Type of Router terminology question from a noob
 

Help!!! What is 2 stream or 3 stream router? Can someone explain what it means and why would someone need it?

I am looking to buy a new router for my house :2 tablets, 3 desktop (2 of them need wifi for internet), 1 laptop, ps3 and 3 smartphones. Computers are used to netflix, streaming asian programs, and Gaming. Obviously not everything is online all at once. Probably maximum 3 computers online at once plus the tablets and phones here and there

Should I care if it is 3stream or 5stream or just buy a standard dual band N router like DIR-655 or linksys E3000..etc

Never heard of that before.

What? :pokerface:

Edit: Ok I just Google'd it. This "stream" technology is basically a radio modulation scheme. I don't know. I'm indifferent. I'm perfectly happy with my Telus-supplied router. :\

Your devices need to support multiple streams. Your PS3 and smartphones won't support this. Your laptop may if it has a newer wireless card.

Just buy a standard router and you'll be fine. My DIR655 is still rockin it. It supports 2 streams so with my newer laptop I'm able to connect at 300mbps. If you have 4 streams you can connect at 600mbps.

and bcrdukes: The Telus router sux! :P

My Internet won't allow more than 12mb download speed anyways, I guess I will stick with dlink dir-655.

Hi speeds are for internal transfers and HD streaming, etc. But if you don't do much of that you should be fine.

I think you are referring to MIMO? (Multi In Multi Out)

In plain words, it broadcasts several wifi signals simultaneously.

WiFi speed are limited by their standards, 802.11G has a theoretical limit of 56mbps. So, they build radio system possible of transmitting and receiving several 802.11g signals in the same time: effectively multiplying the bandwidth.