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Archived from groups: alt.internet.wireless (More info?)
Since there has been a lot of moaning about the netgear 108 router and adapters
only running at 54 lately, I thought I would mention that they posted a new
driver last week, and it works for me now at 108 link speed. Range is good
(pretty much all over a 6000 sq ft building) with decent signal strength.
Throughput is not awe-inspiring however, although almost all wireless adapter /
AP combinations I have tried have the same problem, particularly with test
code that uses FDX throughput to measure them. Drivers are horribly
inefficient, even with security disabled entirely. Streaming either in or
out does slightly better, but with simultaneous traffic in both directions,
they all seem to fall down badly.
I was able to get 66.64 mbps sustained throughput with a FDX test doing
parallel send/receives on the netgear 108 router and adapter, using a Dell
notebook. In case you're not used to the terms, that means it was sending
about 33.3 mbps and receiving the same amount in parallel, whereas it *should*
have been capable of about 194 FDX. This test was performed with "Excellent"
signal strength, while the notebook was sitting about 3 feet from the AP.
By way of comparison, any decent 100mbit copper NIC is capable of about 180mbps
FDX using the same test software. So, the 108 wireless is actually only
getting about 1/3 of what a 100mbit ethernet hard-wired NIC is capable of on
the exact same test.
Similarly, gigabit ethernet NICs (in servers with 64-bit PCI/PCI-X slots) are
typically capable of around 1800mbps in the same test, showing that the test
software is capable of getting around 90% of the rated ability, regardless of
interface type.
Nevertheless, wireless advertised speeds seem to be hopelessly "ambitious",
and this is the fastest one I've tried to date, now that the new driver
is available.
--
Randy Howard
2reply remove FOOBAR
Since there has been a lot of moaning about the netgear 108 router and adapters
only running at 54 lately, I thought I would mention that they posted a new
driver last week, and it works for me now at 108 link speed. Range is good
(pretty much all over a 6000 sq ft building) with decent signal strength.
Throughput is not awe-inspiring however, although almost all wireless adapter /
AP combinations I have tried have the same problem, particularly with test
code that uses FDX throughput to measure them. Drivers are horribly
inefficient, even with security disabled entirely. Streaming either in or
out does slightly better, but with simultaneous traffic in both directions,
they all seem to fall down badly.
I was able to get 66.64 mbps sustained throughput with a FDX test doing
parallel send/receives on the netgear 108 router and adapter, using a Dell
notebook. In case you're not used to the terms, that means it was sending
about 33.3 mbps and receiving the same amount in parallel, whereas it *should*
have been capable of about 194 FDX. This test was performed with "Excellent"
signal strength, while the notebook was sitting about 3 feet from the AP.
By way of comparison, any decent 100mbit copper NIC is capable of about 180mbps
FDX using the same test software. So, the 108 wireless is actually only
getting about 1/3 of what a 100mbit ethernet hard-wired NIC is capable of on
the exact same test.
Similarly, gigabit ethernet NICs (in servers with 64-bit PCI/PCI-X slots) are
typically capable of around 1800mbps in the same test, showing that the test
software is capable of getting around 90% of the rated ability, regardless of
interface type.
Nevertheless, wireless advertised speeds seem to be hopelessly "ambitious",
and this is the fastest one I've tried to date, now that the new driver
is available.
--
Randy Howard
2reply remove FOOBAR