Real cost to transfer rate with mixed "G" and "B" devices??

~ ~ Running a wireless network with three PCs, all running 802.11g adapters ~ (1 USB, 1 PCI and 1 PCMCIA). ~ ~ Also running wirelessly on this network is a Tivo, running an 801.11b ~ USB adapter. ~ ~ Is is true that when there are mixed "b" and "g" devices, data rate ~ across all devices defaults to the 802.11b rate?

No, this is not true - however, if there are 11b clients associated with an 11g access point, this will significantly reduce the throughput available to the 11g clients - from 22Mbps down to about 8Mbps. (See: White Paper: Capacity, Coverage, and Deployment Considerations for IEEE 802.11g,

~ If it is: does this reduction come simply because there is an 802.11b ~ device present in the network, or does it have to be actually passing ~ data (Tivos only contact the mothership once a day...)?

This speed reduction for 11g clients will be in effect as long as the 11b client is present, regardless of whether it is passing data.

Aaron

Thanks. Excellent gouge. Guess when Tivo starts supporing 802.11g, it'll be time to update the DVR:-)