Basic Data Rate

The Basic Data Rate is the data rate at which the Cisco Wireless LAN Adapter will transmit and receive 802.11 management and control packets to/from Access Points (Infrastructure Mode) or other Clients (Ad Hoc Mode). Due to the nature of Radio Frequency (RF) communications, lower data rates will have greater range. Thus, to increase the likelihood of a data packet being sent successfully, you should select the 1Mbps Basic Data Rate. This will give you the greatest range for the 802.11 management packets, increasing the likelihood that Clients on the other side of the cell will ‘hear’ your data packets and refrain from sending their own data packets, thus avoiding a collision (and the need for a re-transmission, etc.).

However, if you configure your RF network to have a small cell size, you will achieve higher throughput if you choose the 2 Mbps Basic Data Rate.

The Basic Data Rate MUST match the Basic Data Rate of the Access Points (Infrastructure Mode) or other Clients (Ad Hoc Mode) you wish to communicate with, otherwise THE Cisco Wireless LAN Adapter WILL NOT ASSOCIATE TO THEM. Also, the Supported Data Rates must at least be a subset of the rates the other devices are using.