[Rumor]

Wasn't sure if this should go here or in the Notebook thread.

Anyhow, I just picked up a Wireless N router. My MBP is from August of 07, and I am pretty sure it is capable of using N. However, while in XP, it shows as connected at 54Mbps.

Is something wrong or am I not able to utilize N while in XP? (I use Bootcamp)

[ghporter]

The MBP Wiki shows a Mid-2007 MBP having an Airport card with N capability and enabled (unlike the Late-2006 versions which had the same card but had the N capacity disabled). You should be able to connect at N speeds with this card. However... does XP have a driver that can handle this card with the N spec? That's a really good question, and one I can't answer.

[Rumor]

Where is a reliable place to get XP drivers?

[Rumor]

Odd. My driver version is 6.0.3.94, which seems to be the latest driver.

Solution Highlights
· Second generation ultra high-performance MIMO wireless
LAN client and access point solution
· IEEE draft 802.11n wireless LAN client and AP technology
· Enhanced performance with Atheros XSPAN technology optimized
for higher throughput at long range
· Support for up to 3x3 MIMO with spatial multiplexing
· Enables bandwidth of up to 300 Mbps PHY rate/link rate,
six times the throughput of 802.11g and 802.11a
· WLAN MAC and baseband processing engine
· Three dual-band WLAN radios operate from 2.300 to 2.500 GHz
and 4.9 to 5.925 GHz
· Compliant with IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11d, 802.11e,
802.11h, 802.11i, 802.11j and draft 802.11n
· Available in commercial and industrial temperature grades
· Lead-free RoHS compliant

Supposedly, it is N ready. How can my wireless speed, and not internet speed?

[ghporter]

I don't know abut this card/driver, but the b/g card in my earlier MBP will NOT handle WPA2 under XP, though the XP driver's documentation says it will and obviously it does fine under OS X. These things are downright weird.

[akadrinda]

@Rumor

You have it already. Performance monitor and task manager I suspect will tell you all you need to know.

[64stang06]

Do you have any other machines connected to the router that don't have 802.11n capability? If so, that's the reason right there, as the router will downgrade its signal to 802.11b/g (depending on the wireless clients) so that all machines can be connected.

[Rumor]

It will not broadcast all three?

[ChrisF]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

I don't know abut this card/driver, but the b/g card in my earlier MBP will NOT handle WPA2 under XP, though the XP driver's documentation says it will and obviously it does fine under OS X. These things are downright weird.

If you're still running XP SP2, you need to download a hotfix to enable WPA2 support, or update to SP3.

[Rumor]

I am using WPA since there are two iPhones, and a 360 in the house.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by ChrisF 

If you're still running XP SP2, you need to download a hotfix to enable WPA2 support, or update to SP3.

Ahh... You'd think Microsoft would make that fairly plain in their support pages... Thanks for the heads-up.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by Rumor 

I am using WPA since there are two iPhones, and a 360 in the house.

I don't know about the 360 but the iPhone should do WPA2 just fine.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Simon 

I don't know about the 360 but the iPhone should do WPA2 just fine.

AFAIK the 360 does NOT support WPA2. But I'm still looking into that. If I can get my son's 360 running WPA2, then I can eliminate one whole wireless network and my headaches will be fewer.

[Rumor]

Network Utility has me at 130Mbps. Still stuck at 54Mbps in XP though.