Superhub Superhub, router, advise please.

joglynne · 21-07-2014, 17:26

I have just had my speed increase from 60 to 100.

Using the superhub in WiFi mode I used to get around 50/52 down 3up. I am now getting a magnificent 53/54 6up. I tried wired and got 107 6up. It isn't practical to have my laptop wired to the superhub so I am wondering whether a router would help me get a tad more benefit from this latest upgrade.

The WiFi coverage I get with the superhub isn't too bad but it can get a little flaky if I am in the garden so I am assuming a router would help this.

Any advise you guys could give me will be very gratefully received.

qasdfdsaq · 21-07-2014, 17:29

Whether a new router would help depends on
a) What your current settings are and
b) What your laptop is capable of
With no knowledge of either, it's impossible to say.

joglynne · 21-07-2014, 18:16

Thanks for responding qasdfdsaq.

Well my lap top got the full upgrade when wired to the superhub

but if that is not what you mean could you tell a) which current settings are on what? and b) what details would I need to tell you about my laptop. Sorry to sound dim but in this instance I guess I am.

qasdfdsaq · 21-07-2014, 19:35

a) Current settings on the Superhub. Channel mode, frequency band, etc.
b) Make and model of wireless card would be sufficient. If you don't know how to get this, well it depends what OS you have.

joglynne · 21-07-2014, 20:19

a)Channel 13

b) I am afraid I can't see any mention in my laptop specs of which network card it has but is does say the wireless network is 802.11 b/g/n

arcimedes · 21-07-2014, 21:41

OK it appears you are running Windows 8. Therefore you need to open the Network and Sharing Center. You can do this from the desktop by right clicking the network icon in the bottom right hand corner. Click on Change adapter settings. You will then see a Wifi adapter. Right click it and select properties. you will see a line saying Connect using and underneath the info on the adapter. Mine says Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter.

General Maximus · 21-07-2014, 23:48

i'll make a few generalised statements:

1) if you are using windows 8 I would assume that your laptop is a fairly recent model using fairly recent hardware which means it is likely to support the higher speeds
2) the wireless on the shub 1 is very bad and pretty much any new router you buy is going to have better wireless than shub 1
3) that being said, there are many factors which affect wireless throughput so don't expect to go out and buy a proper router and think it is going to give you 100/6 all the time

I'll do my router recommendations tomorrow morning because I am way too tired to give my fan boy speech atm, my poor eye lids are closing

qasdfdsaq · 22-07-2014, 00:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by joglynne

a)Channel 13

That's the channel, not the channel mode. Not sure what it's called on the Shrub these days but it used to be a 145/300Mbps setting.

Quote:

b) I am afraid I can't see any mention in my laptop specs of which network card it has but is does say the wireless network is 802.11 b/g/n

That narrows it down a bit. A new router will not help top speed significantly without an upgrade of your laptop's wireless card as well.

---------- Post added at 00:39 ---------- Previous post was at 00:31 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by General Maximus

1) if you are using windows 8 I would assume that your laptop is a fairly recent model using fairly recent hardware which means it is likely to support the higher speeds

Given that's it's a b/g/n card, i.e. no a or ac, then it's clearly already a budget/low-end/cheapo model. El-cheap low-end cards are also frequently single-stream only limiting throughput to 72Mbps link rate and around 50Mbps TCP in typical conditions.

joglynne · 22-07-2014, 14:15

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction arcimedes. My Wifi shows as .... Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 WB-EG

Quote:

General Maximus ...1) if you are using windows 8 I would assume that your laptop is a fairly recent model using fairly recent hardware which means it is likely to support the higher speeds
2) the wireless on the shub 1 is very bad and pretty much any new router you buy is going to have better wireless than shub 1
3) that being said, there are many factors which affect wireless throughput so don't expect to go out and buy a proper router and think it is going to give you 100/6 all the time

I'll do my router recommendations tomorrow morning because I am way too tired to give my fan boy speech atm, my poor eye lids are closing

Yes I am using 8.1 My laptop is a Samsung NP350V5C-A06UK. I am not expecting 100/6 but had hoped to benefit by more than the measly extra 2Mbps I am getting using just the superhub in WiFi following my speed increase from 60 to 100Mbps.

I have kind of whittled my Router to two options, I am trying to stick to around the £50 mark and they are...
1) D-Link DIR-850L AC1200 1200Mbps Simultaneous Dual-Band Wireless AC Broadband Router ( on the grounds that I hope it is backwards compatible but that my next laptop will probably support AC.

2) Cisco-Linksys E2000 Advanced Wireless-N Router. I like Linksys

Maybe one of these will pass your fan boy standards.

Quote:

qasdfdsaq That's the channel, not the channel mode. Not sure what it's called on the Shrub these days but it used to be a 145/300Mbps setting.

Sorry qasdfdsaq, the only thing I can find which is remotely like 145/300Mbps is the Downstream Max Traffic Rate ...112640000 bps <dunce hat donned for the second day in a run>

Quote:

Given that's it's a b/g/n card, i.e. no a or ac, then it's clearly already a budget/low-end/cheapo model. El-cheap low-end cards are also frequently single-stream only limiting throughput to 72Mbps link rate and around 50Mbps TCP in typical conditions.

Not sure what this means. Tried to figure out what you were saying but the results of my googling link rates and TCP made my head hurt.

Milambar · 22-07-2014, 14:28

He is saying that you are getting pretty much the practical max speed for wifi on that laptop already, and that getting a better router won't improve it, without also getting a better wifi card for the laptop.

qasdfdsaq · 22-07-2014, 14:43

The AR9485 is literally bottom of the range and not capable of speeds higher than 50-55Mbps or so, a new router will make no difference in speed. You might get slightly more range, but that's debatable. The laptop also cannot be easily upgraded to achieve higher speeds, though switching the Superhub from 145 to 300Mbps mode (if you ever find the setting) could help, at the cost of range and reliability..

---------- Post added at 14:43 ---------- Previous post was at 14:43 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by joglynne

Not sure what this means. Tried to figure out what you were saying but the results of my googling link rates and TCP made my head hurt.

The link rate is the connection speed of your wireless card, or what speed it says it's connected at.

The TCP throughput is the actual download speed you get using a "normal" internet download.

joglynne · 22-07-2014, 15:08

Thanks for all the advise guys. I knew I could count on you all to explain everything to this non-techie.

It seems such a shame that I won't get any benefit from the long awaited increase but at least I know what is happening and will save my pennies for shoes.

One last question with shoes in mind.

If I were to drop down my broadband to 50Mb what Mbps would you think I could actually expect to get on my laptop still using WiFi?

I'm guessing around 35/40Mbps with the wind in my favour.

qasdfdsaq · 22-07-2014, 20:37

I would say about the same as you get now, as long as VM's network is not congested in your area.

joglynne · 22-07-2014, 21:11

Thanks qasdfsaq. That sound promising, luckily I am in a fairly uncongested area and by tucking myself away on Channel 13 I am only 'sharing' with one other user who is on Channel 11.

joglynne · 27-07-2014, 16:40

Thought I would give an update.

Quote:

qasdfdsaq That's the channel, not the channel mode. Not sure what it's called on the Shrub these days but it used to be a 145/300Mbps setting.

Reading another thread during the week I found the settings you had been referring to (thanks RobboEdin) Had a look at mine and it said I was on 144Mbps. Just took a large dose of courage and swapped it to 300Mbps and .... just look at the result I now get through WiFi

So no router needed and extra money in my Shoes piggy bank. A win win resolution.

Thanks again everyone, off to get a vimto to calm my nerves.

Oh and nice to know my less than admired WiFi card can handle the extra speed after all.