Question on Apple's 802.11n enabler

[dakota]

Have an older Airport Extreme, and will be getting my new iMac any day.  While I am sure I could use Apple's new 802.11n enabler on the iMac, would it cause problems with the other computers on the network?  Right now my G5 is connected to the cable modem, my Dell is wired to the base station ( tech's idea to remove the wireless card in the Dell and hardwire it), and a 17" iMac in another room is on the same network.  None of the machines are actually networked in terms of file transfer or any type of communication - simply all working independently on the wireless. Would using this software impinge on my other CPUs?  Thanks, Leslie

[sandbox]

Simple answer: Not to worry.

802.11n really won't work on a network without mimo or an N Draft Router.
The the 802.11n card is actually a multi-band frequency card that utilizes A-N.
In the case that there is no mimo (multiple antennas) with a N Router, the card will default to /b/g @ 2.4 GHz

[FLASH1296]

Using the Airport Utility to configure Airport Extreme, Go To:  Manual Setup > Airport > Wireless  > Radio Mode  [there are numerous options here]

You want 802.11B/G compatible.

[RNKIII]

Just a slight addition to Flash's post...  

If all your machined are either 'b' or 'g' compatible machines... ONLY configure as the required one... otherwise you Airport will broadcast in both formats...slowing down the signals/transmissions by a small margine as the redundant signals are not necessary.. i.e. you only need the signals compatible with your machine(s)...

Bob K.   rnkiiii