This may be ancient history to some, but maybe others may be unaware of the improvements in Wi-Fi that are now available relatively cheaply -

 

 I've just upgraded my BT Home Hub 3 to 5 Ghz wi-fi using BT's plug-in upgrade unit and dongle (Reasonably priced by the South American organisation at below £40) and the improvement is significant -  the original HH3 was limited to a 2.4 Ghz signal and a recommended 20 Mhz data modulation on 802.11n.

 

Playbook tablet, which previously could was rated to only receive less than  50m/b a second (Using a 40Mhz modulated signal) on 802.11n, 2.4 Ghz carrier, now states the data delivery to it is 65Mb a second on 802.11a/n, 5Ghz carrier, 40Mhz modulation. I was surprised that the Playbook would support 5 Ghz,knowing BB's usual attitude to in-life expansion/enhancement of product capability, but it appears to.

 

Its also  improved the data delivery  to my 12 year old laptop, going from a rated max of  54  Mbs (On 802.11g, BT Flash card, 2.4 Ghz carrier, 20 Mhz modulation )  to a rated 200 Mbs using 5 Ghz carrier, 40 Mhz modulation via BTs own 5Ghz dongle (802..11 a/n) I was even able to get 150Mbs using a cheapo Chinese dongle (£10).

 

Not only that, but the  5 Ghz band is relatively unpopulated locally, so there appears to be no interference i.e. my devices on 2.4 Ghz were more or less continually signing on and off due to signal loss as other broadcasters "Went over the top" of my signal. Now the 5 Ghz signal is never lost during a session.

 

 

Nick

Edited 7 June, 201412 yr by Clunkclick

Great post.

Hi Nick,

 

Could you explain a bit more about the Chinese dongle option, please?

 

Regards, Mike