Wireless Reviews

Wireless Performance - Mode comparison

To make it easier to compare the performance of the N and G clients, I put together some bar charts. Figure 17 compares the Intel 5300 client running downlink with the router set to 20 MHz mode.

Figure 17: Linksys WRT120N client mode comparison - 20 MHz, downlink

As we have seen before, draft 11n beats 11g when signals are strong. But in weaker signal locations E and F, 11g does better. Even though draft 11n adapters are supposed to be smart enough to fall back to using 11g link rates, sometimes they just don't seem to make the switch.

Figure 18 compares uplink speeds in 20 MHz mode. This time, speeds are very similar for draft 11n and 11g in Location E. But once again 11g beats draft 11n in Location F.

Figure 18: Linksys WRT120N client mode comparison - 20 MHz, uplink

Results are similar when the router is set to 40 MHz mode. Check the downlink and uplink plots if you want to see.

I was curious to see if there would be a difference with an 11g adapter with the router set to 20 or 40 MHz mode. Figures 19 and 20 would seem to indicate that there is.

Figure 19: Intel 5300 client G mode - router 20 and 40 MHz modes, downlink

Figure 20: Intel 5300 client G mode - router 20 and 40 MHz modes, uplink