View Full Version : O2 ADSL - Slower downloading with Wireless
Plugged in with a cable I'm hitting 1.9MB/sec but with wireless I'm hitting about 800kb/sec. Why the difference? The wireless is 54Mb so shouldn't be any bandwidth issues and it's on 87% signal strength so should be OK there too. Why would I be seeing a drop of half in download speed? Surely then encryption shouldn't hamper anything that much.
On Ubuntu Des? I was affected by a big speed issue with some Intel chips, which has been fixed in linux-backports-modules
[edit]On jaunty this is
Yes mate, using Jaunty with an intel 3945. Will take a look into it.
Exactly the same as me :) sudo apt-get install linux-backports-modules (possibly linux-backports-modules-jaunty), reboot, should be sorted :)
Just installing via synaptic :)
Will reboot and let you know how I get on :D
Hhhmmmm, seems to be a little better but still not breaking the 1MB/sec mark.
Blighter
24-06-2009, 21:05
Install Windows? ;D
I like fiddling :D
Maybe when you sort your download speed out...
What are you using to bench it Des?
Del Lardo
24-06-2009, 21:17
Depending on the locations of router/pc/laptop 1MB/8mbit transfer over wireless is pretty standard. 54mbit is best case and unachievable due to the way that wireless works and the fact you live in a residential environment.
You may get better performance from one of the newer dual band routers that are hitting the market but not a huge amount.
What are you using to bench it Des?
I'm downloading off easynews. Start with the cable in and then whip it out, wireless picks up and then speed drops.
leowyatt
24-06-2009, 21:48
give o2 a ring, we had trouble and that was down to noise on the line
Blighter
24-06-2009, 22:01
give o2 a ring, we had trouble and that was down to noise on the line
But that wouldn't cause Desmo's problem.. if it was 02's fault it would be bad speed even if he plugged it in :)
leowyatt
24-06-2009, 22:21
good point, ignore me
Any other wireless routers nearby? In the past, the recommendation was to aim to be at least six channels away from neighbouring routers to minimise interference. Getting hard to achieve that now with wireless proliferation.
PS - Was the 87% reported while you were downloading? It's very common to get good figures while the wireless is idle, only for them to fall off a cliff at the first hint of actually downloading something.
LeperousDust
25-06-2009, 02:10
Could very well be the router, our free one is total **** compared to the late WRT we had rocking... :(
Blighter
25-06-2009, 09:58
On of the best wireless routers I've ever seen is the Motorola WR850G
http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/sc/30602683-2-440-overview-1.gif
Bought one on eBay years ago for a tenner.
The UI is sooooo user friendly, nice customisable options, and it NEVER once froze on me in the 3ish years it was in use!
Unfortunately I've had to get ADSL in my new house anad cba to faff around with a separate modem to get it to work.
Chuckles
25-06-2009, 10:09
Copy a file across wifi from another device on your network. If you only get 800k/sec on that as well, you know it's probably just a limitation of your wifi.
Changing the channels is probably the first thing I'd try. The default on ours is 11 (rock!) but it's horrendous. Cuts out, appears in the list of wireless connections but times out when connecting, keeps asking for password... change it to channel 7 and it suddenly springs to life. Shame it always goes back to 11 if you have to do a hard reset though.
Any other wireless routers nearby? In the past, the recommendation was to aim to be at least six channels away from neighbouring routers to minimise interference. Getting hard to achieve that now with wireless proliferation.
PS - Was the 87% reported while you were downloading? It's very common to get good figures while the wireless is idle, only for them to fall off a cliff at the first hint of actually downloading something. ::/: Getting hard is an understatement, at our house I did a 'search for networks' and there were 18 within range :shocked: - terraced houses split into flats + narrow street = ooodles of wireless networks!
Might try a channel change tonight and see how I get on.
Swapped to channel 6 last night and it's improved a little. Not a big problem as any big downloads will be left running unattended, so I can leave it wired in.
Not sure what's been updated recently but just now my wireless hit a download speed of 1.26MB/sec :D
Nice!
It could be that there was a 'hidden' WiFi network near you that's either not there any more or changed to a different channel.
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