How to use my iMac on 802.11n BT Home Hub

[admin_exported]

i heard that i need some sort of software to run my imac on my bt home hub 802.11n. is this true and if so what do i need? my imac is the latest g5 intel variation. thx

 

[chebby]

All I can find is this BT link. Your BT hub should come with Mac installation/set-up on the CD-ROM

Looks straightforward (although I would choose WPA/WPA2 rather than WEP if that option is possible via your BT hub.)

If you have any other wireless adaptors on your home network it will run at the speed of the slowest one (usually 802.11g) which is not a concern unless you are doing something like streaming HD video around your network wirelessly.

Sorry I cannot help further but my home network 'hub' is an Aiport Extreme 802.11n so I am not expert on your set-up.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your help and advice. I am currently using WPA/WPA2. Is there any way to check if my imac is using the 802.11n? The internet seems quite fast (safari loads pages quick even if catche has been emptied) I am on 2.5mbs at the moment with bt broadband. another question i have is about airport extreme. can this work along side the bt home hub, or is there no point to this idea?

 

[chebby]

It is doubtful you will notice any difference between 802.11g and 802.11n in terms of speed from the internet.

802.11g is 22Mbits/s (typical throughput) 54Mbits (net maximum)

802.11n is 144Mbits/s (typical throughput) 300Mbits (net maximum)

So unless your internet speed is reliably well over 22Mbits/s then it won't make a great deal of difference there.

The difference will tell when you are - for instance - streaming wirelessly between devices in your home network, especially stuff like HD video.

802.11n has much better range though. This was the main reason I got my Airport Extreme 802.11n (connected currently to 10Mbit/s Virgin cable router.)

I doubt there is any advantage to be had from combining an Airport Extreme 802.11n base station with your BT hub. Just adds expense and complication.