Pre-802.11n Goes Faster, Farther, But Why Bother?Pre-802.11n Goes Faster, Farther, But Why Bother?

Compatibility Issues

While Belkin says that the pre-N equipment is fully compatible -- and, indeed, it is Wi-Fi certified -- we found one compatibility problem in a mixed-equipment environment.

The problem we encountered occurred when the Belkin pre-N router was running at the same time as a Linksys WRT54g router. When that was the case, three adapters -- the Belkin pre-N PC Card, a D-Link PCI adapter and an Intel Centrino adapter -- could find only the Linksys router, not the Belkin Pre-N router. The two routers were set to different channels and were 40 feet apart, so interference between them should not have been a problem.

When we turned off the Linksys router, all three adapters immediately and automatically found the Belkin Pre-N router. Was the Belkin router incompatible with the Linksys router or was the Linksys router at fault?

Certainly, it is just as likely that the Linksys router was to blame since its presence caused the Belkin router to disappear. The situation was made even more imponderable by the fact that both the Linksys and Belkin routers both worked harmoniously with 802.11g routers from Netgear and Buffalo. A Belkin product manager said he'd look into the situation but never got back to us.

This situation won't be a problem in most homes and small offices, where only one router is typically in use at a time. Still, if you plan to install the pre-N equipment into a mixed-vendor environment, make sure your retailer will let you return it if it proves to be incompatible.

The Bottom Line

Belkin exacts a premium for its Pre-N equipment -- the router has a street price of about $129 and the PC Card streets for about $79. That's as much as twice the price of standard 802.11g equipment for the home and small office. So are they worth the extra money?

If your connectivity needs are simple, such as sharing a broadband connection through a small house, the pre-N equipment isn't needed. Also, if you want to add fast wireless connectivity to desktop computers, you'll have to wait until Belkin releases a PCI adapter. Belkin's current jury-rigged approach worked well in our tests, but it adds $129 to the cost..

However, the Belkin Pre-N equipment is a good choice if you are a streaming media fanatic or have other high-bandwidth needs. Similarly, it's worth considering if your house is too large to be covered by a single 802.11g router and you don't want to go through the hassle of either adding a range extender or running the cable needed for an access point.

As a result, if you have those particular needs, the Belkin Pre-N equipment is worth serious consideration.

Belkin Pre-N Router ($129 street); Belkin Pre-N PC Card ($79 street); Belkin Corporation, Click here for more information.