Can the Airport Extreme run both 802.11n and g at the same time?

[cstromme]

I remember hearing something about it going down to 54Mbit/s if anyone connected via 802.11g, is that correct?

I was considering replacing my Airport Express for the Extreme to get the speeds of 802.11n, but if it is so that a client connecting with g will lower the speeds for the other clients then there really isn't much point since my girlfriend will also be using it with her MacBook.

 

[flopticalcube]

It goes down to 130Mbps for n devices in mixed mode. g devices continue at 54mbps.

 

[trainguy77]

It goes down to 130Mbps for n devices in mixed mode. g devices continue at 54mbps.

That number is not a fact...it depends on how much the G devices are being used. As singe G devices take longer to transmit data they still uses up the air waves during that time. Which slows down N as it has to wait for the G device to finish talking. So the more you use the G device the slower the N device operates as it has less airtime.

 

[flopticalcube]

Yeah. Those are maximums in mixed mode. Real world throughput will obviously be lower.

 

[dmaxdmax]

Would it get even worse if I used the original Airport card? (b, I think) My G4 iMac won't take g.

What if I turn the old one off except when it's in active use?

 

[cstromme]

So my speeds would only go down when my girlfriend is using her MacBook then?

 

[BryanLyle]

If it is one of the original Macbooks then yes. They are only G. If it's a Core 2 Duo Macbook, you can update it (software) to N or even better, if it's a newer Core 2 Duo Macbook, it is already N.