Wireless Speeds with USB1.1 or 2.0

4275 Views 10 Replies 3 Participants Last post by johnwill, Jan 2, 2007

pearlhouse

Discussion Starter · Dec 28, 2006

I have a Athlon 64 desktop PC with a D-Link KI-624s router plugged into a Westell Modem with Verizon DSL. I have a second PC PIII with USB1.1 and a Airnet USB pen adapter plugged into a USB port on the back of the computer.
One question I guess someone could answer for me.
The computer with the modem and the router says its running at 100Mbps. The PC with the Wireless Airnet USB Pen adapter says it running at 54 Mbps. I'm also getting a message that says it could run faster if I had a USB 2.Port. Is this whats cutting the speed in half. It has 2 jacks on the MB and 2 jacks on a PCI card. I think they are all USB 1.0. Can they be upgraded or do I need to get a newer 2.0 card? This an older PIII PC with a 933Mhz.

Also If I were to hardwire the second computer to the router would this increase the speed?:4-dontkno
Thanx!

Save

Status: Not open for further replies.

1 - 11 of 11 Posts

johnwill

· #2 · Dec 29, 2006

You could add a PCI USB 2.0 card for added speed.

Ethernet cable has several benefits over wireless, less latency, more speed, and full duplex operation. When I do a speed test on my wirless connection and my wired connection, I do get significantly faster throughput on the wired connections.

Save

pearlhouse

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 29, 2006

Thnx for the reply
I guess Ill get a cable so I can try and hard wire the second computer. Im just trying to learn by posting these questions. The second computer is just an experimental setup. So if I had a USB 2.0 card would I be able to come close to the 100.0 Mbps speed Im getting on the main PC with the modem and the router? Ive been doing some reading and found that the 802.11g version may only go 54Mbps max. So thats why Im wondering if the USB 2.0 would really do anything.:4-dontkno

Save

johnwill

· #4 · Dec 29, 2006

Well, USB 1.1 has a 12mbit maximum speed, so it would be overwhelmed by 54mbit, right? :smile:

Save

Kalim

· #5 · Dec 30, 2006

Yeah, Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) is capable of 480Mbits/s and USB 1.1 is capable of a maximum 12 as pointed above by John. However, the theoretical 60Mbytes/s (480Mbits/s) will never be achieved so a practical maximum is ~40Mbytes/s for a USB 2.0 host. Thats best if the host is not being shared by another device.

In terms of wireless LAN...

802.11 - 1 or 2 Mbps transmission in the 2.4 GHz band.
802.11a - Up to 54 Mbps in the 5GHz band.
802.11b (or Wi-Fi) - 11 Mbps transmission in the 2.4 GHz band.
802.11g - Standard wireless coverage is max upto 54 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band.
RangeMax™ or Super G™ - Extended wireless coverage upto 108 Mbps in the 2.4GHz band i.e. this USB2.0 adapter
RangeMax™ NEXT Wireless N - Max. wireless coverage at upto 300 Mbps i.e. this PCI aapter

Save

pearlhouse

Discussion Starter · #6 · Dec 30, 2006

Wow

So why is my second PC (the wireless one with the USB pen adapter) telling me I have a 54Mbps connection and my main PC is hooked up at 100 Mbps.
This whole thing is very confusing. You guys are teling me one thing and the PC's are saying something else. Somethin is not right here. NOW Im really lost.:4-dontkno :4-dontkno :4-dontkno :4-dontkno

Save

johnwill

· #7 · Dec 30, 2006

Wired connections are typically 100mbit, unless you have gigabit capability. Wireless connections for an 802.11g network (the most common kind) are 54mbit maximum.

Save

pearlhouse

Discussion Starter · #8 · Dec 31, 2006

Still not clear

You say that USb 1.1 has max capability of 12mbit. As I stated earlier, My computer with the usb pen adapter is telling me Im connected at 54mbit.
So if the computer is lying than how do I really know what my connection speed is?:4-dontkno

Save

johnwill

· #9 · Jan 1, 2007

The RF section may be connected at 54mbit, but that doesn't mean there isn't a bottleneck at the USB interface. If you were connected to a USB 2.0 connection at 480 and the RF was at 54mbit, the bottleneck would be the wireless link, not the USB interface. See what I mean?

Save

pearlhouse

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 1, 2007

Ok now Im starting to get this.
Im getting a cable tomorrow so I can do a direct hardwire connection.
Can you describe to me in easy to understand terms, how you do a speed test with each for an accurate comparison.
1. with the USB pen adapter
2. with the dirrect hardwire connection.
Thanx for this help I really appreciate it.
:smile:

Save

johnwill

· #11 · Jan 2, 2007

Personally, I just go to http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ and do a test.

If you want to test internal network speeds, I normally just copy a large file and time the transfer. :smile:

Save

1 - 11 of 11 Posts

Status: Not open for further replies.

Top Contributors this Month