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Back in the day, when wireless in your home was new and exotic, I often heard it said that it was a crapshoot to try and use equipment from different brands on the same network.

Is that still true? (was it ever?)

I've got a Linksys (pre-Cisco buyout) wireless router and am looking at a D-Link Wireless PCI card for my desktop, but that old voice in the back of my head is warning against it.

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Ignacio has a point that I want to elaborate:

It's only important to have equipment from the same manufacturer if you're using nonstandard network, meaning "pre-N" before the "N" standard was properly standardized, or (since you mention older gear) meaning "pre-G" before "G" was standardized.

So to your question was it ever, it's a clear yes. But is that still true: no, not anymore.

These days, if you're using B/G networks then don't worry about this. If you're using N networks then check that none of the equipment is labeled "pre-N".

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Only if it says "Pre-N" on it. 802.11n is now fully standardized.

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  • Does draft-N mean the same as pre-N @Ignacio ?
    – Sathyajith Bhat ♦
    Sep 29, 2010 at 13:32
  • @Sathya: Yes, it can be considered to mean the same thing.
    – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams
    Sep 29, 2010 at 17:43

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