Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter bandwidth capability

I have, at best, 11b/g:20/40MHz with driver version 5.60.48.35.

Does that mean I can't take advantage of a single or double band 11n router?

 

BroadCom has a wide range of wireless adapter.
Different SKU have different capabilities.
You must specify the chip design.

 

Could you please tell me how to look it up?

I had a look at speccy but no chip design there and just a little looking around in google didn't help.

I did change IBSS Mode from 802.11b Only to 802.11a/b/g/n Auto.

The value for Service is BCM43xx, if it helps.

 

Use AIDA or Everest to check what the wireless chip is and don't change settings unless you do know what you're doing.

The one you've changed has nothing to to with what you're trying to achieve- it's a setting that only applies to ad-hoc networks.

 

No more changes will be made but I figured changing a restriction to auto when the restricted value is also included couldn't hurt.

Will SandraLite do since neither of those are freeware?

 

I haven't been using Sandra for a while but it should display that too.

 

I was finally able to pull this, does this give you what you need?

B08 D00 F00: Broadcom BCM43225 802.11b/g/n Wireless Network Adapter

Offset 000: E4 14 57 43 06 00 10 00 01 00 80 02 10 00 00 00
Offset 010: 04 00 00 F1 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 5B 10 21 E0
Offset 030: 00 00 00 00 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 11 01 00 00
Offset 040: 01 58 03 CE 08 40 00 00 05 D0 80 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 050: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 09 48 78 00 0F 00 00 00
Offset 060: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 070: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 080: 00 10 00 18 00 00 00 00 80 00 00 00 03 00 00 00
Offset 090: 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 0A0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 03 00 00 10 10 18
Offset 0B0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 0C0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 0D0: 10 00 01 00 A0 8F 64 00 00 00 19 00 11 6C 17 00
Offset 0E0: 42 00 11 30 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00
Offset 0F0: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00

 

Yes it does- it's a single band (2.4GHz only) Wi-Fi device capable of connecting at 300mbps (2T2R).

Specification.

 

Thanks, that's great news, please tell me how to go about getting the most out of my BCM943225HMB.

I returned the value for IBSS back to it's original. I was also able to locate a newer driver for the adapter, 5.60.350.6, from Acer but still see that 11b/g:20/40MHz as the best option.

I am using a single band 11n wireless router that's plugged into a cable modem.

 

Try these drivers 5.100.235.19 and make sure that channel width on your router is set to either 40MHz or if that option is not available to "Auto".

Your wireless settings on a notebook are secondary to those on the router- you need to change settings on a router.

 

Right on, thanks so much!

Got the driver installed and changed my router from "20MHz Only" to "20MHz or 40MHz Auto". Rebooted the router and all is up and am still able to communicate with my printer plugged into it. I was always 1-2 bars away from a dropped connection, I'm now at 4, cool.

If I may please probe your expertise more, regarding the advanced options in the driver:

1. Bandwidth Capability: still maxed at 11b/g:20/40MHz. Is it just simple inaccuracy since it is, after all, an 11n adapter? Looked at AIDA again but nothing jumps out at me.

2. Afterburner: should I enable it for faster throughput?

3. IBSS Mode: it went to 54g - Auto, cool, even if I may never use it...

4. Xpress Technology: should I enable it to improve throughput?​

And Firewall options in my router:

In looking at what I have below, with or without changes, do you think I should do away with my third party firewall?

Firewall VPN ​

 

Afterburner and Xpress Technology are proprietary technologies of Broadcom and do not work with any other wireless chipset than Broadcom.
These may also apply v to 802.11g.

Seeing that your router is Linksys it's possible that it's actually using a Broadcom radio- what router is it?

Also what speed is are you connected to the router according to Windows?

If you want to achieve 802.11n speeds you need to use WPA2+AES as security- so change this settings too if you're not using it.

Also leave the SPI firewall on the router ON. It's useful at filtering some annoying packets.

 

How far up the pipe would the chipset have to match; the router, modem, ISP? I know if I end up with equipment other than Broadcom, all invested in it would be wasted, somewhat, but am curious to know anyway.

My router is a Linksys E1000, just installed it yesterday after a friend gave it to me. I also just switched from slow speed DSL to cable with a Motorola SB5100 but the SB6120 is in the mail.

How do I use Windows to see the speed between it and the router? Speedtest.net says: Ping 35, DL 20.02, UL 3.33. I gotta say though that sometimes my DL speed is only 6.

Mine's named "WPA2/WPA Mixed Mode" and the results above are from after the changes, way cool.

The SPI firewall is left as is, I'll assume it's best to keep the 3rd party utility.

 

Just a router and a Wi-Fi card have to match. I've tested these technologies and there's no throughput gain in my case but who knows. Anyway- as far as I remember these were for 802.11g so are irrelevant for 802.11n.

Keep the third party firewall- SPI on the router is not very strict but helps a bit and filters out the most obvious things. I remember how huge my log was when I had to use an ADSL modem with no firewall connected directly to my computer.

Check the speed by going to Control Panel, choosing Networking Center and clicking on your connection

 

Ahh, my speed is 104Mbps, wow, too bad it can't be like that to the WWW.

 

That means you are connected @N speeds but not necessarily @40MHz channel.
If you need 40MHz channels for LAN transfers we can work on achieving that (if possible), if you don't we may just leave it at that.
Using wide channel (40MHz) is not neighbor-friendly.

 

Yes please, I would like to.
I just updated the firmware.

 

Well, with the update, I had to go in and adjust it all again and I think I did good. Windows speed is 130MB and surfing is 27.95DL and 3.32UL. This with provider promise of 12DL and 3UL monthly @ $30 for 6 months then $45.

Question: like the "Backup Configurations" button in the Linksys web management, how do I backup the same for the Broadcom 802.11n?

Thanks

 

You can't but that doesn't matter- the router is the boss. It forces certain things and adapters either connect (if that can) or don't- if they don't support something that the router requires i.e. 40MHz channels.

So there's no need to backup Wi-fi settings for each card.

 

Cool, thanks.... Merry Christmas!