What type of performance gain should I expect with 802.11n products ?

Performance of individual 802.11n devices is determined by the vendor’s choice of optional features as well as factors unrelated to the standard itself (processor speed, device design, etc.).

As a group, 802.11n devices deliver up to 5 times the data rate and up to twice the range of older Wi-Fi standards; various optional 802.11n features can improve performance beyond those parameters.

Current products on the market typically offer speeds of up to 300 Mbps. With a variety of optional features enabled, data rates for 802.11n devices can reach up to 600 Mbps. Wi-Fi device vendors deploy different sets of 802.11n features to suit the needs of a particular device, application, or market, so product performance will vary.