A device that allows personal computers or other devices in your local network to connect to the internet by establishing a communication is called a router. Every router belongs to a specific standard as established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The features and cost of a router vary with its standards.
The newest approved standard is the 802.11ac. Two of its predecessors are 802.11n and 802.11g.
N router vs G router
The main difference between the N router and the G router lies in the varying transmission speeds of data and their compatibility with older 802.11 standards. The N router can transmit data at speeds ranging from 50 Mbps to 600 Mbps whereas the G router can transmit a maximum of 54 Mbps.
The N standard is backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g thus making it more versatile. The G standard is, however, compatible only with 802.11b.
Comparison Table Between N router and G router (in Tabular Form)
| Parameter of Comparison | N router | G router |
|---|---|---|
| Technical Name | It is technically referred to as the 802.11n router or Wi-Fi 4. | It is technically referred to as the 802.11g router or Wi-Fi 3. |
| Data rate(data transmitted in one second) | Data rate ranges from 54Mbit/s too 600Mbit/s. (can transmit 54 to 600 megabits of data in one second) | It has a maximum data rate of 54 Mbit/s. (can transmit a maximum of 54 megabits in one second) |
| Backward compatibility(operating reciprocally with older versions) | Backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g devices because it can operate on either of the two radio frequencies bands. | Backward compatible with only 802.11b devices because it operates on only one radio frequency band. |
| Frequency | Both the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz frequency bands can be chosen for the operation of an N router. | It operates in the 2.4Ghz frequency band. |
| Wireless range | Maximum indoor range is over 175 feet.(more than that of the G standard) | Maximum indoor range is up to 150 feet. |
What is N router?
Technically known as 802.11n or Wi-Fi 4, the N router came as a successor to the 802.11a/b/g standards of routers. By virtue of the MIMO (multiple-input, multiple -output) technology it is able to achieve faster data rates compared to its predecessors.
As opposed to other router standards, it is able to support more bandwidth by using several wireless signals and antennas. Data rates of an N standard router can reach up to 600Mbps. Its backward compatibility with 802.11a/b/g standards makes it versatile.
Both the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz frequency bands can be chosen for the operation of an N router. They cover an indoor wireless range of over 175 feet which is owing to the fact that they can operate on two frequency bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz).
One can find different types of N routers to suit his/her needs, ranging from, high speeds, uninterrupted gaming, smooth media streaming or even just standard internet browsing.
Asus, Linksys, TP-Link, Netgear and Belkin are some of the leading manufacturers of N routers.
Few such routers are: Linksys EA4500 N900(for speed), TP-Link N450 TL-WR940N(for streaming), Netgear’s N600 WNDR3400(for home) and Belkin N600(for gaming).
N routers, being more expensive, are not the best choice for standard internet browsing and streaming. However their performance and efficiency will be worth your money.
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What is G router?
Technically referred to as 802.11g or Wi-Fi 3, G routers are a standard of routers that include the best of both 802.11a and 802.11b routers. They achieve a maximum data rate of 54 Mbit/s. and have a maximum indoor wireless range of up to 150 feet. Both the data rate and wireless range of a G router are lesser than that of the N router.
They are backward compatible with only 802.11b devices because they operate in only one radio frequency band i.e. the 2.4 GHz frequency band. If you do not require high internet speeds or if your ISP connection isn’t fast enough, a G router could be your best pick. Moreover, they are less expensive than N routers.
Some of the best G router manufacturers are TP-Link, Linksys, Asus and D-Link. A few such routers are:
- D-Link DIR-842- Despite being costlier than the usual G router they include more functionalities)
- D-Link DIR-605L- While being more affordable, it also gives you more speed than the usual G router.
- ASUS Wireless RT-N12- Another router with good speeds and decent functionalities worthy of the price.
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Main Differences Between N router and G router
- The N router has a higher bandwidth or data rate (54Mbit/s to 600Mbit/s) than that of its counterpart. This implies that it can transmit more data in one second.
- The former can operate on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands. The G router operates only in the 2.4 GHz frequency band.
- With respect to backward compatibility, the N standard can work with 802.11a/b/g devices and the G standard can only work with 802.11b devices.
- The wireless indoor range for an N router (over 175 feet) is more than that of the G router (up to 150 feet).
- The N router has a higher bandwidth and price compared to the G router because it is an upgraded version of the latter.
Conclusion
As technology continues to evolve we can learn to hold its hand and grow with it too. With each upgrade in their standard, routers become stronger in terms of bandwidth and speed.
The N router, being an upgrade to the G router, is the faster and more efficient of the two. Despite being more expensive it is worth every penny.
As the N router is compatible with devices that support previous router standards, it is more versatile too.
References
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/730751/
Last update on 2022-04-04 / Amazon Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API