Re: What speed is the wireless on my laptop?

[John Jones <chianime@xxxxxxxxx>]

Some folks have reported better range when using n routers even just running
in g mode.  So if range/house coverage is an issue you might want to
consider an n router.

While n units can talk back to g and b and g units can talk back to b, a is
a different spec with no cross-compatibility.  Your chipset supports both a
& g so you're covered pretty much regardless of which router you buy.  I'd
recommend a good g unit or an n unit if range is an issue or if you think
you might buy any n-capable client machines in the next year.  Most new
laptops support n.

On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 1:10 PM, Dan <dan27649@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 12:25 PM, Lukas Beeler <
> lukas.beeler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 18:00, Dan <dan27649@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > I'm using a Lenovo ThinkPad T61, which has an Intel 4965AG adapter.
> >
> > That's a 4965AGN, stripped of 802.11n functionality.
>
> Kind of figured that, but there's no clear documentation on that.  If you
> search for 4965AG on Intel's website, you get the specs for 4965AGN.
>
>  > Due to some new flakyness on my current router (affecting both wireless
> > and
> > > wired), I am shopping for a new wireless router.  Will an 'N' router
> > perform
> > > better / faster for me, given the adapter I have, than a 'G' router?
> >
> > No. But a router that is capable of 802.11a (basically, 5Ghz 802.11g)
> > will perform better, because fewer people use the 5Ghz band.
>
> O.k., this is where I got messed up.  I made the bad presumption that the
> a,
> b, g, n amendments each represented an upgrade on the data transfer rate.
>
>
> >  > How
> > > can I tell from a given wireless adapter what the maximum speed it will
> > > support, so I can know whether to just stick with 'G' and avoid wasting
> > > money on 'N' which has features I can't take advantage of?
> >
> > Look up the spec sheet.
>
> As described above, it doesn't exist.  However, what I've been able to
> glean
> so far is that I would be wasting money on an 802.11n router because 4965AG
> doesn't support it.
>
>
> > Be aware that there's a mutltitude of 802.11n classes - 802.11n is
> > available in 150 Megabit, 300 Megabit, 450 Megabit. 600 Megabit is
> > currently planned, but as far as i know, no products have hit retail
> > yet.
> >
> > 802.11n is also available in 2.4 Ghz and 5 Ghz modes. 5 Ghz has worse
> > wall penetration, but the 5 Ghz band is used by fewer devices, thus
> > often offering advanced performance.
>
> Thanks Lukas!
>
> - Dan
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