wirless setup on 50mb router, slows down, unreliable

jason4656 · 26-01-2010, 18:59

I have just got my 50mb service, and ive done about 10 tests on different places on the hard wired connection, its solid between 48-50 all the time.

On wireless its crap, even the engineer couldnt help, he said we dont do wireless just install the line and the 50mb is fine, even his own laptop wasnt good.

Ive done a bit of research and i have an imac, and vaio both running 802.11n he tried different channels, turning off the tv, he even insisted the washing machine and plasma must be interfering...

anyone have some optimal settings I could try? or suggestions to get it faster on the wireless?

thanks

Sephiroth · 26-01-2010, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason4656

....

anyone have some optimal settings I could try? or suggestions to get it faster on the wireless?

thanks

A dual channel 'n' router and using it on 5 MHz rather than 2.4 MHz. The VM supplied modem is bottom of the range.

jason4656 · 26-01-2010, 19:18

the only thing i can find relevant to that is the 20/40mhz(Auto) setting in the advanced router setup?

I presume as the router is hard wired to my pc downstairs, its doing its job carrying from the modem? so it would be the routers capability to transmit the wireless thats a problem?

would it be best to get an all in one? router modem? ? or is there something I Can change to help?

roughbeast · 26-01-2010, 19:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

A dual channel 'n' router and using it on 5 MHz rather than 2.4 MHz. The VM supplied modem is bottom of the range.

Try this one, Netgear WNDR3700. Amazon do it for Â£120. Bit early for used ones to be up anywhere.

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop...ProductID=7564

I use one. It as GigE tech all round, 1000Mbs ether, 600Mhz processor, Dual band wireless inc. 5 Mhz, USB for external HDD and a media server. Way better than VM's bottom of the market stuff. Even the Fonera2n with its open source upload download software isn't this good.

jason4656 · 26-01-2010, 21:38

thanks guys i will check it out, is there anything i can do in the meantime to improve my current setup? or is it just bound to be unreliable and slow over wireless?

roughbeast · 26-01-2010, 22:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason4656

thanks guys i will check it out, is there anything i can do in the meantime to improve my current setup? or is it just bound to be unreliable and slow over wireless?

If you run XP try using TCPOptimiser if you haven't already.

Oh yeah. Consider where your receiving computer is in relation to the wireless router. Try it close up and compare your speeds with where it normally is. Also if the computer is slow then everything will seem slow even with a 300Mbs wireless connection.

jason4656 · 27-01-2010, 00:10

they are both fast pcs, my mac which is upstairs runs alot faster than my windows 7 which is a new vaio, whether or not they are right next to the router or upstairs, it doesnt change, thats why I was asking about the settings

thanks

Sephiroth · 27-01-2010, 00:42

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/12...etgear-vs.html

Have a read of this thread. It'll tell you that the subject is as broad as it is long as it is deep. All the gotchas are weedled out in that thread.

HTH

roughbeast · 27-01-2010, 00:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason4656

they are both fast pcs, my mac which is upstairs runs alot faster than my windows 7 which is a new vaio, whether or not they are right next to the router or upstairs, it doesnt change, thats why I was asking about the settings

thanks

I don't know Macs but Windows 7 doesn't need TCP optimisation. It does that automatically, so it aint that.

I can only think that maybe your router isn't set up right in wireless config. Is it definitely broadcasting at 300Mbs?

By the way, what download speed do you get on your wireless connection? Anything over 35Mb is good. 25Mb is typical. 10Mb would be poor.

jason4656 · 27-01-2010, 00:49

when i do a speedtest on the vaio, i get 3mb!! lol on the mac i get about 20mb but I havent tried downloading from any usenet or anything.

i tried downloading on my hard wired connection and it only managed a max of 25mb and that connection shows 50mb on speedtest

when you refer to speed its broadcasting at, do you mean the 802.11 protocol being n? its set to mixed but both the connections to it are running n

thanks

Sephiroth · 27-01-2010, 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason4656

when i do a speedtest on the vaio, i get 3mb!! lol on the mac i get about 20mb but I havent tried downloading from any usenet or anything.

i tried downloading on my hard wired connection and it only managed a max of 25mb and that connection shows 50mb on speedtest

when you refer to speed its broadcasting at, do you mean the 802.11 protocol being n? its set to mixed but both the connections to it are running n
thanks

Ah - then it could be picking up G from contending neighbours - even if you've changed your channels because their frequencies overlap. If you're gonna run N only, then it might be best to set the router and PCs to N only.

jason4656 · 27-01-2010, 01:01

ok will try that now thanks

Sephiroth · 27-01-2010, 01:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason4656

ok will try that now thanks

... and read the thread I posted if you can be bothered!

jason4656 · 27-01-2010, 01:13

dont know if its the time of night and I am only using speedtest so it could be unreliable now can manage 44mb on the mac and 31mb on the win 7pc all set to be on N, there are quite a few options for N though on the laptop hardware setup, mac just does it automatically

---------- Post added at 00:13 ---------- Previous post was at 00:07 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sephiroth

... and read the thread I posted if you can be bothered!

lol keep your wig on! ive been reading it as im talking and trying other things!

roughbeast · 27-01-2010, 01:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason4656

when i do a speedtest on the vaio, i get 3mb!! lol on the mac i get about 20mb but I havent tried downloading from any usenet or anything.

i tried downloading on my hard wired connection and it only managed a max of 25mb and that connection shows 50mb on speedtest

when you refer to speed its broadcasting at, do you mean the 802.11 protocol being n? its set to mixed but both the connections to it are running n

thanks

Speedtests are one thing. The rate at which files download is another. It's so dependent on the server and the route.

With wireless setting I was referring to setting options you may have. I have a WNDR3700. On the 2.4Mhz and 5Mhz channels I can opt for a wide range of security options, auto channel or a specific one and for 54Mb, 130Mb and 300Mb connection speed. I have gone for auto and 300Mbs. My n adaptor connects at 300Mbs, but I have only ever maxed on 40Mb download on a speed test. Usually it is nearer 30Mb.

My security I have set to WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES] - Allow clients using either WPA-PSK [TKIP] or WPA2-PSK [AES]
"To reach maximum wireless performance, the 11N clients must connect to this router using WPA2-PSK(with AES) . For clients connecting in WPA-PSK( with TKIP), the maximum wireless speed will be at 802.11g"

As you see there are a lot of options. You go for whatever your client mix requires.