Hey guys, I was thinking of upgrading my home network router to a RB493G with R52Hn with dual AC/SWI-MMCX Swivel antennas.

Few questions:
1) Are the antennas sufficient? I'm currently using a WRT54G and the wireless performance is degrading over time. It sits in the top shelf in a basement closet and the wireless gets shoddy even in the room next door. I just want something to work even outside in the backyard (maybe not as strong would still be ok).
2) Is the R52Hn capable of simultaneous dual networks: g+n? What about creating 2 g + 1 n? 1 guest and the rest are secure?
3) Is there something coming from Mikrotik which will be better than the above setup in the next few months? I've already got a fully saturated 8 port gigabit switch, so more ports with gigabit the better.

I'm willing to learn the networking side and just need some feedback before I throw down time and money to fix my problem. Thanks!

I am using an RB411U with R2n at home that replaced a WRT54G and found that is has much better signal. I can go anywhere in the yard. I am about to replace it with a RB493G but it is the same radio card. The R2n card may work just as good as a R52Hn - less money. Don't forget that the signal from your laptop still has to be heard in the basement. I would use the u.fl to N-connector pigtails and order the N-swivel antennas instead. That way you can substitute the swivel antennas and run coax to external antennas and improve the ability for your signal to get out of the basement which is probably your biggest problem.

Thanks for your replay bburley! I just ordered a RB493G with the R52Hn card from Baltic Networks. I am north of the border just like you. Where do you normally order your products from? I'm hoping the border services don't go nuts on me

Will look into the solution to get a better signal out of my basement after I do some testing. Are the N-swivel antenna better than the mixed 2.4/5.8 GHz antenna?

I order mine from XAGYL Communications in Ontario.

As far as I know, both types of antennas are 5dBi. You can get the N-Swivel antennas in the combo 2.4/5.8 GHz configuration as well. They are just a bit longer than the 2.4 GHz N-swivel type.

The extra cost to go with N connectors is small and allows flexibility whenever you need it. I always choose that option even if I don't really need it.