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How to verify which Wireless speed I am using...
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Eriamjh
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Mar 25, 2007, 12:46 PM
 
How does one check at which wireless speed one's macbook is actually connected?

I want to verify that I am using 802.11g or b. I have an Airport Extreme Basestation, but I think my wife's PC is using 802.11b and thus slowing my connection down (for network transfers from my iMac).

Without assuming that is that case, is there a command or a utility that will tell me the connection speed? Will the basestation tell me? Will my macbook Pro tell me?

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TheBum
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Mar 25, 2007, 04:03 PM
 
If you go to your /Applications/Utilities folder, run Network Utility, and select the Airport network interface (probably en1) in the Info tab, you'll see the actual link speed. If is says "54 Mb" (or anything else above 11 Mb for that matter), you're running 'g'. A 'b' connection will show "11 Mb".
     
Eriamjh  (op)
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Mar 25, 2007, 06:01 PM
 
Network Utility? Imagine that?

I checked and I am at 54Mbps even while my wife's PC is connected at 11Mbps. Is that right? I thought it defaulted to the lower speed as soon as one machine was connected. Is that right?

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ghporter
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Mar 25, 2007, 08:41 PM
 
Nope. Only the earliest G routers and access points had to switch to the slower speed. If you wife's card is B only, then this is exactly right for current, and even not so current G routers.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
Eriamjh  (op)
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Mar 25, 2007, 09:17 PM
 
Originally Posted by ghporter View Post
Nope. Only the earliest G routers and access points had to switch to the slower speed. If you wife's card is B only, then this is exactly right for current, and even not so current G routers.
But isn't Apple advertizing that using b or g with the new airport extreme causes the n users to drop down, too?

Speed and range will be less if an 802.11a/b/g product joins the network.
Is this just a problem with n?

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ghporter
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Mar 26, 2007, 07:50 AM
 
Yes, Apple's "N" router will drop down to B/G speeds when you add a G or B device to the network. But again, this is pretty much a "first gen" N product, so they don't have the multitasking part down yet. Wait a few revisions and they will have a version that handles both schemes seamlessly, much like we had to wait a revision or two for the G devices to handle both B and G at the same time.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
   
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