How we did it
 
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We tested 802.11a and 802.11b access points in three environments, a one-story office building at three test points, a nine-story office building, and a flat, half-mile square level field (at less than 85% relative humidity to diminish surface reflectivity). Note that some 802.11b products weren't tested in the nine-story building. Measurements are taken at specific test points using the same physical notebook orientation with two identically configured Compaq notebook computers (Presario 760US configured with Windows XP). We used XP's "restore" feature to wipe drivers and registry entries at each test point and interval, and used drivers published at the vendor's Web site the day prior to test.
The Agere/Orinoco antenna product was tested in the open field, using an APC uninterruptible power supply. We suspended the antenna on a 1-by-6-inch-by-8-foot stud, and positioned the antenna to center at 6 feet above average terrain, then recorded the data rate for Agere/Orinoco's 802.11b "Gold Card" and a 3Com 802.11b card.
We tested 802.11b and/or 802.11a products from the following vendors in conjunction with this story:
- 802.11a access points and cards
- D-LinkAir Pro
- Intel ProWireless 5000
- Netgear HE102 access point; HE501 PC Cards
- Proxim Harmony
- Proxim Skyline
- SMC 2755W
- 802.11b access points and cards
- 3Com
- Intel
- D-Link
- Agere/Orinoco
- Linksys
- Compaq
- 802.11b antenna products
- Agere/Orinoco Range Extender Antenna #010096
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