Wireless 802.11 a/b/g Difference

[jongyoo]

What is the difference between the a, b and g 802.11 wireless cards? I'm guessing something along the lines of frequency but not sure. Thanks

-jong

 

[Fencer128]

Hi,

a = operates ~5GHz
b/g = operates ~2.4GHz

g = 54Mbps
b = 11Mbps
a = 54Mbps

g is backward compatible with b

"a" is incompatible with b or g

"a" is less suscpetible to most common interference (ie microwaves, some wireless phones)
"b" largest installed base today
"g" gaining ground rapidly - most popular new purchase

Hope that helps,

Andy

ps Questions like this should really be in the networking forum - not general hardware.

 

[0roo0roo]

g has better reception then b. old b products can be flaky, and tend to cost not much less really

 

[madthumbs]

I've heard that security on a is lacking and is improved over b in g. There's also Extreme G which can run at 108Mbps (faster than 100Mb ethernet).

 

[0roo0roo]

hah, well...not really faster. overhead and all that brings that 108mpbs down by over half. then if another pc uses the the wireless too... bam its split. 108mbps is also a bad neighbor, channel hog will piss off neighbors who's wifi is being disturbed

 

[madthumbs]

Even the 100Mbps is theoretical you know, and who likes their neighbors anyway? I'm having no problems with any of my other wireless stuff.

 

[Oyeve]

Your never gonna get the 100mbs wirelessly with todays current PCs and devices. I am sticking with B as it is fast enough for all my pcs and laptops right now. G is still in the theoretical stages and unless its USB2 wireless card you will be limited by the PCI bus for speed anyway. So when there is a PCIE card I may consider going above my B.

 

[JackMDS]

Link to: 802.11b Vs. 802.11g Vs. 802.11G Super. Wireless What Should I Get?

:sun:

 

[Goosemaster]

Keep in mind:
Netgear's SuperG is the fastest @ :

a theoretical 108Mbps
an actual 45Mbps

Dlink's XtremeG is also very close.



Keep in mind that they are horribly rude and are tehir 108Mbps technologies are NOT certified by the IEEE because they cause ridiculous levels of interference by coupling two wireless channels together. This means that out of the 11 cahnnels available by the FCC for home use, you will be using a technology that will "ravage " any neighboring wireless networks.


Personally, I just bought a Linksys 802.11b/g 54GS Router/Accesspoint at BestBuy for $59 after rebate. It uses Speedbooster which makes it quite snappy while still using only one wireless channel, which plays nice with neighboring networks.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Keep in mind:
Netgear's SuperG is the fastest @ :

a theoretical 108Mbps
an actual 45Mbps

Dlink's XtremeG is also very close.



Keep in mind that they are horribly rude and are tehir 108Mbps technologies are NOT certified by the IEEE because they cause ridiculous levels of interference by coupling two wireless channels together. This means that out of the 11 cahnnels available by the FCC for home use, you will be using a technology that will "ravage " any neighboring wireless networks.


Personally, I just bought a Linksys 802.11b/g 54GS Router/Accesspoint at BestBuy for $59 after rebate. It uses Speedbooster which makes it quite snappy while still using only one wireless channel, which plays nice with neighboring networks.

So I could buy one of these and rape surrounding networks? Interesting.... :evil:

 

[0roo0roo]

well thats when your neighbor buys a spread spectrum 2.4ghz phone and rapes u back frankly its a tad unethical forthat company to bring something like that out.. atleats without some big warnings.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Oyeve
Your never gonna get the 100mbs wirelessly with todays current PCs and devices. I am sticking with B as it is fast enough for all my pcs and laptops right now. G is still in the theoretical stages and unless its USB2 wireless card you will be limited by the PCI bus for speed anyway. So when there is a PCIE card I may consider going above my B.

WTF are you talking about? PCI is limited to 11Mbps? You are aware 100Mbps ethernet cards have been standard issue for PCs now for awhile now, correct? You are also aware that the standard for 802.11 G is 54Mbps, right? 802.11 G is FAR from saturating the PCI bus. Even 108Mbps 802.11 G has a ways to go to saturate the PCI bus.

FYI, the typical 32bit/33 MHz PCI bus has a bandwidth of 127MBps. 802.11 G (dual channel) 108Mbps is 13.5MBps (theoretically).

 

[vegetation]

Originally posted by: madthumbs
I've heard that security on a is lacking and is improved over b in g. There's also Extreme G which can run at 108Mbps (faster than 100Mb ethernet).

Security is poor unless you have WPA, instead of WEP. Specifically, you want AES encryption supported. Few routers will support it, but some newer top of the line models will support AES. Winxp has a free WPA patch that supports AES with any wireless card.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Oyeve
Your never gonna get the 100mbs wirelessly with todays current PCs and devices. I am sticking with B as it is fast enough for all my pcs and laptops right now. G is still in the theoretical stages and unless its USB2 wireless card you will be limited by the PCI bus for speed anyway. So when there is a PCIE card I may consider going above my B.

WTF are you talking about? PCI is limited to 11Mbps? You are aware 100Mbps ethernet cards have been standard issue for PCs now for awhile now, correct? You are also aware that the standard for 802.11 G is 54Mbps, right? 802.11 G is FAR from saturating the PCI bus. Even 108Mbps 802.11 G has a ways to go to saturate the PCI bus.

FYI, the typical 32bit/33 MHz PCI bus has a bandwidth of 127MBps. 802.11 G (dual channel) 108Mbps is 13.5MBps (theoretically).

yea poor sods mixed up megabits per sec and mega bytes.

 

[McCarthy]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
hah, well...not really faster. overhead and all that brings that 108mpbs down by over half. then if another pc uses the the wireless too... bam its split. 108mbps is also a bad neighbor, channel hog will piss off neighbors who's wifi is being disturbed

My b is a bad neighbor to my AM radio! Don't get that, but such is life.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: Oyeve
Your never gonna get the 100mbs wirelessly with todays current PCs and devices. I am sticking with B as it is fast enough for all my pcs and laptops right now. G is still in the theoretical stages and unless its USB2 wireless card you will be limited by the PCI bus for speed anyway. So when there is a PCIE card I may consider going above my B.

WTF are you talking about? PCI is limited to 11Mbps? You are aware 100Mbps ethernet cards have been standard issue for PCs now for awhile now, correct? You are also aware that the standard for 802.11 G is 54Mbps, right? 802.11 G is FAR from saturating the PCI bus. Even 108Mbps 802.11 G has a ways to go to saturate the PCI bus.

FYI, the typical 32bit/33 MHz PCI bus has a bandwidth of 127MBps. 802.11 G (dual channel) 108Mbps is 13.5MBps (theoretically).

Dude, chill out. There was no need for a "WTF". Act a bit mature please.