re: Starbucks and other public hot-spots question.

Most non-industrial wifi access points are built for 10-15 devices with a double radio and it only has a certain amount of throughput that can be shared on a hub like (half speed) connection.


So... For example
So if Starbucks has a 20 Mbps connection and has one Wireless AP you and 20 other devices are on that you are all completing at half speed for a small portion of that 20 MBps. Also interestingly if one device operates at a lower end wifi capability (I.e. iPhone 3GS that only is 802.11b/g capable) that brings down the entire speed that anybody can connect on.