slow internet using Netgear wireless router
 

Hi

hope someone can help. I am on virgin cable internet package L which is 10MB and I have a Netgear Rangemax WPN824. I have started to notice that my internet connection is really slow, particularly at peak times e.g. 6pm to 9pm.

In the morning, I can do a speed test on speedtest.net and can get speeds up to 9.88mb which is obvioulsy fine. However at peak times I struggle to get over 3mb and often have less than 2mb.

Is this a problem with my Netgear wireless router? I have rung Virgin and they tell me I am not being capped, but something must be wrong. Could it be something to do with my son also using his laptop at the same time. I presume this will slow down the connection asn the total 10mb we are due will be diluted??, but surely not by that much. He also uses a programme called VUZE, which he has used to download movies etc. Would this significantly slow things down?

I have tried running the internet directly into my laptop and not through the router and that does speed things up, but obviosuly I want wireless connection. Is my router a decent enough one for a normal semi detached with two laptops??

Any advice of what I can do would be gratefully received

thanks

John

Re: slow internet using Netgear wireless router
 

You can only do a speediest when your the only one using the Internet, if someone else is using your bandwidth while you do the test it will show a slow reading

Re: slow internet using Netgear wireless router
 

im wondering if someone else is using the same channel ur wireless connection is running on and is logging on around the times ur talking of causing interfearance for u.

Could be worth changing the wireless channel ur on to see if this makes any sort of difference.

Re: slow internet using Netgear wireless router
 

Hi

I don't think anyone else will be using my wireless ur as you need a password to connect to it.

It is really bugging me now

Re: slow internet using Netgear wireless router
 

Doesn't stop anyone guessing or cracking the password depending on the encryption used. However, that's not the point since you answered your own question. You say your son uses vuze and wondered if that could slow things down. Well it can and by a lot especially if he is using it over wireless. You see VUZE is a bit torrent application and even if it doesn't use your whole downstream it will likely use your whole upstream and this can have a massive effect on anything the connection does. For me this has a range of symptoms from sluggish browsing to sub-dialup browsing speeds and even browsing errors (page not found etc), slow downloads and complete unsuitability for things like skype.

You might be able to block him using firewall rules on the router but best bet is to be honest and tell him you dont want him using VUZE when you are using the net or at all if you prefer.

---------- Post added at 16:26 ---------- Previous post was at 16:24 ----------

If you want to test my theory change your wireless key (password). You will then be disconnected from your router and so will your Son. Enter the new key to reconnect and see if things improve, if they do I'm guessing when your son asks you for the new key things instantly slow back down when he reconnects.