Ever wonder what settings you should use to optimize your wireless network? Should you use 802.11 b/g mixed mode, or will 802.11 g only fare better (with 802.11g being the only type of device on the wireless network)? Does the G Nitro mode, if your router supports it, really provide better performance? So did I. That's why I ran the following tests:

• Dual 2Gz G5 connector to router via 100 Base-T ethernet
• Macbook Pro connected to router wirelessly via 802.11g
• SMC Barricade WBR14-G wireless router

• Wireless channel: 1
• SSID Broadcast: On
• Interference robustness: Off
• Bluetooth (laptop): Off
• WPA: enabled
• Personal File Sharing turn on: G5
• MacBook Pro connected to G5 via AFP
• Single file transfered to/from MacBook Pro/G5: 370.6 MB
• Distance from router to laptop: 2.5 feet

• Long Range Mixed b/g
• Long Range Mixed b/g with G Nitro
• G Only
• G Only with G Nitro

The tests were conducted via the stopwatch method. I timed how long it took to copy a large file from the G5 to the Macbook Pro, and vice versa. From that time, I was able to calculate the MB/s. Larger numbers are better.

These numbers are very interesting. It's obvious that G Nitro has a huge impact when transferring the file from the G5 to the MacBook Pro. However, counter to what I have heard, transferring from the G5 to the MacBook Pro is actually faster on a B/G mixed network than G only. I had been told the B aspect causes interference in a G only network, but these numbers defy that theory. Also worth noting is how much faster it was to transmit the files wirelessly than receive them. I really have no reason for this.

If I were to recommend a mode from only these numbers, I would say use long range mixed b/g with G Nitro turned on. However, because the G only vs. Mixed numbers are so close, I am inclined to conclude that my test could have been designed better to measure the speeds more accurately. Personally, I will be setting my router as G only with G Nitro turned on.