Conflicting downloads!
 

I'm not quite sure if I've posted this in the correct forum, if not I'd be grateful if one of the mods would move it!
But anyway, just got the VIP pack and the 10mb broadband, and I'm happy as a pig in the wotsit with it. But, what's confusing the hell outta me (and admittedly, it doesn't take all that much!) is the rather confusing results I get running speed-tests on the computers at home. I have my modem connected to a Belkin wireless router, and we have three laptops connected to the network. When I run a speedtest on MY laptop, I get as close to 10mb as makes no difference. However, the other two laptops only seem to connect at one third this speed.
My laptop is a new machine running Vista, the other two are rather older machines using XP (if that makes a difference). The only fire-wall on all PCs is the Windows one.
Could it be a problem with the wireless cards in the two older machines...or is there a much simpler solution which I've simply overlooked?

Thanks.

Re: Conflicting downloads!
 

If your router has connections for ethernet connections as well then try with the laptops connected via that assuming the laptops have ethernet ports as well. That would prove the problem is the wireless. It probably is.

Another thought, I assume you have the laptops the same distance from the router when testing?

Re: Conflicting downloads!
 

Is your newer machine running a 'G' card (54Meg) and the older machines 'B' (11Meg)? This could explain it, as you'll get nowhere near 11Meg on these in reality.

Re: Conflicting downloads!
 

Thanks for the replies fellas. I connected one of the slower PCs via ethernet (why didn't I think of doing that first, doh!) and it was connecting at more-or-less full speed. Then tried the wireless again and it was back to one-third. So, it's obviously a problem with the wireless cards.
Looks like it'll soon be time to pay Dell another visit...more expense!!

Cheers anyway!:tu:

Re: Conflicting downloads!
 

why dell.... you can buy wireless cards from loads of places, and they'll probably be cheaper than dell ;)

Re: Conflicting downloads!
 

We've got a netgear wireless card in our lappy and it works a dream.

Re: Conflicting downloads!
 

Ive got a netgear card in one of my machines, Works great :)

I've also got an edimax card, that ones fine to.

Had a safecom card that was ok at first but then started getting data corruption (i think the laptop cooked it)

Re: Conflicting downloads!
 

I meant I was going to replace the computers (well, one of them anyway!). The kids PC I'll probably just get a new card for. Cheers for the advice!