http://ask.metafilter.com/20808/80211g-and-80211b-compatability/ Comments on Ask MetaFilter post 802.11g and 802.11b compatability Wed, 06 Jul 2005 12:29:28 -0800 Wed, 06 Jul 2005 12:29:28 -0800 en-us http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 http://ask.metafilter.com/20808/80211g-and-80211b-compatability Stupid and probably very simple networking question: how compatible are the 802.11g and 802.11b protocols? Can a 802.11b networking card and 802.11g router be used together harmoniously? post:ask.metafilter.com,2005:site.20808 Wed, 06 Jul 2005 12:20:17 -0800 Dreama wireless networking http://ask.metafilter.com/20808/80211g-and-80211b-compatability#338142 The short answer is yes. 802.11g is backwards-compatible with b, though my AirPort documentation suggests that overall network speed is less than 54 mbps when in b/g mode. comment:ask.metafilter.com,2005:site.20808-338142 Wed, 06 Jul 2005 12:29:28 -0800 mcwetboy http://ask.metafilter.com/20808/80211g-and-80211b-compatability#338143 An 802.11g router will handle both b and g. The drawback is that if you have a g device it will run at the lower b speed. comment:ask.metafilter.com,2005:site.20808-338143 Wed, 06 Jul 2005 12:30:19 -0800 Ferrari328 http://ask.metafilter.com/20808/80211g-and-80211b-compatability#338146 Not only that, but most 802.11g routers can run in 802.11b mode. comment:ask.metafilter.com,2005:site.20808-338146 Wed, 06 Jul 2005 12:31:37 -0800 atrazine http://ask.metafilter.com/20808/80211g-and-80211b-compatability#338147 Yes, mostly. 802.11g routers are backwards-compatible with 802.11b cards, as long as they aren't too old. The 11b standard called for support of 8 different data rates, but 11g supports 12. If the 11b card isn't running recent firmware, it might not be able to join an 11g network. comment:ask.metafilter.com,2005:site.20808-338147 Wed, 06 Jul 2005 12:32:34 -0800 pmbuko http://ask.metafilter.com/20808/80211g-and-80211b-compatability#338219 I thought the spec was that it'll run at G in B/G mode until a B client connects, then everything drops to B. comment:ask.metafilter.com,2005:site.20808-338219 Wed, 06 Jul 2005 15:02:43 -0800 fishfucker