Sunny
01-05-2005, 05:20 AM
Reading through the other discussion threads about wireless connection for IDC, I believe a new thread is in order to clarify the issue about download speeds.
Either you use 802.11b (@11Mbps) or 802.11g (@54Mbps), or even Super-G (@108Mbps) wireless devices, it doesn't really make any difference as far as IDC is concerned. Your download speed is still being limited by your broadband connection (whether the limit is set by your ISP, your modem, or the actual throughput is limited by the Internet trunk lines).
For example -- ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line, which allows data to be sent over existing copper telephone lines) supports data rates of from 1.5 to 9 Mbps when receiving data (known as the downstream rate) and from 16 to 640 Kbps when sending data (known as the upstream rate). The upper-limit speeds may have improved over the years (see partial list below):
Thin Ethernet, category 3 cable, cable modem 10 Mbps
E-2 Europe 8.448 Mbps
T-2, DS-2 North America 6.312 Mbps
Standard ADSL downstream 6.144 Mbps
DS-1c 3.152 Mbps
E-1, DS-1 Europe 2.048 Mbps
ADSL, T-1, DS-1 North America 1.544 Mbps
But from the most recent actual speed tested, the fastest Broadband ISP had the top download speed of only 5.573 Mbps (see http://www.dslreports.com/archive). My own ISP, Comcast Cable, was ranked #31 on the list, with a top download speed of only 2.435 Mbps.
As you can see above, even the top speed for the fastest ISP is nowhere near the rated speed of the slowest wireless device, i.e. the 802.11b. So if you're getting a wireless device just to use IDC for your CVP, then I'll say get the cheapest wireless router/adapter you can buy, i.e. the 802.11b.
However, if you're setting up a wireless network for your home PC, then of course you may go with the fastest wireless technology available to you (but the speed may be affected by the hardware on your other wireless devices, e.g. the wireless-b adapter on your CVP :mad: )
P.S. Keep in mind that the tested speeds posted on the URL above are continuously being updated, and the numbers I quoted above (based on the posted list as of 1/4/05) may no longer be the same when you check the above link.
Either you use 802.11b (@11Mbps) or 802.11g (@54Mbps), or even Super-G (@108Mbps) wireless devices, it doesn't really make any difference as far as IDC is concerned. Your download speed is still being limited by your broadband connection (whether the limit is set by your ISP, your modem, or the actual throughput is limited by the Internet trunk lines).
For example -- ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line, which allows data to be sent over existing copper telephone lines) supports data rates of from 1.5 to 9 Mbps when receiving data (known as the downstream rate) and from 16 to 640 Kbps when sending data (known as the upstream rate). The upper-limit speeds may have improved over the years (see partial list below):
Thin Ethernet, category 3 cable, cable modem 10 Mbps
E-2 Europe 8.448 Mbps
T-2, DS-2 North America 6.312 Mbps
Standard ADSL downstream 6.144 Mbps
DS-1c 3.152 Mbps
E-1, DS-1 Europe 2.048 Mbps
ADSL, T-1, DS-1 North America 1.544 Mbps
But from the most recent actual speed tested, the fastest Broadband ISP had the top download speed of only 5.573 Mbps (see http://www.dslreports.com/archive). My own ISP, Comcast Cable, was ranked #31 on the list, with a top download speed of only 2.435 Mbps.
As you can see above, even the top speed for the fastest ISP is nowhere near the rated speed of the slowest wireless device, i.e. the 802.11b. So if you're getting a wireless device just to use IDC for your CVP, then I'll say get the cheapest wireless router/adapter you can buy, i.e. the 802.11b.
However, if you're setting up a wireless network for your home PC, then of course you may go with the fastest wireless technology available to you (but the speed may be affected by the hardware on your other wireless devices, e.g. the wireless-b adapter on your CVP :mad: )
P.S. Keep in mind that the tested speeds posted on the URL above are continuously being updated, and the numbers I quoted above (based on the posted list as of 1/4/05) may no longer be the same when you check the above link.