May 07, 2004
802.11b/g - AARGH!
I've noticed a disturbing trend. Laptop makers, when listing their products' specs, have started just saying "802.11b/g" -- that doesn't help me at all. Is it the slower 802.11b (which is compatible with 802.11g networks) or is it the faster 802.11g (which is, well, faster)??
Is this some grand marketing conspiracy to "sell up" aging Wi-Fi (802.11b) components using the appeal of the faster 802.11g standard? Or, am I the only one being confused?
Posted by Craig | Permalink | TrackBackMore likely if they list both b and g for internal wireless, then they have g (which is compatible with b).
Posted by Ken at May 7, 2004 11:46 AMYeah, I think that they're just doing this so as not to confuse the average consumer, who might not realize that a laptop with 802.11g is also compatible with an 802.11b wireless access point. It'd be really sketchy (and probably false advertising) to list a laptop which only had 802.11b as "802.11b/g".
Posted by Peter Rojas at May 7, 2004 01:38 PMThanks, guys. I'll be interested if anyone sees any hardware listed as 802.11b/g that turns out to only be 11 mbps Wi-Fi. Until then, I guess I'll just assume that anything with the b/g label is capable of 54 mbps.
Posted by Craig at May 7, 2004 02:15 PMI'm finding that more and more is moving to G.
Most of the public hotspots that I've found at Starbucks and It's A Grind seem to be already upgraded to G.
Having it operational with both means no compatability issues.
Andy
Posted by Andy Abramson at May 8, 2004 09:52 PMIf you see some device with 11b/g labeled, but only has 11mbps, it could be the access point only has 11b interface. 11b and 11g share the same 2.4G chanel, and 11g is defined compatible 11b.
Posted by Terence at May 11, 2004 07:11 PMIf you see some device with 11b/g labeled, but only has 11mbps, it could be the access point only has 11b interface. 11b and 11g share the same 2.4G chanel, and 11g is defined compatible to 11b.
Posted by Terence at May 11, 2004 07:12 PMIf you see some device with 11b/g labeled, but only has 11mbps, it could be the access point only has 11b interface. 11b and 11g share the same 2.4G chanel, and 11g is defined compatible to 11b.
Posted by Terence at May 11, 2004 07:12 PMTo leave a comment or read updated entries, please visit GearBits' current site. Thanks.