Wireless help needed
 

Posted this on another thread but thought I would highlight it with its own thread

This may seem a silly question to some but i'm not sure. Just got the 10mb upgrade today (Glasgow), but when I use my laptop through a 54 mbps wireless router I get these results

Tue, 3 Jun 2008 20:39:03 UTC

Test 1: 1024K took 1516 ms = 675.5 KB/sec, approx 5566 Kbps, 5.44 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 1656 ms = 618.4 KB/sec, approx 5096 Kbps, 4.98 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 1625 ms = 630.2 KB/sec, approx 5193 Kbps, 5.07 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 3281 ms = 624.2 KB/sec, approx 5143 Kbps, 5.02 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 5250 Kbps, 5.13 Mbps

Does 54mbps only mean that I can download at a 10th of that speed eg 5.4Mbps as when I use the wired PC down stairs I get 10 Mbps or there abouts.

Thanks for any help in advance

Re: Wireless help needed
 

Have you tried connecting the laptop to the router using an ethernet cable to see if there's a difference in speed?

Also, have you tried moving the laptop closer to the router to see if the speed increases? Could you try both and post back speedtests for them both?

Re: Wireless help needed
 

It's not uncommon to get a lower speed when using WiFi. even with the computer right next to the router.

Re: Wireless help needed
 

cimt

This is the speed when connected to the router

Tue, 3 Jun 2008 22:03:10 UTC

Test 1: 1024K took 485 ms = 2111.3 KB/sec, approx 17397 Kbps, 16.99 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 859 ms = 1192.1 KB/sec, approx 9823 Kbps, 9.59 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 859 ms = 1192.1 KB/sec, approx 9823 Kbps, 9.59 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 1719 ms = 1191.4 KB/sec, approx 9817 Kbps, 9.59 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 11715 Kbps, 11.44 Mbps



This is the speed when the laptop is next to the router

Tue, 3 Jun 2008 22:07:26 UTC

Test 1: 1024K took 1562 ms = 655.6 KB/sec, approx 5402 Kbps, 5.28 Mbps
Test 2: 1024K took 1563 ms = 655.2 KB/sec, approx 5399 Kbps, 5.27 Mbps
Test 3: 1024K took 1593 ms = 642.8 KB/sec, approx 5297 Kbps, 5.17 Mbps
Test 4: 2048K took 3125 ms = 655.4 KB/sec, approx 5400 Kbps, 5.27 Mbps

Overall Average Speed = approx 5375 Kbps, 5.25 Mbps


Cheers

Re: Wireless help needed
 

Is the laptop usually far from the router? Because by the looks of things, you either may need to purchase a new wireless router or you can get an ethernet cable for very cheap.

Re: Wireless help needed
 

Yeah the laptop is normally upstairs, should the router carry 10Mbps, or do you need to have a router with more than 54 Mpbs.

Thanks for all your help.

Re: Wireless help needed
 

http://www.speedguide.net/downloads.php

Try downloading that and use the laptop wireless, then see if it makes a difference. The router should be fine, I think mine is similar for the 54 bit.

Re: Wireless help needed
 

There can be quite a significant loss in speed over wireless. Your wired speed tests suggest there is nothing wrong with the connection, it's just the wireless setup.

Local interference is often the issue, possibly a neighbour's wireless which uses the same crowded airwaves, and indeed other appliances. You can try using a different channel, and make sure you have the latest firmware and drivers for the router / wireless card.

Re: Wireless help needed
 

Thank you cimt working a treat.

Take it its all legal just i'm getting a download level of 1.82Mb/s from apple

Re: Wireless help needed
 

many people dont realise it but these 11g type wireless routers have really poor CPU's inside and so cant keep up
the full dataflow when you put all the security options on.

but theres more,even when you turn off all the options and just use the router as a most basic connection device without security, then the best real throughput of any 11g so called 54Mbit routers will be 22Mbit/s ,averaging 15Mbit/s or there abouts.


the far better option thats existed for a while now is to simply stop buying the old 11g kit and move over to the newer 11N kit that can push through far greater than the 22Mbit MAX you can get with 11g.

for you, as a test, try turning off all your wireless routers options and test again, you might find it will slightly increase the data thoughput tham your reported 5.13 Mbps.

its your choice to then accept your 11g routers limiting CPU processing power and be content with lower than expected throughput, or slowly upgrade all your old 11g kit to 11n over time (getting ready for the future 50Mbit/s package perhaps).

some tech users able to reflash their 11g kit have used lightweight 3rd party firmwares to improve the overall throughput to some degree, but you cant go better than a far better CPU/SOC inside the newer 11n kit today for home use.

Re: Wireless help needed
 

Glad I helped you solve your problem :tu: