Take a look at our
ThinkPads.com HOME PAGE
For those who might want to contribute to the blog, start here: Editors Alley Topic
Then contact Bill with a Private Message

Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of AN?

T430-T490, T530-T590 Series
Post Reply
Message
Author
cb474
Sophomore Member
Posts: 133
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:04 pm
Location: Washington, DC

Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of AN?

#1 Post by cb474 » Tue Jan 13, 2015 3:17 am

On the T440s, you have the option for the same price ($30) to choose either the Intel Dual Band Wireless 7260AN or the 7260AC card.

Isn't the AC standard completely backwards compatible with A, B, G, and N? So what's the point of the 7260AN?

RealBlackStuff
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 23812
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Loch Garman, Éire

Re: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of A

#2 Post by RealBlackStuff » Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:55 am

The AN only uses standard ABGN
The AC uses standard ABGN plus the new AC.

Intel makes even more of a mess:
http://www.legitreviews.com/intel-7260h ... 11n_135541
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

ajkula66
SuperUserGeorge
SuperUserGeorge
Posts: 17303
Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:28 am
Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Re: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of A

#3 Post by ajkula66 » Tue Jan 13, 2015 9:40 am

cb474 wrote:
Isn't the AC standard completely backwards compatible with A, B, G, and N? So what's the point of the 7260AN?
Not quite.

On the AC cards the 5GHz band is AC only, leaving just the 2.4GHz band for the rest and limiting the speed to anywhere between 150 and 300Mbps, depending on a number of factors. In most scenarios it will be 150Mbps.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

TTY
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 542
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:39 pm
Location: graz, austria

Re: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of A

#4 Post by TTY » Wed Jan 14, 2015 4:45 pm

ajkula66 wrote:On the AC cards the 5GHz band is AC only, leaving just the 2.4GHz band for the rest...
I suppose you must be mistaken. The Dual Band 7260AC card is specified to be able to do IEEE 802.11 abgn. That means it can do 802.11a and most probably 802.11n in the 5 GHz band too.

TTY
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 542
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:39 pm
Location: graz, austria

Re: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of A

#5 Post by TTY » Wed Jan 14, 2015 4:56 pm

cb474 wrote:So what's the point of the 7260AN?
From what i understand, and as long as both cards cost the same, there is no point in getting the 7260AN card. The Dual Band 7260AC should be able to do all the 7260AN card can do plus IEEE 802.11ac.

killer
ThinkPadder
ThinkPadder
Posts: 1483
Joined: Mon May 28, 2007 5:26 am
Location: West Sussex, UK

Re: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of A

#6 Post by killer » Wed Jan 14, 2015 5:57 pm

TTY wrote:
cb474 wrote:So what's the point of the 7260AN?
From what i understand, and as long as both cards cost the same, there is no point in getting the 7260AN card. The Dual Band 7260AC should be able to do all the 7260AN card can do plus IEEE 802.11ac.
Agreed. 8)
T540p Win 7 Pro 64

X1 Carbon Win 7 Pro 64 for my wife.

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

Dogs must be carried on the escalator. Where can I find a dog?

ajkula66
SuperUserGeorge
SuperUserGeorge
Posts: 17303
Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:28 am
Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Re: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of A

#7 Post by ajkula66 » Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:43 pm

Question:

Has any of you been able to get over 300Mbps using 7260AC on a *non-AC* dual-band router? I haven't.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

TTY
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 542
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:39 pm
Location: graz, austria

Re: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of A

#8 Post by TTY » Wed Jan 14, 2015 10:16 pm

ajkula66 wrote:Question:

Has any of you been able to get over 300Mbps using 7260AC on a *non-AC* dual-band router?
I don't think anyone could hope for getting more than 300 Mbps throughput with an 7260AC card in a non-802.11ac network. The 7260AC card uses a maximum of two spatial streams per direction. With 802.11n technology, each spatial stream can deliver a theoretical maximum of 150 Mbps, but real throughput will probably be much lower.

ajkula66
SuperUserGeorge
SuperUserGeorge
Posts: 17303
Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:28 am
Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Re: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of A

#9 Post by ajkula66 » Wed Jan 14, 2015 10:26 pm

TTY wrote: With 802.11n technology, each spatial stream can deliver a theoretical maximum of 150 Mbps, but real throughput will probably be much lower.
I'd beg to differ since I've seen 450Mbps with Atheros 9380 and only two antennae more than once.
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

TTY
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 542
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:39 pm
Location: graz, austria

Re: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of A

#10 Post by TTY » Wed Jan 14, 2015 11:02 pm

ajkula66 wrote:I'd beg to differ since I've seen 450Mbps with Atheros 9380 and only two antennae more than once.
The Atheros 9380 uses three spatial streams. I suppose that the card's third connector - the one, to which no antenna is connected - might still work as a transmitter, even if no antenna is connected. That could explain the higher speed.

ajkula66
SuperUserGeorge
SuperUserGeorge
Posts: 17303
Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 11:28 am
Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Re: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of A

#11 Post by ajkula66 » Wed Jan 14, 2015 11:33 pm

TTY wrote:The Atheros 9380 uses three spatial streams. I suppose that the card's third connector - the one, to which no antenna is connected - might still work as a transmitter, even if no antenna is connected. That could explain the higher speed.
That sounds like a plausible explanation, or at least a part of the equation.

I have a build coming up and am intent on testing several cards - including the "non-AC 7260" - as a part of that project.

We'll see what I come back with. Stay tuned...
...Knowledge is a deadly friend when no one sets the rules...(King Crimson)

Cheers,

George (your grouchy retired FlexView farmer)

One FlexView to rule them all: A31p

Abused daily: T520, X200s


PMs requesting personal tech support will be ignored.

cb474
Sophomore Member
Posts: 133
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:04 pm
Location: Washington, DC

Re: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of A

#12 Post by cb474 » Thu Jan 15, 2015 4:10 am

TTY wrote:
cb474 wrote:So what's the point of the 7260AN?
From what i understand, and as long as both cards cost the same, there is no point in getting the 7260AN card. The Dual Band 7260AC should be able to do all the 7260AN card can do plus IEEE 802.11ac.
Yes, I understand that the AC card can do everything the AN card can, plus it has AC. I thought I indicated that in the OP.

I think people have misunderstood my question. My question is, why does Lenovo offer the choice of either the 7260AN or the 7260AC for the same price, on the T440s, if the 7260AC does everything the 7260AN does, plus it has AC? It doesn't make sense.

RealBlackStuff
Admin Emeritus
Admin Emeritus
Posts: 23812
Joined: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:17 am
Location: Loch Garman, Éire

Re: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of A

#13 Post by RealBlackStuff » Thu Jan 15, 2015 5:32 am

They need to get rid of surplus/old stock.
And not everybody has or wants AC, because it only works on 5HGz and over a shorter distance than N.
See also here: http://www.zdnet.com/article/gigabit-wi ... d-to-know/
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Lenovo: X240, X250, T440p, T480, M900 Tiny.

PS: the old Boardroom website is still available on the Wayback Machine
.

cb474
Sophomore Member
Posts: 133
Joined: Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:04 pm
Location: Washington, DC

Re: Intel Dual Band Wireless AC vs AN. What's the point of A

#14 Post by cb474 » Thu Jan 15, 2015 7:26 pm

RealBlackStuff wrote:They need to get rid of surplus/old stock.
And not everybody has or wants AC, because it only works on 5HGz and over a shorter distance than N.
See also here: http://www.zdnet.com/article/gigabit-wi ... d-to-know/
Ah, thanks. Seems like it would make more sense to charge a lower price of the AN card, then, otherwise people have no incentive to not just get the AC card. Unless Lenovo is just praying on people's ignorance.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “ThinkPad T430-T490 / T530-T590 Series”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 64 guests