First, you only want a dual band router if your have a network with devices that are using both 5 gHz and 2.4 gHz bands. A operates on the 5 gHz frequency, and B/G works on the 2.4 gHz frequency. So unless you have devices that work on the A frequency, then there is no point in investing in a dual band router. Besides, most wireless N routers support dual band devices. And no, you have to have all N devices in order for your network to operate at full speed.

I would only recommend a wireless A network if your in a 2.4 gHz heavy area. I mean, an area or location which has a lot of devices that operate on the 2.4 gHz band, like wireless phones or other networks.

MIMO uses multiple radios signals to help transmit to the client, or the computer with the wireless device. I haven't seen any routers that have great MIMO capabilities. The technology will help to stabilize the signal and help eliminate dead spots, but there just aren't many routers out there with MIMO that perform consistently. So I wouldn't bother focusing on getting MIMO.

I haven't heard about that. But you have to remember....wireless N has NOT been ratified yet. Wireless N devices are basically still in the experimental stage, but companies have released Pre-N devices. So everything out there you see that has wireless N anywhere on it or in it, is Pre-N, and has not been ratified yet...and probably won't be for about two more years . Plus, you really don't want to be using any kind of encryption besides WPA because I've heard that you can hack a WEP network using XP in about 15 minutes...


In your case, I would just go with a regular G router. They say you can get 300 mbps speeds on wireless N, but really, you'll never get it to go that fast. Wireless N has a lot of capability but it is not ratified yet, so I wouldn't bother with it. I use a D-link, and it works pretty good. the DGL-4300 had better range that an old wireless N router I used to have .

Borgslayer