Super G Wireless Networking Explained

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Super G wireless networking is a technology that was introduced in the early 2000s as a way to improve wireless network speeds.

It uses the same 2.4 GHz frequency band as other wireless networking technologies, but with a few key differences.

Super G can achieve speeds of up to 108 Mbps, which is significantly faster than the 54 Mbps of traditional 802.11g technology.

This is because Super G uses a technique called "channel bonding" to combine two channels into one, effectively doubling the available bandwidth.

The result is a much faster and more reliable wireless network experience.

On a similar theme: What Is G Mail

Wireless Networking Basics

Super G (wireless networking) is a technology that aims to improve wireless networking performance. It's designed to work with other wireless devices, including those using the 11g standard.

Super-G devices can operate in either static or dynamic mode. In static mode, they'll only communicate with other Super-G devices and use channel bonding all the time. Dynamic mode, on the other hand, lets devices associate with any type of wireless device and only switches to channel bonding when bandwidth demands require it.

A nearby Super-G WLAN running a 2Mbps video stream will probably not cause significant interference to an 11g WLAN that's also streaming a video. This is evident from the testing, which showed that the Lost Data percentage remained relatively low even at 30 and 50 feet distances.

Interference

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Interference can be a significant issue in wireless networking. Atheros' Super-G technology has been criticized for creating interference on all Wi-Fi channels, potentially causing issues with other wireless devices.

In real-world scenarios with physical separation and walls, closely located networks will not experience any interference from a Super-G network. However, this may not always be the case.

The interference caused by Super-G can be significant, especially when both the Super-G and 11g networks are running at full speed. This can result in severe throughput loss in the 11g WLAN, even at distances of up to 30 feet.

Here's a summary of the interference effects of Super-G on 11g networks at different distances:

At 50 feet, the interference caused by Super-G is essentially gone, and the 11g WLAN can run without significant issues.

Range

Range is not just about how far your wireless signal can travel, but also about how strong it remains at that distance.

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Channel bonding, a feature used in some wireless products like the NETGEAR WGT624, can increase throughput at a given distance, but it doesn't necessarily determine the maximum range of a product.

In fact, a simple experiment showed that channel bonding doesn't guarantee a longer range, as the throughput difference between Super-G enabled and disabled walks disappeared at some distance.

You can still get a decent connection at a distance that's hard to achieve with other products, even if the throughput difference is gone.

For example, in one test, the lowest throughput point was obtained about 300 feet away from the access point, through multiple walls and obstacles, and still yielded a connection.

Readers also liked: Wireless Access Point

Wireless USB Adapter

A wireless USB adapter is a great way to turn your laptop into a wireless workstation. It allows you to connect to your router and access the internet, share office resources, and even play online games wirelessly and securely.

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These adapters use the USB interface to provide continuous wireless access to your router. They're perfect for small office or home wireless networking.

The Encore ENUWI-SG Wireless Super-G USB Adapter is a great example of a wireless USB adapter that supports Super-G technology, achieving wireless speeds of up to 108Mbps. This is 2X faster than standard 802.11g products.

You can use a wireless USB adapter in two modes: Ad-hoc and infrastructure. In Ad-hoc mode, you can connect directly with other 802.11b/g/Super-G-enabled computers for peer-to-peer file sharing. In infrastructure mode, you connect to a wireless access point or router for access to the internet.

Some wireless USB adapters, like the ENUWI-SG, provide backward compatibility with 802.11b/g wireless standards, so you don't have to replace existing devices. This means you can use older devices with newer adapters.

Here are some key features to look for in a wireless USB adapter:

  • Super-G technology for fast wireless speeds
  • Continuous wireless access to your router
  • Strong security features, including WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, WPA2-PSK and WEP data encryption
  • Support for both Ad-hoc and infrastructure modes
  • Backward compatibility with 802.11b/g wireless standards

These features will help you choose the right wireless USB adapter for your needs and ensure a fast and secure wireless connection.

Super G Technology

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Super G technology is a wireless networking standard that promises to deliver faster speeds than the 802.11g standard.

It was introduced by Atheros in 2003, along with other companies like Intersil and Broadcom.

Super G uses packet-bursting, fast frames, on-the-fly data compression/decompression, and dual-channel bonding to provide throughput enhancement.

Atheros' Super-G technology is primarily focused on enhancing the throughput of a single AP/client pair, unlike Nitro and Xpress which focus on mixed 802.11b/g networks.

Super G's channel bonding feature can significantly degrade the performance of neighboring 2.4GHz WLANs that don't use Super G.

Here are some key differences between Super G and other technologies:

Super G's dual-channel bonding feature can interfere with neighboring WLANs, but it does provide significantly increased throughput compared to Nitro and Xpress.

Comparison and Alternatives

Super G is not the only technology trying to boost wireless performance. Atheros has adapted this technology to their 802.11a/g chipsets, marketing it as Super AG.

There are several competing proprietary extension approaches that were developed to increase performance of 802.11g wireless devices. One example is Xpress from Broadcom, another is MIMO-based extensions from Airgo Networks, and a third is Nitro from Conexant.

Vendors

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Super G products have been marketed under various names by different vendors.

Other vendors include Airlink 101, Clipsal, D-Link, Intelbras, LevelOne, Netgear, Nortel Networks, Planex, SMC, Sony, TRENDnet, SparkLAN, Toshiba, and ZyXEL.

These vendors have licensed Super G technology from Atheros.

In general, Super G products from different vendors are all interoperable in Super G mode.

vs Broadcom 11G – Max Throughput

A Super-G wireless LAN running at full speed will interfere with an 11g WLAN also running at full speed. Severe throughput loss in the 11g WLAN can occur up to 30 feet away.

At 10 feet, a Super-G WLAN will significantly slow down an 11g WLAN, with little disturbance to the Super-G WLAN itself. The 11g WLAN will get some air time back at 50 feet, but it's still significantly slowed by the Super-G WLAN.

Dynamic Super-G algorithms will cause a Super-G WLAN to fall back to normal 11g on a periodic basis, with timing varying between 45 seconds of Super-G and 15 seconds of 11g, or 120 seconds of Super-G and 75 seconds of 11g.

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Here's a summary of the throughput loss in an 11g WLAN due to Super-G interference:

This means that if you have a Super-G WLAN and an 11g WLAN in close proximity, you can expect significant throughput loss in the 11g WLAN. However, the interference decreases as the distance between the two WLANs increases.

If this caught your attention, see: Wifi Channel Frequencies

Alternatives

Atheros adapted this technology to their 802.11a/g chipsets, marketing it as Super AG.

There are several competing proprietary extension approaches that were developed to increase performance of 802.11g wireless devices.

Super G is one of these approaches, and it's not the only one. Xpress from Broadcom is another example.

MIMO-based extensions from Airgo Networks and Nitro from Conexant are also competing approaches that aim to boost wireless performance.

Wm Kling

Lead Writer

Wm Kling is a seasoned writer with a passion for technology and innovation. With a strong background in software development, Wm brings a unique perspective to his writing, making complex topics accessible to a wide range of readers. Wm's expertise spans the realm of Visual Studio web development, where he has written in-depth articles and guides to help developers navigate the latest tools and technologies.

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