We also tested the Gigabyte
GN-A17GU’s ability to host a second wireless network by using its built in PCMCIA
slot with a Gigabyte wireless network card. We used the GN-WMAG card
we had on hand to create a second
802.11g network on the access point. Installation of the card was easy. Just power off
the device, pop off the plastic cover concealing the add-on port and
plug in the card, then power on the access point again. Presto,
a second network was available.
Using the AP manager software, you
can configure the two networks separately. Somewhat counter-intuitively
though, the only way to switch between the two networks is to use the ‘card
config type’ dropdown box in the ‘system’ tab of the software. An
interesting feature, anyhow, especially if you are looking to combine an 802.11a
network with the ‘g’ standard.
Performance Tests
We benchmarked
the Gigabyte GN-A17GU using NetIQ to test the average throughput and
response time of the wireless connection, as well as the transfer
of an 11.8MB file to test real-world performance.
For the
following benchmarks, we used an 802.11g card (Gigabyte’s GN-WMAG) and an
802.11b card (SMC’s SMC2632W ) both installed into a laptop
situated about 20 feet from the access point on a different
floor, to simulate typical home and business conditions.
We also tested the performance of the GN-A17GU with
WEP enabled, as we wanted to see how the encryption impacted the performance of
the device. We also tested the performance of WPA-PSK (Wireless Protected
Access - Pre-shared Key) mode, connecting to the Gigabyte card. Our
final benchmark used the 108mbps proprietary ‘turbo-G’ mode.
|
802.11g Wireless
Network NetIQ Tests |
| Access
Point to:
|
802.11g
Gigabyte GN-WMAG |
802.11b
SMC
SMC2632W
|
| Average Throughput |
21.5 Mbps |
5.9 Mbps |
| Response Time |
1 ms |
3ms |
| 11.8Mb Test file transfer |
~5 sec |
16sec |
| Access Point with 64-bit WEP to: |
|
|
| WEP Average Throughput |
20.1 Mbps |
|
| WEP Response Time |
1 ms |
|
| WEP 11.8Mb Test file transfer |
~6sec |
|
| Access Point with 128-bit WEP to: |
|
|
| WEP Average Throughput |
19.9 Mbps |
|
| WEP Response Time |
1 ms |
|
| WEP 11.8Mb Test file transfer |
~6sec |
|
| Access Point with 152-bit WEP to: |
|
|
| WEP Average Throughput |
19.5 Mbps |
|
| WEP Response Time |
1 ms |
|
| WEP 11.8Mb Test file transfer |
~6sec |
|
| Access Point with 128-bit WPA-PSK to: |
|
|
| WPA Average Throughput |
17.6 Mbps |
|
| WPA Response Time |
2 ms |
|
| WPA 11.8Mb Test file transfer |
~7sec |
|
| Access Point with
‘Turbo-G’ enabled
to: |
|
|
| Average Throughput |
25.5 Mbps |
|
| Response Time |
1 ms |
|
| 11.8Mb Test file transfer |
~5sec |
|
| Ethernet Reference: |
| 10/100 Wired Ethernet (typical) |
61.5 Mbps |
| Wired Response Time |
1ms |
The benchmarks we carried out demonstrate a few
very positive things about the Gigabyte GN-A17GU and WIFI ‘g’ products in general. Most obviously,
the data transfer speed is greatly improved. While not equaling the advertised 54mbps of
the ‘g’ standard, 802.11g products still manage to shunt about 3x as much data per
second as 802.11b systems.
Secondly, the greater data carrying capacity of
802.11g means that WEP encryption, which can have a considerable impact on
802.11b wireless performance due to the overhead that the encryption adds, has
much less impact on the speed of the connection. In fact, the GN-A17GU barely
lagged at all as a result of piling on any level of WEP encryption, and even WPA
had a barely noticeable effect on data traffic.
Thirdly,
and specific to the Gigabyte GN-A17GU, the device
provides a very good platform for 802.11b based clients also. The
benchmark we recorded with our older SMC 802.11b adaptor was very impressive,
topping most results we had previously seen with 802.11b based routers and
access points.
Our experience with the
Gigabyte GN-A17GU was very positive, barring the one software glitch with the
multiple-network adaptor setup. Gigabyte is obviously making a play for
the kind of commercial networking terrain held by heavyweights like 3com,
and with this product at least, they seem to be headed in the right
direction.
The
transfer speed was decent, the strength of the wireless signal was impressive,
and Gigabyte’s
Access Point Manager software was
very easy to configure. The GN-A17GU also has the unobtrusive ‘corporate’ look
down. Combine all this with the latest wireless security options and the
expected ability to communicate with other access points to form a large area
wireless network, and you have an excellent product.
Find out about this and many other reviews by
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