldn' t be surprised if any particular card dropped ".a" support since those systems were fairly rare to start with, and are practically unheard of in the mass market these days. Why support something that 98% of your market has never heard of?

Obviously, if you're in the other two percent...<G>....

I'm definitely out on the tail of the distribution! And yes, I'm not aware of many new a/b/g routers - the only new ones with "a" support appear to be certain "n" routers.

IIRC, the FCC regulations allow the use of certain power levels *with* the use of optional antennas for some of the 802.11 classes, but *ban* external antennas for other classes.

So for a manufacturer, if you support all four classes you also run up against regulations limiting either your output power or whether the customer can add an outboard antenna to boost their effective power, making it a matter of "[censored] if you do, [censored] if you don't" when you try to support all four in one product.

IIRC it is the 802.11a which bans changing the antenna and requires the unit be sold with a fixed one instead. I know for sure this IS an issue, just don't recall which service it is an issue with.

sktn77a wrote:OK, so if I understand correctly, your 3945AG works fine with the WRT600N? If that's the case, sounds like I'll be getting the WRT600N!

Thanks again.

Yeah you understand correctly. Just remember than 5ghz doesn't penetrate walls as much as 2.4Ghz. While my place isn't so big, other homes will have problems with 5Ghz reaching the far corners of the house compared to 2.4Ghz. Even with the Intel card which isn't so "great" it gets 4-5bars all over my house and speeds are constant.

The atheros models use more power and you should get a stronger signal futher away. There are no reapeaters for 5Ghz cuz off the FCC

Any of these N Routers that are Custom Firmware Hackable?

you can use DD-WRT on the linksys ones. I don't know about the others but Linksys ones are compatible with v24 for sure.

SHoTTa35 wrote:you can use DD-WRT on the linksys ones. I don't know about the others but Linksys ones are compatible with v24 for sure.

Thanks. I did find that. Any of them able to run TOMATO?

A and N are not compatible. The WRT600N works because it is ABGN. The WRT310N, for example, won't work with A cards since it's just BGN.

As for running DD-WRT, you'll have to be check the revision number of the routers to be sure.

Tomato has no support for the N routers.