Understanding wireless speeds

[hayley3]

I pay $80 a month for 6 mpbs. I'm being screwed I know.
I have a router that says I get 300/450 mbps speeds on 2.4 and 5.0 ghz.

So what am I missing? Can wireless internet reach speeds of 300 or 450 if my wired connection is only 6 mbps?

Thanks,
Cheryl

 

[Eduello]

Nope, there's always a weakest link, and in this case it's your internet connection. However, you can still transfer data from one PC to another in those speeds as long as they're both in your network.

 

[jamesmcuk]

300+ Mbps wireless is only a theory figure and its likely your actual connection will be lower than 200 despite your best efforts. But like the above post says your internet will never achieve that even on some of the best fibre broardbands, however your connection between PC's on the same wireless network may hit up to around 200.

 

[hayley3]

So, I wonder what's the purpose of routers and standards increasing if internet speeds are not keeping up. I know a friend in the UK, he gets 120 mbps connection. He says anyway that's what he's getting.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[Eduello]

Well it's theoretically possible to have an internet connection that's faster than your router, but it would cost you an arm and a leg. The real point (as mentioned before) is to be able to transfer files relatively fast from one PC to another in the same network.

 

[jamesmcuk]

I am in the UK using Virgin Media and our speed is 154Mbps and is not affected by peak times unless you download too much too quickly in the peak times, at this point they throttle your speed.

 

[hayley3]

The point of having wireless is normally you cannot connect to the port on the router. I'm not sure why you would be transferring files between pc's.

But anyway my question was answered. The routers are made for people in other countries where they actually have internet. LOL

 

[USAFRet]

Transferring files between PC's is a daily occurrence in my house. Nightly backups to the house server, moving a video file to the HTPC for presentation on the TV, etc, etc.

Although almost everything here is hardwired, a fast WiFi router is not an unneeded device. Theoretical WiFi speeds of 150/300Mbps is faster than the 50Mbps I get from the ISP, but for internal uses, it can be quite useful.