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- Apr 30, 2003
- Location
- Chicago
Wireless N question? (Best Linksys Router should work fastest also with Dell wifi-N)
I've been chatting with both Dell and Linksys over this one.
Linksys claims that to fully utilize thier best router, the WRT600N, you need to use it in conjunction with thier best USB wi-fi card, the WUSB600N. They say this because it's Dual-band and claim nothing else will work. However, after speaking with Dell and looking at the specs of the wireless-N card in my XPS 1330 laptop, it seems I have a Dual-Band card as well. I think that my card should get the fastest speeds and range available and Linksys is just clueless or doesn't know...
I think that any "Dual Band" Wireless-N card should work with the Linksys "Ultra Range Plus" and get the maximum speed and range exactly the same as if you bought a Linksys brand wireless card with dual-band.
Here are the chat sessions:
Dell:
Linksys 4th chat:
Linksys 5th chat:
I've been chatting with both Dell and Linksys over this one.
Linksys claims that to fully utilize thier best router, the WRT600N, you need to use it in conjunction with thier best USB wi-fi card, the WUSB600N. They say this because it's Dual-band and claim nothing else will work. However, after speaking with Dell and looking at the specs of the wireless-N card in my XPS 1330 laptop, it seems I have a Dual-Band card as well. I think that my card should get the fastest speeds and range available and Linksys is just clueless or doesn't know...
I think that any "Dual Band" Wireless-N card should work with the Linksys "Ultra Range Plus" and get the maximum speed and range exactly the same as if you bought a Linksys brand wireless card with dual-band.
Here are the chat sessions:
Dell:
Code:
05/27/2008 06:03:58PM Session Started with Agent (Allen _138130)
05/27/2008 06:04:16PM Agent (Allen _138130): "Thank you for contacting XPS Premium Support.
My name is Allen and my rep ID number is 138130. How may I assist you today?"
Agent (Allen _138130): "Hello, Tommy."
Tommy: "Hello Allen... I have a Dell Wireless 1505 802.11n WLAN mini card in my XPS 1330..."
(Allen _138130): "Okay."
Tommy: "I want to know, will it utilize the Linksys WRT600N routers boosted range
of thier "Ultra Range Plus"?"
(Allen _138130): "I would be very glad to offer assistance regarding your issue."
(Allen _138130): "Please give me 2 to 3 minutes to pull up your account information.
In the meantime may I have your telephone number, along with the area code
to update our records?"
Tommy: "Your specs of teh card says that Dell wireless N cards utilize
the MIMO technology. (Using multiple signals in teh 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz range to extend
the range.) But Linksys says that you need to purcahse thier special card to use that feature."
Tommy: "Sure. =)"
(Allen _138130): "Thank you."
(Allen _138130): "Yes, you are correct."
(Allen _138130): "Band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz"
(Allen _138130): "Channel span for Draft N 40 MHz in both 2.4 and 5.0 GHz bands"
(Allen _138130): "The router should pick up the signal. if it is within the range."
Agent (Allen _138130): "Are you using this router?"
Tommy: "Again, Linksys says I need to purchase a WUSB600N (Wireless-N USB card)
to utilize thier fastest speeds and range. Is that true? Shouldn't the Dell wireless N card
do the exact same thing or is Linksys correct?"
(Allen _138130) sends page: "http://computershopper.com/reviews/linksys-n-ultra-range-plus-router-wrt310n"
(Allen _138130): "Yes, you are correct."
Tommy: "The router I am using works with my Dell laptop, but they said to get the best
range and speed, I need to purchase a Linksys USB wireless-N card."
Tommy: "Is that true?"
(Allen _138130): "Oh! okay."
Allen _138130): "The router should pick up the signal to the best range
which the card is supporting."
Tommy: "Linsys has different routers... thier best router is a "Dual Band" model.
Apparently not all the routers that have wireless N that arew on the market have that feature."
(Allen _138130): "Okay."
Tommy: "Because only one type of router that Lynksis has... Thier best model is
the WRT600N with 600 foot range, says it needs a wireless USB card from Linksys (WUSB600N)
to get that range, otherwise they say if you use a normal laptop built in card, it wont get"
as far??? Is that true?
(Allen _138130): "Yes, you are correct."
Tommy: "The link that you gave me is to a "Single-Band" router form Linksys.
What I am talking about is a "Dual-Band" router. Here is a link: http://computershopper.com/reviews/linksys-dual-band-wireless-n-gigabit-router-with-storage-link-wrt600n"
(Allen _138130): "http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/network/wlan/en/UG_EN/index.htm"
(Allen _138130): "Okay."
(Allen _138130): "Please look at the specifications of the card."
(Allen _138130) sends page: "http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/network/wlan/en/UG_EN/index.htm"
Tommy: "So what I guess i am asking... Is the built in Dell Wireless card a Dual Band?"
Tommy: "I'll look in the specs..."
Tommy: "The specifications you gave me do not list if the Dell card is single or dual band?"
(Allen _138130): "Card type 802.11a/b/g dual band – 802.11n draft"
(Allen _138130): "It is a dual band"
Tommy: "oh really? Cool! I will show Linksys what you said and see why they are claiming it will not work."
Tommy: "Thank you very much"
(Allen _138130): "You are welcome."
(Allen _138130): "Would there be anything else that I can help you out with today?"
Tommy: "No I am done. Thank you very much!"Linksys 4th chat:
Code:
Tommy: Hello, I have spoken with Linksys reps 3 times and have gotten 3 different answers... Please help me set things straight
Tommy: My question...
Tommy: What is the maximum range of the WRT600N?
Angeline B. (22726): Hello Tommy.
Tommy: I was told this: Harshad Desai (47750): For the WRT350N you can get upto 200 feet and for the WRT600N you can get upto 300 - 350 feet.
Harshad Desai (47750): In ideal conditions for the WRT600N it is 350 feet.
Tommy: By the technical support over the phone just 2 minutes ago, I was told that the WRT600N router only has a maximum range of 100 feet! I asked him if he was sure about that and he said he is 100% sure and the sales department was wrong??
Angeline B. (22726): I see.
Angeline B. (22726): I am sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you, Tommy.
Tommy: Its OK, I understand... Its a new product and its confusing for everyone. I just want to know who is correct? Does the WRT600N have a maximum range of 350 feet or does it have a maximum range of 100 feet?
Angeline B. (22726): Let me give you a link that will show you on what you should be getting if you are using a wireless N technology.
Angeline B. (22726): Please go to the link below.
Angeline B. (22726): http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Content_C1&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1116519870339&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=7033991160L02
Tommy: Thank you for the link... But the link does not answer the question. the link simply states that the Dual-Band Wireless N with Ultra Range Plus (Which the WRT600N is I am assuming...please confirm this) is 4 times farther then the wireless G.... It does not say how far that is, only that its 4 times farther then G.
Tommy: So my questions are still:
Tommy: 1. How far will the WRT600N transmit and receive (in feet)?
Tommy: 2. Is the WRT600N is Dual-Band Wireless N with Ultra Range Plus?
Tommy: 3. Is there a Dual-Band Wireless N with Ultra Range Plus PCI card for the computer? I was told there is one called the WMP600N but I cant find it anywhere online or even on a Google Search??
Angeline B. (22726): Since the WRT600N can get 4X range than the wireless G router. And the wireless G router can have a maximum range of 100-150 feet, that means that the WRT600N can get a maximum range of 400-600 feet.
Tommy: That is what I thought... For some reason, 2 different people at Linksys have told me that it only has a maximum range of 100 feet? (1 person was from sales, the other technical support.) At least the last person I spoke to over chat confirmed the same thing you did. For some reason, the people that I talk to over the phone don't have the same information as you?
Tommy: That asnwers question #1... How about question #2? 2. Is the WRT600N is Dual-Band Wireless N with Ultra Range Plus?
Angeline B. (22726): I am sorry about that. The persons that you have talked to may have confused the router for something else.
Tommy: No need to apologize. I understand. =)Linksys 5th chat:
Code:
Tommy: Is the WRT600N is Dual-Band Wireless N with Ultra Range Plus?
Kathrena C. (24616): Let me pull up your record so that you wont have to
repeat all you information again.
Tommy: No problem, I can type 80 words a minute
Tommy: I have a WRT600N wireless router...
Tommy: I was speaking to Angeline B. (22726)
Kathrena C. (24616): Yes. WRT600N is a Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link.
Kathrena C. (24616): Yes. You were speaking with Angeline.
Kathrena C. (24616): It is like it has a built-in Ultra Range Plus because it can
cater 300 feet indoors and 600 feet out doors.
Tommy: What is storage link? Is that the ability to connect a wireless Hard Drive?
Or do you need to have the Hard Drive connected with a CAT5 cable and it can act as a seperate storage device?
Kathrena C. (24616): It has to be wired using a CAT 5 cable.
Tommy: I see, so not all routers have that ability then?
Kathrena C. (24616): That is correct.
Tommy: I have another router, the WRT150N...does that have storage link?
Kathrena C. (24616): Only WRT350N and WRT600N has that feature.
Tommy: Gotcah thanks...OK next question
Kathrena C. (24616): No problem.
Tommy: Is there a Dual-Band Wireless N with Ultra Range Plus PCI card for the computer?
I was told there is one called the WMP600N but I cant find it anywhere online or even on a Google Search??
Kathrena C. (24616): Yes. We do have WPC600N for laptops and WMP600N for
desktop but you can buy a WUSB600N that you can connect to a laptop or a desktop.
Tommy: Where can I find that WMP600N? I don't see it on Google or any website...
A few forums mention it is coming out. Is it out yet?
Kathrena C. (24616): I'm sorry. I have verified it to my immediate superior and it have not been released yet.
Kathrena C. (24616): I'm sorry for that but we already have reviews about it.
Tommy: Does it say when it is being released?
Tommy: No need to apologize, you are doing a great job answering questions.
Kathrena C. (24616): It will be posted on Linksys web site when it will be released to the market.
Kathrena C. (24616): I'm sorry. We do not have exact date yet when that day will be.
Tommy: Gotcha, so it looks like I need to buy either the USB or teh Wireless game adapter...
Tommy: Is the Wireless USB connector (WUSB600N) have the same range and power
as the wireless game adapter (WGA600N)? I play games on my PC and I also have a Playstation III.
The Linksys sales department told me I should only buy the WUSB600N for my PC for some strange
reason and the WGA600N for my playstation III?
Tommy: Why wouldn't I want to buy the wireless game adapter (WGA600N) for my PC
as well since i play games on it?
Kathrena C. (24616): That is correct.
Kathrena C. (24616): Game adapters Tommy will be recognized by the router as for gaming
purpose so it will be prioritized while PC adapters are just for Internet connection.
Kathrena C. (24616): I'm sorry for the delay.
Tommy: But if I play games on my PC, wouldnt I want a Gaming Adapter?
Kathrena C. (24616): You can use that too. It's okay.
Tommy: I am assuming that if I play online games on my PC, that I'd want a gaming adapter so my PC had priority...
Kathrena C. (24616): You can use both adapters to a PC or a gaming console.
Kathrena C. (24616): That is correct.
Tommy: Gotcha, that is what I thought. I was told by sales department that a gaming adapter will not work!? ha ha ha
Kathrena C. (24616): It will work.
Kathrena C. (24616): The game adapter is just like a wireless bridge.
Tommy: Thanks... That pretty much answers all my questions. I will look on the linksys website
in the future for the WMP600N and teh WCP600N
Tommy: Thank you and goodnight. =)
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