time for an upgrade?

funkyCable · 04-02-2009, 13:36

Hi

I just upgraded my broadband from 2MB to 20MB.
I'm having problems with this upgrade.

If I connect directly to the cable modem and do various speed tests from speedtesting site I get 20mb. If I connect my wireless router to it and wire it to my pc I get 20mb but if I use wireless instead of the cable I only get if I'm lucky 7mb.

I have a safecom SWBR-5400. I know its known for being slow. I ve not had a problem while I've been using 2mb. Is it compatible with a 20mb surely the only thing that may not be compatible would be the modem which if I connect to 192.168.100.1 it says that it is receiving 20mb
Any ideas as to why wireless does not give me a 20mb connection?

Or is it time to upgradE?

Aragorn · 04-02-2009, 13:53

Time to upgrade what?
You've pretty much isolated the problem - ie wireless throughput. (You get 20Mb wired but only 7Mb wireless)
Is the wireless adapter a b or g adapter? If it is a b adapter, then 7Mb is good. If it is a g adapter, it should be capable of 20Mb throughput in the right circumstances (no interference, no other networks on same channel, etc). Also if you are only using one g adapter on your network, you need to make sure the router is transmitting in 'g mode', not in 'b/g mixed' mode.

funkyCable · 04-02-2009, 14:50

Hi Aragorn,

I was asking whether I should upgrade my router. Isn't 11b surpose to reach 11MB and g 54mb?

I cant see any setting in my router that would allow me to change whether it accepted b or g. I know some g devices support b. On the website they just say the following as part of the spec

High speed for wireless LAN connection: support both IEEE 802.11b and 802.11g. Up to 54 Mbps data rate when operates in 802.11g mode.

I have a wireless USB adaptor. Its a Safecom ZD1211 b+g adaptor. I looked through the setting and did not see anything saying b or g though I did see something Tx Rate that mentioned a list of different Mbs so I set it to 54MB before it was set to auto. the strength is really low though.

Let me know try and boot up into ubuntu and check I tend to get better signal stregth I dont know why as the router is only about 3 meters away from pc and is in the same room.

**Chris** · 04-02-2009, 14:54

I think your wireless USB adaptor may be the weak link in the chain here ...

funkyCable · 04-02-2009, 15:00

In ubuntu my signal strength is 88%
I run www.speedtest.net

and get the following
d/l 8401kbps
upload 727kbps

Aragorn · 04-02-2009, 15:51

Still running in Ubuntu? If so, open a 'terminal' window and type
'sudo iwconfig' .
This should tell you what speed the wireless is using, eg Bit Rate:1 Mb/s

funkyCable · 04-02-2009, 16:22

The Bit Rate = 48Mb/s

Aragorn · 04-02-2009, 16:32

Hmm, it could be a number of things slowing it down - the router throttling the wireless, contention on the wireless channel, interference, etc.
Easiest to change would be the wireless channel.
You could try a different router/adapter but that would obviously cost money and may not make a difference. Also a new adapter 'may' not be supported by Ubuntu!

funkyCable · 04-02-2009, 16:57

is getting an n router/adaptor worth upgrading to ?

Aragorn · 04-02-2009, 21:05

If you are not sharing files or streaming media within your own network - ie between your own computers - then not really. A 54G wireless network should be capable to up to 20Mb/s which is all you have on the other side of the modem. An N router may get the data from the router to the PC quicker but will still be limited by the 20Mb broadband.
If you feel the need to change hardware, look for a 54G with speedboost (same make router and adapter), such as a WRT54GS and equivalent adapter.
That's my opinion.

damien c · 04-02-2009, 22:10

Here's my experience with wireless and why i don't recommend unless their is no alternative.

1. 20mb virgin BB connected to a 54g router via wireless i got 10mb max
2. 20mb virgin BB connected to a belkin n router via wireless 14mb max

when i connected via ethernet i got the 18.70mb fastest you will get when downloading on the, 20mb service when using newsgroups etc the 54g router only had 1 lan port out which i had to split for, my xbox 360 and ps3 the router was 2 foot away from my pc and still couldn't give max speed via wireless.

after around 2 months with the 54g router i bought a belkin n router which everyday dropped, the connection to the modem and i had to reboot both router and modem.

i am now connected to 50mb broadband as my dad tests it and i get 48.79mb max when downloading, we tried it on a 54g using wireless and i got 35mb we are going to be testing it on a n router soon but i don't hold my breath.

all i will say is if you have the option to use a ethernet cable use it reasons being:

no need for wireless protection.
fastest speed possible.
no need to replace adaptors if they go faulty.
no driver issues.
no connecting to other peoples network without you knowing.
no risk of interference from other routers around you.

i don't trust wireless and never will i wont use it to many issues with it and not worth the money, or effort imho unless there is no alternative if you can use ethernet then use it.

MovedGoalPosts · 05-02-2009, 09:19

This post from the other thread created on the matter probably sheds the most light on this issue http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/34727126-post13.html

Wireless is never likely to perform quite as well as a wired connection. Local interference on the channel, overall signal strength, etc, will all have an impact on degradation. However you should still see a reasonable speed if all other aspects of the hardware and their drivers are working correctly, and you at least have "g" speed connetivity.

KingDaveRa · 05-02-2009, 11:37

Most likely cause (imho) - channels.

Around me, there's about 5 or 6 APs. Most of them are showing strong signal, BUT, they're all on channel 11 or 6. They'll see packet dropouts, and other random things. I, however, have my AP on channel 9, which nobody else is using. I get full-tilt throughput, and my network is all B/G.

It's quite often something really simple. I get full signal all over the house too, up and downstairs. Another simple thing you can do, is make sure the aerial is pointing the right way; the signal radiates out the sides mostly - top and bottom, you don't get a lot of signal. So if you have your AP downstairs, and you are upstairs, say, you need to tilt the aerial so the signal is thrown up more. Diverse antenna are good for that as you can have one sitting vertical, to cover the area where the AP is, and another at say 45 degrees to give coverage up and down. Mine is at about 45 degrees, so it covers the living room and dining room, as well as upstairs. It improved the signal all over the house when I did that!

funkyCable · 05-02-2009, 11:49

I tried netstumbler and strangely when I use the software that came with the adaptor it does not show any other networks I then used the default windows zero config service and found some other networks.

I'm on channel 11 the only other network in range is on channel 1. Netstumbler is reporting my network as using WEP even though I'm using WPA and the channel says 11+ then changes to 11* and then back to + again and just keeps doing that. The graph seems to go up and down and have blank spaces as well. I tried other channels but none of the others but my adaptor will not connect to the router.

MovedGoalPosts · 05-02-2009, 11:57

I presume you are running the latest firmware for your router?