Which protocol do wireless routers in the UK use?

Apparently there's a "g" protocol and a "b" protocol.

Art Deco wrote:
> Apparently there's a "g" protocol and a "b" protocol.

Both. In fact, the answer's even more complicated than that.

Older hardware will use 802.11b, a 2.4GHz system with a theoretical
maximum throughput of 11Mb/s.

Newer hardware will use 802.11g, a 2.4GHz system with a theoretical
maximum throughput of 54Mb/s (or up to 125Mb/s with some
chipset-specific 'speedboost' technologies). Systems running 802.11g
are usually (around 99% of the time, unless someone has deliberately
disabled the option) backwards-compatible with 802.11b (i.e. someone
with an 802.11b-only device can still connect to the access point,
albeit at reduced speeds).

Some businesses choose to use 802.11a, a 5GHz system with a theoretical
maximum throughput of 54Mb/s. Some hardware (most commonly the client
devices rather than the access points) is capable of 802.11a/b/g, but
commonly if it's a 802.11a access point you'll be unable to connect with
802.11b/g hardware.

Many home users are now buying so-called "pre-n" hardware which is
manufactured to the currently unfinalised 802.11n standard, a 2.4GHz
*or* 5GHz system with a theoretical maximum throughput of 540Mb/s.
Although the standard is unfinished, many companies are making devices
based on the where the standard is currently and promising
hardware/software upgrades to make the pre-standard hardware compatible
with the finished version.

So, to answer your question - all of the above. That said, 802.11b/g
hardware is by far the most common at the moment.

--
Gareth Halfacree http://gareth.halfacree.co.uk
"If Ace Books ever came out with an edition of The Bible, both books
would be edited down to 40,000 words, and they'd be renamed "Master of
Chaos" and "The Thing With Three Souls." - Terry Carr

Gareth R Halfacree wrote:

> Some businesses choose to use 802.11a, a 5GHz system with a
> theoretical maximum throughput of 54Mb/s. Some hardware (most
> commonly the client devices rather than the access points) is capable
> of 802.11a/b/g, but commonly if it's a 802.11a access point you'll be
> unable to connect with 802.11b/g hardware.

I think you will find a lot of dual band stuff out there.
My router supports 802.11b, 802.11g at 2.4Ghz and 802.11a at 5GHz.
It will simultaneously (to double the bandwidth) run the 2.4g and the 5g as
they are seperate in the device.
They cost a bit more (mine was £34) but not much.

"dennis@home" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:YcoVg.29972$(E-Mail Removed) .uk...
> Gareth R Halfacree wrote:
>
>> Some businesses choose to use 802.11a, a 5GHz system with a
>> theoretical maximum throughput of 54Mb/s. Some hardware (most
>> commonly the client devices rather than the access points) is capable
>> of 802.11a/b/g, but commonly if it's a 802.11a access point you'll be
>> unable to connect with 802.11b/g hardware.
>
> I think you will find a lot of dual band stuff out there.
> My router supports 802.11b, 802.11g at 2.4Ghz and 802.11a at 5GHz.
> It will simultaneously (to double the bandwidth) run the 2.4g and the 5g
> as they are seperate in the device.
> They cost a bit more (mine was £34) but not much.

Apart from speed, it is claimed by the manufacturers that the preN or MIMO
cards/routers have a better range. Diagrams are provided showing the signal
extending well into your garden. My experience is that the range is only
marginally better than with older routers, though I suppose if you have a
clear line of sight between devices, with no walls or floors in between, you
might have better luck.

On Fri, 06 Oct 2006 07:33:56 +0100, Gareth R Halfacree
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Art Deco wrote:
>> Apparently there's a "g" protocol and a "b" protocol.
>
>Both. In fact, the answer's even more complicated than that.
>
>Older hardware will use 802.11b, a 2.4GHz system with a theoretical
>maximum throughput of 11Mb/s.
>
>Newer hardware will use 802.11g, a 2.4GHz system with a theoretical
>maximum throughput of 54Mb/s (or up to 125Mb/s with some
>chipset-specific 'speedboost' technologies). Systems running 802.11g
>are usually (around 99% of the time, unless someone has deliberately
>disabled the option) backwards-compatible with 802.11b (i.e. someone
>with an 802.11b-only device can still connect to the access point,
>albeit at reduced speeds).
>
>Some businesses choose to use 802.11a, a 5GHz system with a theoretical
>maximum throughput of 54Mb/s. Some hardware (most commonly the client
>devices rather than the access points) is capable of 802.11a/b/g, but
>commonly if it's a 802.11a access point you'll be unable to connect with
>802.11b/g hardware.
>
>Many home users are now buying so-called "pre-n" hardware which is
>manufactured to the currently unfinalised 802.11n standard, a 2.4GHz
>*or* 5GHz system with a theoretical maximum throughput of 540Mb/s.
>Although the standard is unfinished, many companies are making devices
>based on the where the standard is currently and promising
>hardware/software upgrades to make the pre-standard hardware compatible
>with the finished version.
>
>So, to answer your question - all of the above. That said, 802.11b/g
>hardware is by far the most common at the moment.

Thanks. Any idea which one is used by the Sky Netgear router?

"Art Deco" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...

..
>
> Thanks. Any idea which one is used by the Sky Netgear router?
>

802.11b/g + Netgears own 108M all on 2.4GHz.