A/b/g/n

Question

hi, i know the AE will wwork using a b and g conection but is it possible to connect a a connection like off a xbox 360 wireless port or maybe upgrade it to a "n" rated system like the latest negrear routers? im imagining that apple could devise a piece of firmware (possible purchasable due to the technology involved)
the "n" side is an interest because i may update my router if it could be done, but the a side is more of a must as i urrently use a AE to ditribute a internect conetion to my current xbox and although this is great for my mac and notebook, it can slow down the origional xbox
also if a "n" system was used hd tv could be wirelessly streamed a lot faster
al

Answer 1

I will defer to Duane. I had thought 802.11a was the very original 2Mbps or 5.5Mbps wireless standard, replaced by the 11Mbps 'b' standard.
There's nothing to stop you using a 'n' router, but you won't see any advantage over 'g' unless your end device is also 'n'. Unfortunately, no firmware can make a 'g' router or device into an 'n' device. 'n' uses MIMO, multiple in multiple out, indicating the use of multiple antennae to send on multiple channels simultaneously, and receive on multiple channels simultaneously also. I still haven't seen in the standard if it can transmit on one antenna while receiving on another.
Get ready for a world of pain with 'n', I can imagine the interference with all your household devices, and all your neighbours household devices (and their 'n' routers) will be hard work.