24
4
I have an 802.11n compatible adapter and router set to transmit using the N protocol (all settings on auto). I'd like to find out if I'm actually using it or if I am connecting with the a/b/g protocols.
I'm using Windows 7. Router is Cisco Linksys 1200N.
Eran
Posted 2012-01-24T21:17:42.290
Reputation: 3 201
16
If you want to see clear solid indicator, simply hover over connected wireless network. You can find Radio Type in tooltip.
In the screenshot, you can see that my Radio Type is 802.11g.
Apple II
Posted 2012-01-24T21:17:42.290
Reputation: 3 669
20
Answer from another question:
C:\Users\kuba>netsh wlan show interfaces
There is 1 interface on the system:
Name : Wireless Network Connection 2
Description : DW1520 Wireless-N WLAN Half-Mini Card
State : connected
Network type : Infrastructure
Radio type : 802.11g <-- the currently negotiated value
Authentication : WPA-Personal
Cipher : CCMP
Connection mode : Auto Connect
Channel : 11
Receive rate (Mbps) : 54
Transmit rate (Mbps) : 54
Signal : 82%
Profile : xxxx
Hosted network status : Not started
Nikita G.
Posted 2012-01-24T21:17:42.290
Reputation: 309
1This should be the accepted answer. I disabled my N adapter's N capability in the driver settings, and this command reports Radio type: G, which is correct. The label Radio type is misleading, though. Upvoted! – Jimadine – 2019-04-30T18:23:31.317
3
Go to the Network and Sharing Center and select Change Adapter Settings. Right-click your wireless adapter and click "Status". It should say somewhere there whether you're using Wireless-N, Wireless-G, etc.
Kale Muscarella
Posted 2012-01-24T21:17:42.290
Reputation: 1 080
Mine does not say anything about the radio type either. It does say 54Mb. Running "netsh wlan show interfaces" does tell me I am using 802.11a. This means the estimated speed is not a good indicator to determine connection type. – Tolga – 2016-10-05T18:42:17.303
1Unless I'm missing something, the "Status" dialog doesn't tell you what kind of wireless you are using. – Nick2253 – 2012-01-24T21:23:38.080
It doesn't say anything about that, it does say it is connected at a speed of 54Mb which makes me suspicious that it's not N. – Eran – 2012-01-24T21:25:20.687
3
On Windows 7 the status box doesn't seem to pop up but if you mouse over the connection link a box appears that says 802.11n if you are on n.
Ben Levitan
Posted 2012-01-24T21:17:42.290
Reputation: 31
1This no longer seem to work in Windows 10, hovering over the connection doesn't bring up anything. – Eran – 2015-09-30T16:15:10.920
The "radio type" is not a clear indicator of the current connection -- it just tells you what hardware you have. – BrainSlugs83 – 2017-08-02T19:46:04.703
In windows 10, click on connection properties, the band in use is displayed there. – Adrian Hum – 2018-12-05T04:11:01.160
I guess I was hoping for a clearer indicator. As I said in a comment to the other answer, it was the 54Mb that got me suspicious. Thanks for the answer. – Eran – 2012-01-25T10:36:42.060
4802.11n can connect at lower speeds than 150mbps. 150 is a common maximum, but often conditions force a lesser speed. – Joel Coehoorn – 2012-07-01T00:04:41.797
2This Answer is wrong. You can't tell for sure from the rates, and you got the rate threshold wrong anyway. 802.11g (and 802.11a) maxes out at 54mbps, so anything higher than that is a sign you're on something post-802.11g (could be proprietary things like bonded super-G 108mbps, or Airgo MIMO-G if you gear supports that), but not necessarily N. Also, there are many N-specific rates that are lower than A/G's max 54mbps. – Spiff – 2012-07-01T00:48:47.377
@Spiff See the update.. – Apple II – 2012-08-07T18:22:47.930
1@SachinShekhar That update is a great answer all by itself. If you edit again to remove everything that came before it and make that update your whole answer, I'd happily change my downvote to an upvote. But the idea of looking at rates is misguided, and your specific text about interpreting rates (right before your update section) is outright wrong on several points. – Spiff – 2012-08-07T19:17:06.970