Thread: Please tell me should i upgrade to wi-fi or not?

Right now i am using airtel broadband service and i am getting around 50 kps download speed and the plan is serving me 512 kbps and i am paying only rs 649 excluding taxes, now the question is that when i called the airtel helpline they told me that they will be giving me the same service if i install a wifi router and the amount they will charge for installing that router will be rs 1500 plus i will be getting the same speed and same plan. I am not sure if they are looting me by telling me to pay rs 1500 because in the website it is written that router installation charge is rs 1000 so guys suggest me what to do and will the speed be really as good as my current speed when i will get a wi-fi?

I do not know about the cost but the speed will remain same as your before plan. The speed does not depend on which modem you use and how do you connect to it. It depends on the plan you are on.

Originally Posted by gaggan4392

I do not know about the cost but the speed will remain same as your before plan. The speed does not depend on which modem you use and how do you connect to it. It depends on the plan you are on.

well what i was wondering is that right now my connection is using a cable and with a wi-fi it will be wireless so wont the speed become slower? and is it true that if i am sitting 1 metre away from the router than my speed will be faster if i sit 5 metres away from the router?

Wired broadband is better than wireless broadband anyday - especially when speed is concerned.

Originally Posted by sam9953

well what i was wondering is that right now my connection is using a cable and with a wi-fi it will be wireless so wont the speed become slower? and is it true that if i am sitting 1 metre away from the router than my speed will be faster if i sit 5 metres away from the router?

The speed will remian same till you are getting the wifi network on your computer. The only thing that will happen is your ping will increase by 1 or 2 ms. Speed will remain the same.

Originally Posted by just4kix

Wired broadband is better than wireless broadband anyday - especially when speed is concerned.

But here the plan is 512 Kbps and even if he gets lowest signal, he can able to get full speed as the lowest connection possible between the wifi router and Pc is greater than 512 Kbps (I think it is 1 Mbps).

No gaggan, as just4kix said in wireless broadband there is high chance that signal fluctuates resulting in slow speeds. Stay with wired broadband unless you are not a busy traveller.

well i am a download buff so i need very high speeds all the time so will u suggest me to put a wifi keeping this thing in mind?

Originally Posted by HACKdown

No gaggan, as just4kix said in wireless broadband there is high chance that signal fluctuates resulting in slow speeds. Stay with wired broadband unless you are not a busy traveller.

lol, It is Broadband.The speed will remain same as he is only is 512 Kbps plan. I am always in Wifi mode never connect via LAN as I am using Internet in Laptop. I never got lesser speed as before I was on 2 Mbps Plan.

Originally Posted by sam9953

well i am a download buff so i need very high speeds all the time so will u suggest me to put a wifi keeping this thing in mind?

yes my friend, If your are on Laptop use wifi instead of LAN cable as you can use it in your home anywhere............

Originally Posted by sam9953

well i am a download buff so i need very high speeds all the time so will u suggest me to put a wifi keeping this thing in mind?

Wifi never provides speed as they claim.. Your home must be located near to the tower of telephone exchange to enjoy the full speed. Also it is bit costly.
I think wired broadband is far better. You can opt for high speed wired broadband if speed is the factor for you.

Originally Posted by gaggan4392

lol, It is Broadband.The speed will remain same as he is only is 512 Kbps plan. I am always in Wifi mode never connect via LAN as I am using Internet in Laptop. I never got lesser speed as before I was on 2 Mbps Plan.


yes my friend, If your are on Laptop use wifi instead of LAN cable as you can use it in your home anywhere............

well i am not planning to buy a laptop right now. I am using at present a desktop and the reason why i am planning to put wi-fi is becuase i have a psp, mobile and a desktop on which i want to use the internet without any hastle of sitting at one place. but now i am just concerned about the speed as you all are contradicting in opinion.

Originally Posted by HACKdown

Wifi never provides speed as they claim.. Your home must be located near to the tower of telephone exchange to enjoy the full speed. Also it is bit costly.
I think wired broadband is far better. You can opt for high speed wired broadband if speed is the factor for you.

First read the difference between Wifi and wireless mobile internet. Wifi is used in Broadband. It is like tower in your Home.

So after I will suggest you to upgrade to Wifi.

Originally Posted by gaggan4392

First read the difference between Wifi and wireless mobile internet. Wifi is used in Broadband. It is like tower in your Home.

So after I will suggest you to upgrade to Wifi.

sir to me it seems that you are using wifi yourself so it is better if i ask your opinion about using wifi. so sir please tell me that while downloading how much speed do you get and does it fluctuate as stated in previous posts by other users?

@sam9953 There is no need to pay Rs1500 to airtel to get a wifi router.. your speed wont increase or decrease, all they will do is hook you up with a wifi router that you can connect to wirelessly..

Questions for you to ask yourself :

Do I really need a wireless router? Do I have a laptop that I can connect wirelessly with the router? Do I have a wifi enabled phone that I would like to connect using wifi?

How much is this facility worth for me? worth spending 1500 on this considering the fact that the only plus for you is wireless connectivity?

Now if your answers lead you to believe that you do need wireless network at your home then dont just pick up your phone and ask airtel do set it up for you... You can get a netgear router for less then Rs1000 and thats all you need.. Its fairly easy to setup.. infact there is hardly anything special about setting up a router.


Very high speed? 512kbps connection you have got is the lousiest broadband can ever get.. Most countries have a minimum of 2mbps to qualify for being termed as broadband. I myself have a 1.5mbps connection and I hate it every single day when I have to wait for large file downloads or uploads. So not you dont have very high speed broadband and it is unlikely you will get one in the immediate future.. atleast in India.

Originally Posted by sam9953

sir to me it seems that you are using wifi yourself so it is better if i ask your opinion about using wifi. so sir please tell me that while downloading how much speed do you get and does it fluctuate as stated in previous posts by other users?

Set router in the middle of your home, so that you can get signal in your home anywhere.
I am using it from the start. I always connected to wifi router at 54 Mbps even when I am 3 room away from the modem.

yes admin thats true, If he really need it then he should buy it. As he told he is getting Laptop then I have suggested him to buy that.

Thanks a lot sir for this wonderful reply to my problem now the only question which remains in my mind is that will i get the same speed as i am getting right now or not?

Originally Posted by sam9953

Thanks a lot sir for this wonderful reply to my problem now the only question which remains in my mind is that will i get the same speed as i am getting right now or not?

You will get the same speed always.................
Are you now going to buy it or not???

Originally Posted by gaggan4392

First read the difference between Wifi and wireless mobile internet. Wifi is used in Broadband. It is like tower in your Home.

Sorry gaggan, I thought he was talking about wireless airtel broadband flash drive but still in wifi I think he will not get the full speed. As it is somehow wireless only.
To Sam,
before buying router, borrow it first either from your friend or from someone else and check how much speed it will provide in your home. It mostly depends on the location of your place.

Originally Posted by gaggan4392

You will get the same speed always.................

thanks a lot sir and in another post in the forum i read that one guy said that he wanted to use wireless as well as with wire internet connection, is that possible with using just a single router?

Originally Posted by sam9953

thanks a lot sir and in another post in the forum i read that one guy said that he wanted to use wireless as well as with wire internet connection, is that possible with using just a single router?

Yes that is possible. you can connect as many as computers to use internet at the same time in PPPoE mode. The count depends on the number of Pc`s connected in wifi and in LAN mode.

Originally Posted by HACKdown

It mostly depends on the location of your place.

You are again talking a stupid thing. we are talking about Broadband not wireless mobile internet.

Originally Posted by gaggan4392

Yes that is possible. you can connect as many as computers to use internet at the same time in PPPoE mode. The count depends on the number of Pc`s connected in wifi and in LAN mode.

so does that mean that if i buy a router then i will have the option of using the internet wireslessly and if and whenever i want i can connect it using a modem to connect it using a wire to my pc?

Originally Posted by sam9953

so does that mean that if i buy a router then i will have the option of using the internet wireslessly and if and whenever i want i can connect it using a modem to connect it using a wire to my pc?

yes but upto that place where you get it`s signals.

Originally Posted by gaggan4392

yes but upto that place where you get it`s signals.

okay thanks a lot and sir do you also use a netgear router and how much does it cost?

Originally Posted by sam9953

okay thanks a lot and sir do you also use a netgear router and how much does it cost?

I am using nokia siemens residential modem Type IV which costs Rs. 1600 and on BSNL Broadband.

Originally Posted by gaggan4392

I am using nokia siemens residential modem Type IV which costs Rs. 1600 and on BSNL Broadband.

so do you have any suggestions for me about buying a good router as now most probably i am going to get one

Originally Posted by sam9953

so do you have any suggestions for me about buying a good router as now most probably i am going to get one

Buy that one which airtel are suggesting but before buying ask anyone about it`s cost for confirmation.