10. Performance - 11g Interoperability

Given that the TI chipset is the new kid on the block, I checked to see if it played nicely with the old-timers(!). Figures 10 - 12 show the results.

Figure 10: Condition 1 11g throughput - Belkin F5D7010 (Broadcom)
(click on the image for a full-sized view)

Figure 11: Condition 1 11g throughput - NETGEAR WG511 (Intersil PRISM GT)
(click on the image for a full-sized view)

Figure 12: Condition 1 11g throughput - NETGEAR WAG511 (Atheros 5001X+)
(click on the image for a full-sized view)

The Broadcom-based Belkin F5D7010 fared the best of the three with actually better performance than the TI-based USR client! The Atheros-based NETGEAR WAG511 showed the worst and most inconsistent performance and Figure 12 is actually the best run I got. The poor performance might be due to the fact that NETGEAR has yet to post 802.11g spec compliant drivers for the WAG511. while both the Broadcom and Intersil-based cards' drivers conform to the spec.

One other thing I learned during my test-fest was that when results started looking wonky - client associated but couldn't pass data, really poor throughput, etc. - I could make things right by power cycling the AP. A soft reboot wouldn't do it, only a hard one.