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Gigabit Ethernet
- Thread starter alexcf
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Yep, that is pretty much what I get too.
SidBala said:
I am running off a high-end Netgear 3500L GigE router. My cables are cheap CAT5 ones though. Not sure if better cables will help.
Can you tell us with what router and what Macs? I never seem to get more than 7MB/s with my AEBS (MB763LL/A - early 2009 model) with my 2007 iMac and 2008 white MacBook and 2009 MBP, all 802.11n capable machines.
To be able to get that kind of speeds you'll need to use channel bonding.
160Mbit is the fastest theoretical possible in normal operation mode on 802.11n equipment.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB442Z/A?fnode=MTY1NDEyMQ&mco=MTA4NzI5MTg
Though hat will limit you to USB speeds (25 to 35 MB/s).
And the above posts ....
You can get the exact same thing on eBay for a quarter of the price.
I have not used this particular product before but I have used usb-> ethernet adapters before and they work ok. I had an old dell laptop that did not have any ethernet ports. This worked ok, but was slower then an actual ethernet port.
I suspect that even with usb2, it will be slower then an actual ethernet port.
I asked already but I'll re-ask. Why buy a laptop that fails to have an ethernet port when you stated that is all but a requirement.
If I were to buy an expensive laptop that failed to meet my initial needs and requirements, I'd envision frustration as I attempt to work around that short coming.
I suspect that even with usb2, it will be slower then an actual ethernet port.
I asked already but I'll re-ask. Why buy a laptop that fails to have an ethernet port when you stated that is all but a requirement.
If I were to buy an expensive laptop that failed to meet my initial needs and requirements, I'd envision frustration as I attempt to work around that short coming.
I've tried similar solutions in the past, ie, buying a product I really wanted but lacked important features, and then trying to make up for those features in other ways. What I learned from that is it's not worth the hassle, and the solutions you come up with are often expensive and not very good. The options as I see them:
* Get a MBP and enjoy Gbit ethernet
* Get an Air and enjoy the design / portability, and spend a little while longer transfering files.
* Find a better solution for moving data. This might not be possible, but I'm talking about cutting down on the amount of files you need to move, start using dropbox / similar to only move the active document, always keep your files on a USB drive and work with them from there or something similar.
* Get a MBP and enjoy Gbit ethernet
* Get an Air and enjoy the design / portability, and spend a little while longer transfering files.
* Find a better solution for moving data. This might not be possible, but I'm talking about cutting down on the amount of files you need to move, start using dropbox / similar to only move the active document, always keep your files on a USB drive and work with them from there or something similar.
Look for a usb/ethernet adapter.
To be honest, why did you buy a computer that did not have an ethernet port, when you had a requirement of such a port
I travel a lot I think the MBA would be great - but, most hotels outside the US (and a lot within), have only just started having ethernet as standard in rooms - wifi... some way off. I was thinking of getting the airport express to carry around with me...
I may get it anyway, as freedom to move about the room / share connection is good for me. But, this doesn't really help the OP out Because there are USB adapters to provide that. Just like there are dongles for HDMI. Just like there's an external power adapter for every laptop (do you not buy a laptop just because power is a requirement and there's no adapter built directly into it???).
USB 2.0 is much faster than Fast Ethernet 10/100 speeds, it is very easy to saturate 100mbps. Very few GigE connections ever get fully utilized - the 480mbps provided by USB 2.0 is theoretically 4.8x the speed, but basically you can get USB hard drive speed like connectivity to a network share that's capable of operating at such speeds.
Its a question of what you want integrated, vs. what you want as a peripheral device. Everyone has different needs and requirements. Is that really so hard for people to understand?
Yes, but the OP stated that he speed/volume is an issue and those dongles will not provide gigabit throughput. If he's happy with 10/100 speeds, then yeah the dongle is ok.
But he can get sub GigE but faster than 10/100 speeds with a 3rd party GigE USB adapter. He's asking if there are any available.
Unless you're assuming he's expecting GigE to mean 1000 and nothing less than that will suffice, in which case, then yes he should be looking elsewhere. I don't read it that way - I think most people looking for a GigE USB adapter would understand the limitations - and up to 4.8x over 10/100 is no trivial improvement to be passed up on if its available.
You're saying if he can't get 1000, then he has to settle for 100 or 10 only?
I bought this one at monoprice:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10311&cs_id=1031102&p_id=5345&seq=1&format=2
USB has a theoretical max of 480Mbps though, but hopefully it's better than 10/100. I haven't tried it yet though, it says it supports Mac OS X and the reviews say it's worked with theirs.
Saw your post in the Ethernet adapter thread, thanks for the link !
They also have cheap Minidisplayport adapters, just ordered all I'll need for the MBA .
Maflynn, I'm thinking that may be correct. His latest post suggest he's done some more research and this Belkin is the best candidate, which suggests he's either not really read, or not taken to heart, the discussion in the thread up to this point.
He may indeed be expecting blood from a turnip, in which case the Air is not for him.
Ah ok - I suspect he wouldn't be able to tell the difference though, between a USB GigE vs. full GigE. Most people won't ever max out a GigE connection today.
I was getting 5mb/s down from Steam at the Apple store on MacBook Airs. My home connection is no where near that. Realistically, not many people have Internet that fast.
But local networks can offer up to 70MB/s (MB as in MegaByte), if one uses Gigabit components. If a USB to Gigabit Ethernet adapter can provide full USB speeds, then one can accomplish data rates of up to 35MB/s, something the OP is after, as s/he is talking about a local network and not the internet.
Yes. The Monoprice one works fine for me. Did you install the drivers that came with the dongle? They are on a mini CD included with the device.
Although OS X seems to recognize it out of the box and the Asix website says that the chip inside is compatible with 10.6 as is, I found that you needed to install the Monoprice drivers for Mac included with the dongle.
Some real life data:
My gigabit-connected PC can transfer files to my NAS at 72MB/s (measurement from teracopy).
With the Monoprice 'gig' dongle, I can transfer files from Macbook Air to the same NAS at 28MB/s (measurement from ultracopy, and bursting to 32MB at times indicating there is possibly some optimization I could do if I cared). I also got 28 MB/s in PC to MBA transfer (teracopy).
Not as good as a true GigE, but better than the 10/100 dongle would do and better than my Wifi can do.
My gigabit-connected PC can transfer files to my NAS at 72MB/s (measurement from teracopy).
With the Monoprice 'gig' dongle, I can transfer files from Macbook Air to the same NAS at 28MB/s (measurement from ultracopy, and bursting to 32MB at times indicating there is possibly some optimization I could do if I cared). I also got 28 MB/s in PC to MBA transfer (teracopy).
Not as good as a true GigE, but better than the 10/100 dongle would do and better than my Wifi can do.
Thanks for this. I had the same problem. The drivers on the CD worked for me. Although accessing the mini CD was an issue because I only have a Super Drive, which doesn't work with mini CDs. I've attached a zip file with the drivers that are on the CD in case anyone else is in the same situation.
cap speed of wireless connection?
a quick question: what is the maximum speed of MBA wireless connection?
sorry I haven't read through all the posts...
a quick question: what is the maximum speed of MBA wireless connection?
sorry I haven't read through all the posts...
Generally not. I have a gigabit switch so I can maximize the network traffic between computers. Since I'm on DSL, the overall internet speed is quite a bit slower and in fact my wireless is faster then what I get from my dsl connection.