Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

802.11g Slows Down

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the whoa-there-partner dept.

Moosifer writes "Computerworld reports that in order to step on fewer 802.11b toes, the IEEE has reduced the actual throughput of 802.11g in its latest (and allegedly final) draft. I think I might keep old firmware on my linksys AP and card so that I can at least pretend I have faster gear." It's been moved from 54Mbps all the way down to 10-20Mbps, more than just a slight change.

11 of 302 comments (clear)

  1. Warning for 802.11b devices by Rick.C · · Score: 3, Funny
    The 802.11g standard includes built-in protection mechanisms to ensure that the devices don't interfere with older 802.11b devices. That means the 11g systems will need to transmit an electronic warning to 11b devices that a 11g device is operating, a warning that is enough to cause a cutback in actual throughput, Li said.

    I'm thinking that a flashing red light and a Sonalert going beep-beep-beep should be sufficient.

    Hey! Where y'all goin' with my bandwidth?
    --
    You were 80% angel, 10% demon. The rest was hard to explain. - Over The Rhine
    "Math in a song is good."-Linford
    1. Re:Warning for 802.11b devices by worst_name_ever · · Score: 4, Funny
      I'm thinking that a flashing red light and a Sonalert going beep-beep-beep should be sufficient.

      "So I was downloading this file, and my WiFi card was all like "beep beep beep"... and I was all, like, huh? It devoured my bandwidth. Then I had to finish downloading the file only it was really slow and it wasn't as good. It was, like, a bummer."

      --

      In Soviet Rush, today's Tom Sawyer gets high on you.
  2. Re:Crap. by eli173 · · Score: 2, Funny

    > I work in wireless at a bug company and we're sending 802.11g gear out the door now.

    What kind of bug is that? Audio, even at a decent bit-rate wouldn't require the bandwidth. Hmm... perhaps a covert, live HDTV feed?

    Or the six-legged kind? Or the "It's a feature!" kind?

    ;P

  3. Re:Where's FP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    It's obviously the wireless slowdown that's holding back the frist psoters. With 802.11g being slowed down, they just can't get here from there in less than 12 seconds.

  4. Re:Crap. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    > I work in wireless at a bug company

    How are things at Microsoft?

  5. Re:Where's FP by Rick.C · · Score: 5, Funny
    Everyone was probably so stunned by the headline that they forgot about FP and went off to RTFA.

    This phenomenon is one of the signs of the apocalypse.

    --
    You were 80% angel, 10% demon. The rest was hard to explain. - Over The Rhine
    "Math in a song is good."-Linford
  6. over clock 'em by scrotch · · Score: 3, Funny

    I can't wait til there's an over-clocking culture for G cards.

    31337 haxors will be rewriting drivers and soldering on old cordless phone antennas and adding fans and paint to their cards. We'll have web pages about how you can increase range with a 9v battery and get maximum speed with a driver mod, ventilated card-case and a pringles can.

    this is gonna rock.

  7. Re:Calling all Trolls by FurryFeet · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh my God! They killed 802.11g!
    You bastards!

  8. Re:Thats Crazy! by SN74S181 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I can see it now.

    Instead of 'who farted?' being the big question at the coffee house now, the unpleasant question everbody will ask is 'who's running the 802.11b card?

  9. Re:Calling all Trolls by zorcon · · Score: 5, Funny
    Hey, if it's going to be newer, more expensive, with very little increase in speed, what's the point?
    Why not, it's worked for Apple for years.
  10. Mb != Megabits; MB != MegaBytes by waterbug · · Score: 2, Funny

    Mb == marketing bits
    MB == marketing bytes

    Neither has any relation to real-world quantities. Same holds true for HDD capacities.

    --
    Never refuse a breath mint.