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I have this VDSL/ADSL modem here. It has support for mixed wireless b/g/n mode.

I have a PS3 (wireless g) and an Xbox One (wireless n) among other nongaming devices which all support wireless n as well. Does this mean that my wireless network speed would be operating at the lowest common denominator or does it operate at g for the ps3 but n for the Xbox One and other devices?

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  • Why can't you simply test this yourself?
    – sawdust
    Mar 29, 2015 at 23:05
  • @sawdust how do I do it? I don't have a PC. Mar 29, 2015 at 23:09
  • Can you get a connection status and statistics from the Xbox One, the device you are most concerned about?
    – sawdust
    Mar 29, 2015 at 23:12

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No, that's a widespread but false myth. The presence of prior generation wireless devices has never forced the whole network to use the old technology exclusively.

Your N-capable AP will use N when talking to N clients, and use G when talking to G clients.

However, the presence of prior generation wireless clients can slow down the modern stuff down a little, but not all the way down to the old technology's rates. This comes primarily from two things:

  1. New-generation stuff often has to operate in "legacy protection" mode to protect its new fast transmissions from getting stepped on by legacy devices that can't detect the new fast transmissions. These protection mechanisms cause a minor performance hit.
  2. Old-generation stuff uses lower signaling rates, and thus burns more airtime to transfer an equivalent amount of data.

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