802.11n

[fancarolina]

I recently upgraded my network and added an 802.11n wireless access point. Capable of 300mb/sec. My roommate's wifes Sony Vaio connects at the full 300mb/sec and my Asus Eee 1000 connects at 135mb/sec. While I do enjoy the added range and increased throughput over my older 802.11g access point.
I began to wonder what the point of greater then 100mb/sec wireless speeds was. The access point I have only connects to my gigabit switch at 100mb/sec. So why do I need the extra speed? Are there any access points which connect to a wired network at 1000mb/sec? Or is the additional wireless speed only useful for transfers between wireless clients?

 

[Guest]

You know when breakfast cereal ads claim things like "helps you start you day right" when as often as not it's just a lazy way of grabbing a bite if you're running late -- and the contents of the packet go all over the floor and the bowl may well end up in your lap.


Well, wireless networking specs are a bit like that -- supposed speeds and range are largely the product of the marketing team's imagination.

 

[gstefanick]

I recently upgraded my network and added an 802.11n wireless access point. Capable of 300mb/sec. My roommate's wifes Sony Vaio connects at the full 300mb/sec and my Asus Eee 1000 connects at 135mb/sec. While I do enjoy the added range and increased throughput over my older 802.11g access point.
I began to wonder what the point of greater then 100mb/sec wireless speeds was. The access point I have only connects to my gigabit switch at 100mb/sec. So why do I need the extra speed? Are there any access points which connect to a wired network at 1000mb/sec? Or is the additional wireless speed only useful for transfers between wireless clients?

There is two sides to this story ...

There are some advantages to 802.11n in home use:
* If you are using internal transfers and have a gig switch. For example maybe you are pulling down or up from a ftp server or moving files from your wireless workstation to another station.
* Also since the speed is much quicker, you occupy the medium less. This allows for more traffic throughput. Remember only 1 client can talk at a time in a wireless medium.
* 802.11n has also be found to be helpful when in areas of congestion (high density of wireless networks).
* 802.11n Allows you to shape your medium in 20 or 40 mhz channels.

Enterprise wise:
Some customers have hundreds of wireless devices occupying the medium at the same time. Although, enterprise wise 802.11n is deployed on the 5 GHz side due to the channel widths (40 mMHz). It can also be deployed on the 2.4 GHz side, but with 20 MHz spacing.