If internet only runs at 2Mbps, does it matter if I use Wireless B or Wireless B?

Question

Wireless b is much cheaper:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16839156002

I know G is faster, and I have a G router, but I have a slower laptop, and I only need the wireless for internet and iTunes sharing.

Wireless B runs at 11Mbps, and Wireless G runs at 54Mbps.

Since my cable internet runs at 2Mbps, how will wireless G boost the speed of internet browsing?

Thanks!

Answer 1

You are correct, your Internet browsing speed will not be any faster on 802.11G than on 802.11B. File and printer sharing on a WLAN (wireless local area network) would for sure be faster on a G and security and range are better on the G. However, there is nothing wrong with choosing B. 70% of the wireless routers I come accross are not even configured for encryption, so if you bother to properly configure a B router, your already way ahead of most people.

Answer 2

You need to also consider these factors:

1. How many other computers use this wireless connection? Is it likely that you will have more computers added to the wireless network in the next few years? Since computers share the bandwidth from a wireless router, more computers means G is the better way to go.

2. What kinds of distances are you working with? Both B and G are supposed to work at ~100 meters indoors, but in order to utilize the full bandwidth capabilities of each protocol you need to be much closer. For B, you need to be ~50 meters away to get the full 11Mbps, and for G you need to be ~30 meters away to get the full 54 Mbps.

Answer 3

Wireless B is MUCH faster than Wireless B. Given the choice between the two, I'd go with Wireless B every time.

Answer 4

Do you mean "why use 802.11g over 802.11b?" The first thing that comes to mind is security. 802.11b uses WEP which offers weak security for wireless connection. The more modern 802.11g uses WPA, which is much more secure. I hate to say it but 802.11b is very old and it will be phased out soon. Even 802.11g is being replaced with 802.11i. Here is what Answers.com had to say about WEP.

"WEP

(Wired Equivalent Privacy) An IEEE standard security protocol for wireless 802.11 networks. Introduced in 1997, WEP was found to be very inadequate and was superseded by WPA, WPA2 and 802.11i. Its authentication method was extremely weak and even helped an attacker decipher the secret encryption key. As a result, WEP authentication was dropped from the Wi-Fi specification." -- http://www.answers.com/topic/wep-3

Answer 5

You must mean wireless B and G, go with wireless G it has a higher bandwidth and goes faster.

Answer 6

UNDER THESE CONDITIONS I WOULD SAY TO FLIP A COIN AND YOU'LL BE JUST FINE!


GOD BLESS