Can a $30 wireless router really transfer with 150Mbps?

2

I have just bought a $30 wireless router which claims a transfer rate of 150Mbps.

Can that really be true? Or is this with an assumed compression or some other marketing fine print?

Louise

Posted 2011-09-10T19:12:06.443

Reputation: 145

2Well did you test it and see if it worked at 150mbps? – Simon Sheehan – 2011-09-10T19:13:40.110

Answers

7

There's no reason it can't use the 150Mbps protocol in 802.11n. Just keep in mind that like all other current wireless technologies this speed is unswitched half-duplex. It's nowhere near as good as the same 150Mbps would be in a wired network. Also, like other wireless technologies it's susceptible to interference and airspace conditions. The 150Mbps is a theoretical max that is seldom reached (again, unlike wired networks, where published speed is often is the actual speed).

Joel Coehoorn

Posted 2011-09-10T19:12:06.443

Reputation: 26 787

Very interesting! I had no idea it was half-duplex. You mentioned the 802.11n protocol. Should I use that? Default was set to 11bgn mixed. I can choose between: 11b only 11g only 11n only 11gb mixed 11bng mixed. – Louise – 2011-09-10T19:34:24.473

1bgn mixed is okay, as long as both your router and the wireless card in your computer support n. – Joel Coehoorn – 2011-09-10T19:35:29.810

It is a Macbook I have. Does that support n? – Louise – 2011-09-10T19:39:10.783

1it depends on the macbook. but know that mac's can be finicky when talking to some of the cheaper non-apple access points/routers. – Joel Coehoorn – 2011-09-10T19:42:21.083

Asked: 2011-09-10T19:12:06.443

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Active: 2011-09-10T19:26:31.517