Can't connect at N-Band

[jabster]

Hi.

I've got a couple of wireless adapters-b/g/n-which are only connecting at G-speeds.

One is an Asus USB-N13. The other is a D-link DWA-160.

Both connect at Wireless-G per my linksys e1000 router. My xoom seems to connect on the N-band tho.

Both computers are running the latest PCLOS, fully updated.kernel 2.6.38-8, of of which is PAE. Running KDE.

How do I force my USB adapters to connect at "N"?

Thanks,
John

[wedgetail]

jabster

It is some time since I have been chasing this myself but I think you will find the answer in member coffeetime's excellent thread:

http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,56672.0.html

You will likely need to study a number of the points here if your items don't do the right thing. 

[jabster]

wedgetail,

I've already been thru a large portion of that post. And even the last post there mentions adding N-specific issues to the original.

Setting the speed manually doesn't seem to do anything. It's still coming back at 54Mb/s. I've checked the device databases, and this thing is listed as working with N.

I've even setup an old G-router as an access point and set all my definitely-G devices to connect to that.

Considering getting another N-router, setting it up as an AP, and plugging a cable into it. Grrr.

thanks
john,

[The Chief]

You do realize that if any g devices are connected, the router will automatically restrict itself to g speed, don't you?   That is, the router will only operate as fast as the slowest connected device.

That's why n routers are mostly only useful for the increased range, not the increased speed.

[jabster]

TC,

If you see above, you'll note that I've already moved all my G devices to a separate AP on my network. That AP is cable-connected to my N-router. So everything on my network connecting to my N router is an N-rated device: (2) USB adapters and a Lenovo laptop with Win7. I'll check my xoom again tomorrow once I get it back with 4G(!).

As part of the DHCP lease list, the router lists -how- each device is connected:

• "LAN" (for wired connections, which is how the G-devices now show up via the AP)
• "Wireless-G" for G-band devices
• "Wireless" for N-band devices

All three of my USB adapters (I've also got a Rosewill adapter) connect at "Wireless-G" per the router and are at 54Mb/s per iwconfig.

Even if the router were throttled to G-speeds, it should still be connecting as an N-client.

The router is currently set for Mixed-mode, and auto 20/40MHz. Setting it to N-only disconnects my N-USB adapters, and only the win7 can connect.

-john

[kjpetrie]

Firstly, which revision is the D-link and how did you get the driver since Rev B's is not in the 2.6.38 kernel natively?

rev A: dev 3c10, driver in kernel for ath5k/ath9k; see http://wireless.kernel.org/en/users/Drivers/ar9170 ; firmware required - the driver page shows that 802.11 a/b/g are working, which suggests the driver doesn't have n-capability yet (and probably never will since it's deprecated).

rev B: dev 3c11, Driver available from manufacturer: http://www.ralinktech.com/support.php?s=2 , in kernel since 2.6.29; firmware required.

You need to give us more information on what you are doing. Are you plugging these dongles into your computer one at a time, or both into two separate computers? Is your reference to win 7 a reference to dual booting or to another machine?

If both dongles are in use at the same time, The Chief's comment might be relevant since the D-link might be unable to use n mode in Linux.

[jabster]

kj,

Let's ignore the d-link since a) it's off most of the time on a second computer, and b) we'll assume it does not work on Linux at the N-band.

I've been switching between the Rosewill and the Asus on my computer. Again, tho, let's ignore the Rosewill, since it apparently may not run N-band Linux as well. (Mixed reviews on newegg...I took a chance on a cheap USB adapter....bought it primarily just to have a spare lying around.)

This is all accurate, as the d-link has indeed been off for the majority of my tests here.

This leaves us with the Asus, which by all accounts I've been able to find online, should indeed work on Linux and connect at N-speeds.

Regardless tho, according to my router, even when I had the Tivo and squeezebox (G) connected to the router, the win7 laptop (separate machine) connected in the N-band, according to the router. Forget the actual speeds for now. I just want this thing to connect as an N-device.

And now it -should- be doing so, since all my G-devices are connecting to the G-AP. (Remember that the d-link is off.)

I suppose I could try the Asus in the laptop to make sure it works.....I'll try that tonite I guess as a sanity check.

-john

[jabster]

Well, plugged the Asus into the win7 laptop, and it connects as an N client.

I've got the Asus linux driver as well. I'm thinking of compiling that and trying to use that one.

-john