802.11B vs. 802.11G

[AgaBoogaBoo]

What is the difference between the two standards? Is the main difference just speed?

I may end up selling my current wireless network and getting a new set if I can't get it to work because it is 2 or 3 years old along with the wireless cards it came with since it can fetch about $150 with the wireless cards. I'll be willing to spend about $200 total or $50 more than what the wireless network fetches me on Ebay or the FS/FT forums here. I'm a home user and we also have our whole house wired with Cat5 and so I don't need to be able to transfer files through a wireless network very fast. The o nly thing I'd like is to be able to download at good speeds off of the internet which my current one allows very well without the bottleneck becoming the our wireless setup.

Is 802.11G worth my money if we don't need to transfer large files? Are there any other advantages to having it over 802.11B?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Also, it seems as though I can get a Netgear Cable/DSL 802.11G wireless router and an 802.11G card for about $150 so then it would all come under how much my current one will fetch.

Are there any brands you reccomend because I don't mind getting an 802.11B product if speed is the only issue as long as it is a good and solid brand with a good reputation that will be the easiest to setup and maintain. One more thing, I already use a router so should I just get an access point?

 

[JackMDS]

802.11b = 11Mb/sec.
802.11g = 55Mb/sec.

Wireless Ethernet needs additional protocol over head for the transfer. In addition, it is not as stable as Wired so it needs extra processing procedures.

As a result the 11Mb/sec. of the Network chipset is translated to a much lower actual performance. Usually 4-6Mb/sec.

Few 802.11b hardware are also capable to work at 22Mb/sec. it is nice, but in real term will yield only 20% more than 11Mb/sec. systems.

The 802.11g line that is rated 55Mb/sec. yields 18-22Mb/sec.

The following collection of links might help.

Link: AnandTech - FAQ. What do I need for wireless Networking?

Link: Wireless Cable/DSL Router or Access Point - What should I get?

Link: Wireless What Should I Get?

Link: Wireless Network - Configuration Modes.

Link: Wireless Security for the Home User.

Link: Wireless Network Troubleshooting,

 

[ktwebb]

The primary difference in b and g is the modulation scheme. b uses CCK at 11 Mb, while G uses OFDM, the same modulation type that .11a uses for similar speeds. Range will be roughly the same for b and g. They would be virtually identical at like power outputs and radio receive sensitivity. If you need extra bandwidth for file transfers, in the neighborhood of 25 Mb, then 11g is the likely choice though 11a would fill the bill as well.

The .11b+ hardware, using a Texas Instrument modulation type called PBCC yields more than a 20% speed boost by the way. I am seeing around 10+ mb so about the double the speed over .11b they advertise. The bulk of the SOHO .11b gear runs at 5+Mb under perfect conditions. The technology is capable of better (high end 802.11b runs at 7 Mb or so) but I assume the relatively young PBCC hardware is capable of better as well. For sharing your broadband connection, pretty much any 802.11 solution should suit your needs.

Unless you just want to replace your existing router, you would only need an AP added to your wired infrastructure.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: ktwebb
The primary difference in b and g is the modulation scheme. b uses CCK at 11 Mb, while G uses OFDM, the same modulation type that .11a uses for similar speeds. Range will be roughly the same for b and g. They would be virtually identical at like power outputs and radio receive sensitivity. If you need extra bandwidth for file transfers, in the neighborhood of 25 Mb, then 11g is the likely choice though 11a would fill the bill as well.

The .11b+ hardware, using a Texas Instrument modulation type called PBCC yields more than a 20% speed boost by the way. I am seeing around 10+ mb so about the double the speed over .11b they advertise. The bulk of the SOHO .11b gear runs at 5+Mb under perfect conditions. The technology is capable of better (high end 802.11b runs at 7 Mb or so) but I assume the relatively young PBCC hardware is capable of better as well. For sharing your broadband connection, pretty much any 802.11 solution should suit your needs.

Unless you just want to replace your existing router, you would only need an AP added to your wired infrastructure.

How do you know what it runs at? my current Orinoco RG-1000 and the Orinoco Silver cards always connect at 11mbps

 

[ktwebb]

Jack and I are talking about actual throughput. The 11 in b and 54 in A & G are signalling rate. Your wireless devices communicate at that (given the right circumstances), then you factor in overhead (protocol and the inefficiency of CSMA/CA) and you have your real world available bandwidth.