Hamburg  - WLAN USB sticks that sport the newest N transmission standard can retrieve data from the internet up to four times faster than those working with the prior G standard.

They can also broadcast across longer distances and require up to 50 per cent less energy, reports Hamburg-based Computer Bild.

While devices working with the G standard could reach an effective transfer rate of maximally 23 megabits per second, WLAN sticks with the new N standard achieve up to
100 megabits per second. Those top speeds were only available where the router also works with the N standard and uses the same chipset as the WLAN stick, the magazine explained.

Computer Bild tested eight sticks. Among the most significant differences was the broadcast distance: some sticks can beam their signal through four walls, other only through two. The prices also varied a great deal: The span ranged from 29 to 89 dollars - although the most expensive model did not receive the top grades. (dpa)