Windows 7: Need info on 802.11N wireless routers

802.11n wireless router: is this hardware supported by all windows operating systems?



I am planning to buy one for my brother, he is using windows XP. I am using Windows 7, and my brother in-law is using windows Vista. We all play WoW or Heroes of Newerth together in my bro's house. So I am wondering if this would work for all the three computers. Also my brother who has XP is using a Desktop. Does it need any Wireless adapters for it to recognize the signal from the router?

Yes, in a way.
I've owned a few routers and I have never installed any drivers for one. I also do not install the software that comes on the CD. Just make the connections, adjust the settings, and go.

The reason, I believe, that this is possible is that the system is working on established networking protocols and not on any device driver or program. I think that every Windows version since '98 has the networking protocols "built in".

All the computers that will use the router wirelessly need a wireless network adapter. Laptops (newish ones) will have them built in, but desktops will need an add on card. (At least *I* have never seen a desktop with a wireless NIC built in to the motherboard.) The wireless card will need a proper driver.

Just don't forget to go into the router's settings (you can use any Browser to do so) and change the password and encryption key so you are not entirely exposed to the outside world.

hey thanks man... I'll send u a message when I get it going...

You don't need drivers for a router because there's no direction connection to the computers. As long as the client computers all have compatible cards (which they should), then you will be fine.

deacon, what did you mean by "as long as the client computers all have compatible cards" ? which card are you referring to? Wireless adapter cards? Also, with regards to your former comment, does that mean that the wireless router would work for the three windows operating system that I mentioned above?

All three Windows OSes you mentioned work on TCP/IP networks, which is the common network type. As long as you have wireless adapters in each client system that are compatible with the router, and you have the drivers loaded for those adapters, you should be fine.

It is rare to not be compatible, but if you have older laptops that don't support newer encryption types, you could run into issues depending on how your wireless network is configured. But those issues you can worry about later.

My suggestion is to make sure the wireless adapters are installed and working properly on each system, then set up the router. Give the network a unique name (change the default password) and make sure all client systems can connect. Once they do, you can choose an encryption type and assign a password/passkey to the network. Every home router I have set up comes with steps to do all of this easily.