Negear wpn824

[lolly1963]

Hi Guys,
Just after a bit of advice please.
This router was installed last Sunday and seems to be working
fine on the laptop and xbox 360.
I think there may be a problem with our desktop pc though.
It is already wireless enabled (card built in).
When looking at the connection icon on the desktop it seems to be giving eratic wireless signals and we dont know if this is normal.At the time of typing this it is giving 48mps,then 54 mps and then could drop within seconds to 12,24 and then back up to 54mps.
We are on 4meg Virgin with westar camble modem. The settings of the router have been tweaked by our cousin, and channels changed etc, but still the same.
Is this a problem? Should we exchange for maybe a Linksys at pc world, or is this normal?
I wonder if because the router has 7 internal aerials that this is a problem perhaps.
Any input from you experts would be great please.
Many Thanks

[videodj]

Is the wireless adapter on desktop a pci card?

How far from the router is the desktop?

Do you get a steady signal on the laptop?

How are you connecting your xbox 360?

[lolly1963]

Hi,
Desktop has Wireless IEEE 802.11g WLAN 54 Mbit/s built in so no adapter needed,although we did try the adapter which came with the router to see if it made a difference,it just got very hot in 30secs and made the signal even slower.
The router is about 16ft away from the desktop and has to to through 2 walls although we have a bungalow.
Signal great on the laptop, says 54Mpbs all the time anywhere in the bungalow.
Xbox 360 connecting wireless through microsoft adapter but is in the same room as the router,which we probably could have wired into router but the 360 came first!! Hubby and sons toys...LOL
I am driving my hubby mad about this router and dont know wether we should change or not. Afraid i dont know enough about technology.
We had no trouble with the desktop wireless previous through the Netgear ma10 adapterthrough STB, although was only 1 meg connection and didnt have the laptop and 360 then to think about.
Thanks

---------- Post added at 14:18 ---------- Previous post was at 14:16 ----------

Sorry, just noted the wireless card is a Prism NITRO if thats any help
Cheers

[videodj]

Laptops useually have better wireless devices so are usually very good with wireless.

I have a friend who has this router and works fine with his Wii and laptop. Although he does have his xbox and pc on wired connections.

It's strange that the usb adapter gets hot, not something I've notice, he has one in his car (car pc) and never gets hot, the router also has good range.

2 Walls shouldn't make a difference with this router, we can get through 2 walls easily with a good signal from front to back of house.

So...

1. either the router is faulty, although chances are pretty slim as laptop and 360 work ok.

2. PC Issue.

Are there many wireless networks in your area?

Is the PC self built or brought from a somewhere like PC World? what operating system does it have?

Do you have any cordless phones or radios near the desktop PC?

Is it near the kitchen? If it is things like the microwave can cause major problems with wireless networks, especially in desktops.

What sort of desk is it on? Pine also causes problems with some wireless networks, infact there are many things that do, which seem to affect desktops more than laptops.

[lolly1963]

Hi and Thanks for your reply.
The desktop is a multimedia xp sp2 200gig medion pc.
It does sit on a metal z desk...hmmm..yep have digi phones but did turn them off.
Funny thing is though, although the signal is eratic (i keep hovering over the icon!!) i dont really notice anything slowing down on the pc.
Perhaps it could be the infra red thing on the desktop as it has a remote control for the multimedia side of things.
Do you think i should keep it then, as i suppose it it a lot of hassle to get another and then reinstall.
Perhaps i am reading these forums too much....a little knowledge can be dangerous as they say...LOL..

Thankyou

[videodj]

Have tried running and speed tests?

try www.speedtest.net run on desktop and laptop and see what you get.

Could be infrared interference. However, I'd be inclined to say that the router is not the issue as other devices are working ok.

Although it will depend what you use it for, downloading, streaming media, just surfing the web.

[lolly1963]

LOL!

How do i use that then? Hmmm...i dont have a clue

[Cobbydaler]

Don't some devices vary the connection speed according to requirements?

[lolly1963]

http://www.speedtest.net/result/92049137.png

Right, managed to work it out but dont think the image has copied. How do i do that please?

[Cobbydaler]

You don't need to, we can just click on the link & see the result...

Speed looks fine for 4 meg....

[lolly1963]

Ok it says 3770kbs download 362 kbs upload
latency 12ms
distance 50m

I am on 4 meg virgin bb
DOes that help?

---------- Post added at 17:30 ---------- Previous post was at 17:28 ----------

hehehee...ok thanks very very much, so you think the router is ok then?
Perhaps i should stop scrolling over the tv thingmys checking then

Ta very much guys, keep up all the good info and no doubt i will beback with another of my queries later on ,and yes, i do have a few!!!!

[Cobbydaler]

Well, that's mine on 4 meg, but my router isn't through 2 walls...

I'm sure it's OK. I think some wireless chipsets adapt their rate according to load...

[lolly1963]

Thanks very much for that.
Perhaps it is all the equipment causing the behaviour, obviously though its not causing the pc to slow, so that should be the main thing.
Also we have a sub and speakers plugged into the pc, so thats more gadgets.
In fact, hubby is a bit of an av freak and a mound of cables behind the plasma.....its a wonder really where i get my eratic behaviour from...LOL..all these radio,micro and whatever other waves are flying around...

Thanks again..