Does wireless 'B' print server, slow down whole G network?

[Nate1749]

I currently have a 802.11g wireless network and I understand that if a workstation that is a 802.11b goes onto the network that the entire thing will be slowed down to B (11mbps) speed. My question is, if I buy a wireless print server (which seem to only come in .11b) will my whole network be slowed down to 11mbps the entire time the print server is online? Or will that only happen when someone is printing?

From my logic, since it would be connected all the time, it would slow down the network the whole time. I also can't seem to find a good deal on one (wireless print servers cost more than wireless routers & ap's), so if someone knows a good brand (that isn't more 100 dollars) I'd love to know.

-Nate

 

[bcastner]

It is more complicated than that.

A lot of this is pre-final certification of the 11g standard; a lot is old firmware; and some you cannot do a lot about.

In the last month there was a fairly recent review by PC Magazine of "Mixed" performance for G clients, and it is, (as my own summary) a heckuva lot better than when "g" first came out.

If your only need for a "b" wireless device is as a print server, consider strongly using powerline connectors instead. You can get two of the devices (you would need two) for under $100 US. See a Fred Langa, a very experienced networking guru's reaction to the new powerline devices introduced since the turn of the year:

http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20030108S0003us;Q309642

Using this instead of a wireless print server means no possible effect on your pure "g" network, for the same or less cost, and it works without having to mess with it all the time.

Bill Castner

 

[Nate1749]

Cool, thanks Bill, I will look into powerline connectors. A few years ago I was going to connect my modem through the power sockets in my house, but it was limited by 33.6k, not 56k (which was what I had at the time. Unfortunately though, the link you gave me gets "document not found," I will have to browse a bit on their webpage to find the article, thanks though. Also, when I purchased my G equipment I made sure the firmware was upgradeable.

Unfortunately, I still am not clear on the answer to my question.... Assuming I go out and buy a B print server today, will it slow down my whole network to B?

I didn't even want to ask about upgradeable firmware on a print server, since that's something I would need/want since I run WPA-TKIP encryption.

-Nate

 

[bcastner]

If your are running WPA-TPK, then the powerline connectors make a heck of a lot of sense in your setting.

At the moment the firmware from all reviewed wireless routes and APs I have seen suffer a large hit from "B" devices in Mixed mode. There is already a review process going on through IEEE as this is not supposed to happen. If there is good firmware support for your routers and APs (meaning frequent updates) I suspect you will see this effect mitigated over the next six months. There will be "orphan" devices, where the sales of the devices (usually APs in the product line) do not profit the company to make as serious an effort as they do their router products.

I have for over a year recommended anyone wanting a "G" access point to purchase the "G" router and run it essentially as an AP for just this reason.

You would benefit by reading my link to powerline. The stuff quite frankly stunk in its first and second incarnations, but the "New" powerline alliance stuff works incredibly well over even the most difficult of power settings: multiple panels, surge supressors or UPS, etc.. without any real configuration needed. I regularly use them in exactly the setting you describe: I do not want cable, and I do not want to mess with an "A" or "G" device.

And I also use them in settings where pure wireless gives me poor results. The current powerline adapters reliably give me a 14 mbs. connection, so from a wired router to where I need an AP for wireless clients, I pulll out two of these puppies and instead of at 1000' feet seeing no connection, I throw an AP on the end and have 14 mbs within 150' of the AP.

Rather than wait for people to sort out Mixed "B" and "G", for a printer considering powerline is a no-brainer as far as I am concerned. Read Fred Lanaga's comments from my earlier link. This is the hidden killer network tool for bridged connections under wired and wireless.

 

[Nate1749]

Thanks, I just read the article and I think I'll do the powerline for the printing. Perhaps by the time I purchase a color laser printer next year they will have all these standards worked out.

FYI - This link works for me (the one above didn't).. for anyone who cares.

http://www.informationweek.com/shared/printableArticle.jhtml?articleID=6500241

Thanks,

-Nate

 

[bcastner]

They have been playing with link truncation on this site, so I apologize if my earlier one did not work. If you had mentioned it I could have tried an edited link. It works for me, but I have had other comments where links > 80 characters do not.

Hope it works out. To be honest, in fairly high bandwidth uses such as a printer (surprisingly large streams go to printers anymore), the powerline is a better bet. It is certainly easier to manage.

Thank you for the note on the URL. Hope powerline adapters work in your setting. If you do have an issue, please leave a comment again.

Bill

 

[Bobg1]

A powerline network within your house may work fine right now, BUT it may not in the future.
Power companies are currently lobbying the FCC to allow them to operate broadband over powerlines. What will this do...
You can bet that anyone using the current low power in home powerline networks will be affected. The fact that this will operate on the same frequencys will wipe them out. It will also cause extreme problems to those that are currently licensed to operate 2way radio equipment within those frequencies, this includes government agencies, disaster relief organizations, amatuer radio operators and others.