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| Network standard | Rated speed (mbps) | Real-world throughput (mbps): Short distance | Real-world throughput (mbps): Medium distance | Real-world throughput (mbps): Roaming | 35MB file transfer (seconds) | 50MB directory transfer (seconds) |
| Wi-Fi5 (802.11a)1 | 54 | 22.3 | 13.1 | 5.2 | 18.1 | 26.4 |
| Wi- Fi (802.11b) | 11 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 74 | 108 |
| HomePNA (phone line) | 10 | 4 | 4 | n/a | 71 | 116 |
| HomePlug (power line) | 14 | 5.5 | 5.2 | n/a | 54.3 | 101 |
How we test: We set up a network of a Gateway desktop PC with a 1.8-GHz Pentium 4 CPU and a Compaq notebook with a 1000/733-MHz Pentium III-M CPU in a typical home office. For our file and directory transfer tests, as well as for the short-distance real-world throughput tests, we set up the PCs at opposite ends of a 20-foot room. For the medium-distance throughput tests, we set up the PCs in adjacent rooms, about 40 feet apart. In our roaming test, we moved the notebook PC outside.
n/a = Not applicable. 1Wi-Fi5 desktop adapters were unavailable for testing, so we ran our speed tests using two notebooks.