Best Network Speed with Differing Wireless Connections

As I reported in a previous question we are getting fibre broadband. I am now looking at the wireless part of my network to get the best possible speed.

There are currently 2 devices that connect wirelessly. One is a 6 year old Dell Inspiron 6400 which has a Intel 4965agn network card (201.11a,g &n, 2.4 & 5ghz with 300mbs) and a second one year old Dell 15R which has an Intel wireless-n 2230 (2x2, 201.11b,g &n, 2.4ghz, 300mbs.

Do either of these cause a problem with best wireless speed for the other?
Do either/both of these cause a problem if we want something like the wireless sky connect box?

How do I make it faster?

As we are likely to go with BT Infinity with the new Home Hub 4 how do I set up for the best speed?

Thank you in advance for any help

The Inspiron 6400 has wireless n and both 2.4 and 5 GHz. This will enable the option of 5GHz for least interference and possible higher speed while retaining 2.4GHz if distance is a problem (5 GHz doesn't travel far).

The Dell 15r doesn't have 5GHz but it does have wireless N so you should be able to get good speeds.

The two killers are interference from other networks and distance - especially if through solid walls.

Having devices on the network using old technology (especially wireless B) does slow down the entire network.

As you can tell I am a non expert here!

I had guessed that as 802.11n is available to both systems that I would use that and that 801.11b & g would not be used.

I had noted 2x2 for one laptop and 5gkz for the other.

Do I need to do anything to get the best from this or is it just plug in & it sorts the best out?

Does getting a Sky Wireless on demand connector change anything?

Generally just plug it in and use it all, and only worry about problems when they occur, otherwise you end up reading and learning reams of information that would never be used.

In reply to a post by chris52:

As I reported in a previous question we are getting fibre broadband. I am now looking at the wireless part of my network to get the best possible speed.

Contradiction in terms. Use wire.