> >> What do you mean by "outperform"? I can see how drivers can
> >> affect throughput. The Windows drivers for my Laptop's WiFi
> >> chipset (Intel Pro-something) only get about 1/4 of the
> >> bandwidth that the Linux drivers do.
> >>
> >> But, I don't understand how the driver can affect receiver
> >> sensitivity. That's purely a function of the design of the RF
> >> frontend.
> >
> > As modified by the firmware in the device. OK, it's not the
> > driver per se, but it's certainly not the hardware either
>
> Sorry, I don't see how firmware can affect sensitivity. I've
> been involved in writing firmware for RF data communications
> stuff for a long time, and I've certainly never been able to
> affect sensitivity.

I can say that I was really struggling to get a reliable wireless
connection with the rt2x00 device and Hawking external antenna
anywhere in my garage. I tried the madwifi device attached to the
same Hawking antenna and the difference was ridiculous. I got a
perfectly reliable signal from the back of the garage, the point
furthest from the signal's source.

Now that I think about it, I could have enabled outdoor mode for
madwifi, but I can't check it right now. Could that account for the
difference?

- Grant
--
gentoo-user@(protected)