WiFi Wireless LAN Data Rates and Range

The practical data rates or throughput in the WLAN based on the WiFi technologies differ depends on the specific standard (802.11a/b/g/n), the number of users in the network as well as the distance from the access point. Even in ideal operating conditions, the throughput may be only 50 per cent to 75 per cent of the maximum data rate, which is defined in a specific standard. Also, the data rates are very sensitive to the distance between the device and the access point. For example, in an 802.11g networks the data rate drops to as low as 1 or 2 Mbps at 100 m, though the maximum rate is 54 Mbps. Physical barriers such as partitions and walls will further reduce the maximum rate possible at a given distance from the AP.

In the following tables, the maximum data rates for various technologies are listed.

802.11a/b/g Data Rates

Access/Modulation Method	802.11b	802.11a	802.11g
DSSS/DBPSK	1 Mbps		1 Mbps
DSSS/DQPSK	2 Mbps		2 Mbps
CCK/DQPSK	5.5 Mbps – 11 Mbps		5.5 Mbps – 11 Mbps
OFDM/BPSK		6 – 9 Mbps	6 – 9 Mbps
OFDM/QPSK		12 - 18 Mbps	12 - 18 Mbps
OFDM/16-QAM		24 – 36 Mbps	24 – 36 Mbps
OFDM/64-QAM		48 – 54 Mbps	48 – 54 Mbps

802.11n Data Rates
(One Spatial Stream)

Access/Modulation Method	Base Data Rate	With Channel Bonding	With Short Guard Interval
MIMO/BPSK	6.5 – 13.5 Mbps	13.5 - 27 Mbps	15 – 30 Mbps
MIMO /QPSK	19.5 – 26 Mbps	40.5 – 54 Mbps	45 – 60 Mbps
MIMO /16-QAM	39 - 52 Mbps	81 - 108 Mbps	90 - 120 Mbps
MIMO /64-QAM	58.5 – 65 Mbps	121.5 – 135 Mbps	135 – 150 Mbps