Using new Extreme N in mixed environment, seems slower than plain old G...

Question

I got a new Extreme N couple days ago. Installed it as the main base, with an older Airport Extreme and an Express as WDS stations.
My MacBook Pro does not have N hardware in it (grrrr, don't get me started . But my wife's MacBook does. I got the N because I really want a networked hard drive and figured we'll all have N at some point.
I understand that the network speed gets knocked down to G speed if there are non N clients on it. However, I swear it seems noticeably slower overall than my plain old G network.
Anyone else feeling like a mixed network is slower than plain G?
Also, does anyone have a sense for how security options impact peformance?
Thanks.
MacBook Pro   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

Answer 1

I'm in a similar position, picking up the new AE this weekend, and form what I've read there's a better way, and here's what I'm going to do, maybe you'll want to try it:
-Setup the new AEx as an N-only network, ramped up.
-Connect either the older AEx or EXp via ethernet to it, and hang it off there in bridge mode.
-Try to put some distance between the two, at least 20 feet.
-You can set it up as a g-only network if you like, and it'll handle wireless communications from you, and the the other g base station, also offering it's services on your total network, but without decreasing the n-speed.
Hope it helps. For more info on setting this up, consult the 'Designing Airport Extreme-n Networks" manual, here (PDF).