|
|
| Next: Drivers - help 65 |
| Author |
Message |
donrc
Joined: Feb 16, 2003
Posts: 946
|
 Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject: What is the difference between 802.11b,g and n |
|
|
Time to start thinking about vacation. I checked with the hotel and they have wireless internet with the unit in the office. I have a Dell laptop with Win 2000 and Ubuntu on it. I have an 802.11g adapter that connects to the USB port.
My question : If they have an 802.11N or B setup will I still be able to use my equipment? I've never had a use for wireless til now and haven't paid much attention to it. Any recommendations?
drc |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
zlim
Joined: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 2747
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Make and model of adapter?
Most units support more than one protocol. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
donrc
Joined: Feb 16, 2003
Posts: 946
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
It is an Azio AWU 354
drc |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bern
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 1487
Location: ann arbor
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 8:40 am Post subject: Re: What is the difference between 802.11b,g and n [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
|
|
| donrc wrote: |
Time to start thinking about vacation. I checked with the hotel and they have wireless internet with the unit in the office. I have a Dell laptop with Win 2000 and Ubuntu on it. I have an 802.11g adapter that connects to the USB port.
My question : If they have an 802.11N or B setup will I still be able to use my equipment? I've never had a use for wireless til now and haven't paid much attention to it. Any recommendations?
drc |
Virtually all routers support legacy protocols. So if the hotel has an "N" wireless router. Hooray!!! They are ahead of the curve. It will connect to your "G" unit without problems. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
drwho07
Joined: Nov 29, 2007
Posts: 2240
Location: Central FL, USA
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 9:10 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
|
|
Admittedly, I'm no networking expert, but just within my own experience, I find that Lan cards and USB adapters are 'downward compatible' but NOT upward compatible.
If you get a type "N" adapter, it will also receive signals from G and B routers.
Type "N" is, of course, the fastest with G next and B being the oldest and slowest.
If I had to go out and buy just ONE wireless adapter, It would be a type "N". Then it should work at the highest speed possible, wherever you go.
* I have one, that I use on my Acer ONE Netbook, and I love it.*
Good Luck and enjoy your vacation!
Doc  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
bern
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 1487
Location: ann arbor
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 10:12 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
|
|
| drwho07 wrote: |
| Admittedly, I'm no networking expert, but just within my own experience, I find that Lan cards and USB adapters are 'downward compatible' but NOT upward compatible. |
While not 100% true, most modern wireless N routers also support the older protocols. So, the chances are excellent that the G protocol adapter will work in the hotel using an N router (which is actually a N-g-b router).
That said, I must include a caveat: I have used wireless technology in hotels around the world with my laptop. I have had occasional hotels where the guy sitting next to me had no trouble getting connected, and I couldn't do it for the life of me. And the opposite has happened also. I connected without trouble in my room, and the next morning my traveling comanions said they couldn't get anything to work. So it is possible you can't connect, and the reasons stay mysterious.
I agree with Doc: If you are in the market for a new adapter, by all means get an "N". |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
zlim
Joined: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 2747
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2010 2:37 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
|
|
AZiO AWU354 IEEE 802.11b/g USB 2.0 Wireless Adapter
so your adapter will run at b and g.
As the others have stated, chances are high that the N router at your vacation spot will run at both N and G.
Older notebooks/netbooks have wireless chips that are normally b/g so in order for guests traveling with older laptops to use wireless, the vacation spot would use a router to enable g devices to connect or risk the wrath of people not traveling with the newest gear. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
goretsky
Joined: Dec 07, 2002
Posts: 9662
Location: Southern California
|
| Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 3:59 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
|
|
Hello,
As TheShadow noted, 802.11 wireless networks are, generally, speaking backwards compatible, i.e., an 802.11n device will recognize 802.11n, 802.11g and 802.11b; and an 802.11g device will recognize 802.11g and 802.11b.
Some 802.11n devices do not have 802.11b enabled by default. This could be for a number of reasons, such as 802.11b interfering with the higher speed standards or for security reasons.
The Azio AWU354 USB adapter is an 802.11g, so I think you will be okay regardless of what the hotel offers. You may wish to download the latest device drivers for it before you leave. If there is a problem connecting, you can try installing them and see if it resolves the issue.
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
donrc
Joined: Feb 16, 2003
Posts: 946
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 2:43 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
|
|
Thanks guys! As always you are the greatest! Sounds like I will be OK.
drc |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
| |
|
|
General