Full-speed 802.11n connection between two laptops without an access point

I have two laptops with 802.11n-capable wireless adapters (Intel WiFi Link 5100 AGN and Atheros AR9285) in them. However, I can't find a way to connect them at a speed higher than 54 Mbps. The methods of connection I've already tried are:
1) an ad hoc connection;
2) Windows 7 Wireless Hosted Network (netsh wlan start hostednetwork);
3) Connectify software;
4) Intel My WiFi software.
In all cases I used WPA2 security. The network is recognized as 802.11n, but the speed is always 54 Mbps only. What can be preventing the connection from using higher speeds? Both laptops run Windows 7 Ultimate.

Solution 1:

Finally figured it out. The problem was caused by the Atheros AR9285 adapter - its 802.11n capability was locked, and after using the Atheros EEPROM Tool to unlock it, the connection speed increased to 65 Mbps. The AR9285 can run at 150 Mbps on a 40 Mhz channel though, so if anybody knows how to make a Wireless Hosted Network / software AP use a wide channel, please reply.

Solution 2:

I think that AdHoc is one of those fuzzy areas not covered in the N spec, and may default to B speeds. See if the devices have an extra option for AdHoc in the device settings, some do I have heard.