Wireless-N connection speeds

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etern4l

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#23746 8-Jul-2008 14:22

hey guys i recently got a WUSB300n wireless N usb adaptor to connect to my n-type WAG325N gateway.

when i look up the connection details on my pc, the speed displayed stays constantly at 54Mbps and radio type is still wireless G
What i'm confused about is that isnt wireless-N up to 300Mbps? am i not connected to wireless-n radio band or does it kick in when i do something that would need high data transfer?

is there a way to see that the wireless-n is working?
i notice that everything is faster than the previous wireless G but it might just be due to the better signal reception of the wireless G signal from this adaptor.

would be great if someone can tell me how wireless N works and how to tell if my WiFi connection now is using wireless N

GingerNinja

52 posts

Master Geek

#145352 9-Jul-2008 12:46

You need to set up your modem. Find the router in your network folder and open up the webpage for it.

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
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#145358 9-Jul-2008 13:07

Sounds like the router or adaptor is still set to 11g.
Check the settings on both units. My 3com wifi router lets me specify 11b or 11g, or mixed mode. Id assume its the same with most Wifi units.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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iainw

75 posts

Master Geek

#150671 23-Jul-2008 15:25

All 802.11b/g/n access points will let you specify what mode they opperate in.

Word of caution - Mixed mode is CRAP.

If you set a network to mixed mode (lets ignore 802.11n) for now, everytime that access point sees an 802.11b device, it invokes protection, which turns a two frame process DATA - ACK, to a four frame process, RTS - CTS - DATA - ACK. All management frames travel at the lowest supported data rate, which in mixed mode is 1Mbps -> only DATA is sent at up to 54Mbps.

The 802.11b device doesn't even need to be connected to your AP, simply present, so if your neighbour has one, your network suffers. The same happens with 802.11n, except even worse, because 802.11n operating at 2.4GHz is backwards compatible to 802.11b. If you have 802.11n, but your neighbour only has 802.11g, then your network will suffer.

Moral of the story, if you only have 802.11n or 802.11g devices, then don't use mixed mode - you don't need to and your performance will suffer for it.

lapimate

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#156274 12-Aug-2008 14:00

iainw: All 802.11b/g/n access points will let you specify what mode they opperate in .... if you only have 802.11n or 802.11g devices, then don't use mixed mode ...

Unfortunately the WAG325N (mentioned by the OP), firmware V1.00.12 has only (wireless) Network Mode “Mixed” or “Disabled”. No specific “11g” or “11n” only. There is a setting for CTS Protection Mode ”Disabled” (default) or “Auto”.

Also, if the WUSB300n & WAG325N are mutually compatible for 11n, to have the potential of obtaining over 130-144Mbps, you would need to set the WAG325N's Wide Channel option as "Wide - 40MHz channel" not "Standard - 20MHz Channel". Even then, depending if/how if the WAG325N-WUSB300n combination implements the 11n draft 2.0 "Good Neighbor" policy, it still may not achieve over 130-144Mbps.