Results - 2.4 GHz

I apologize if the comparison charts are hard to read—Excel doesn't produce nice looking plots without more work than I'm willing to devote. I also apologize for the data table running backward—it's an artifact of the Excel options I had to use to get the Locations to plot top to bottom. You can click on any of the plots to open a larger, easier-to-read version.

Figure 1 compares the total (up and downlink) throughput in all test locations in the 2.4 GHz band. I initially tried to sort the products in performance order. But since products tended to swap around from location to location, the sort didn't always work out.

Figure 1: Total Throughput - 2.4 GHz band

You'll note that adapters that provide the highest throughput under strong signal conditions (Locations A, C) aren't necessarily the best in the weakest signal locations (E and F). No wonder people have trouble choosing wireless adapters! Case in point is the Ralink-based Cisco-Linksys WUSB600N v2. It's among the top three fastest adapters in Locations A-C, but the worst performer in Locations E and F.

Figure 2 shows the uplink throughput in all test locations in the 2.4 GHz band. The D-Link DAP-1522 and 2553 bridges seem to do particularly well running uplink.

Figure 2: Uplink Throughput - 2.4 GHz band

Figure 3 shows the downlink throughput in all test locations in the 2.4 GHz band. In this direction, the D-Link bridges drop back and the Intel 5300, D-Link DWA-160 B1 and Linksys WUSB600N v2 take the lead when signals are strong.

Figure 3: Downlink Throughput - 2.4 GHz band