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Slow wireless connection ?

Hi,
ok here's my story.... :D

If I use the laptop wireless my speeds are:
Download 1090 kbps Upload 328 kbps (Excellent signal)

If I use the laptop plugged into the router with the LAN cable the speeds are:
Download 3200 kbps Upload 350 kbps

Now I have read that a wireless connection will always be a little slower (is this correct ?) but this is more than half on the download side.

We also have an old desktop PC upstairs & it has a wireless card....if I use this wireless the speed is virtually the same as when it is connected via the LAN cable:
Download 3200 kbps Upload 350 kbps.

So I'm at a loss as to why the laptop is so slow when used wireless :confused:

The wireless card in the laptop is a built in card as its quite a modern machine...the card show up in device manager as a Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN

Can anyone advise what the problem could be?

Thanks.
«13

Comments

  • Is it set to b mode?
    Ever get the feeling you are wasting your time? :rolleyes:
  • albertross wrote: »
    Is it set to b mode?
    Looking at the wireless card details I can't see where it would tell me this....but if I hover my mouse cursor over the wireless connection icon a box pops up & tells me that the speed is 54Mbps.
  • Is the desktop nearer to the access point is the laptop further away check it does not have a lan cable as well.

    Latop top might be having interference from other devices as the desktop is out if the way?

    WPA, can cause a bottle neck if the password is too "long" as all packets have to be coded and takes a little time, hence slower?
  • With the laptop I'm normally only about 10 feet away from the router in the same room downstairs, but even if I sit right next to the router it's the same.

    The desktop is upstairs so is further away, it is only connected wireless not with a LAN cable.

    Regarding WPA...the password / key is the same on both the laptop & desktop so I don't think this could be the problem.

    Regards, UB
  • Browntoa
    Browntoa Posts: 49,547 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    try going into the router admin panel and changing the channel selection from auto to manual, then try a variety of channels, you may have interference from other wireless devices or routers nearby
    Ex forum ambassador

    Long term forum member
  • Ok.... I have just done that.....I changed it from auto & tried different channels but the speed stays about the same on all channels.

    Do you think the broadcom card in my laptop could be at fault ?
    I have been trying to find some info on it & all I have found so far is people saying how crap they are !
  • espresso
    espresso Posts: 16,448 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Try running Netstumbler available here to check signal strength and for any other channels in use locally.
    WPA, can cause a bottle neck if the password is too "long" as all packets have to be coded and takes a little time, hence slower?

    This is complete bo!!ocks as you have yourself proved on your other wireless computer, which is connecting at 54Mbps.

    :rolleyes:
    :doh: Blue text on this forum usually signifies hyperlinks, so click on them!..:wall:
  • Ok....I've ran Netstumbler (thanks for the link) & I'm the only person in the area on channel 7.... I used this channel as there is no one anywhere near it CH1 & Ch11 are the ones in use.

    Readings from Netstumbler:

    SNR.... 55
    Signal +.... -25
    Noise.... -100
    SNR+.... 75
    Signal.... -46

    Regards.
  • ch6 is better, there is a 5 channel interference overlap, so 7 can interfere a little with 11
    Ever get the feeling you are wasting your time? :rolleyes:
  • espresso
    espresso Posts: 16,448 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Are you using the laptops manufacturers wireless utility or Windows Zero Configuration (WZC) to configure the wireless? More info here and here
    :doh: Blue text on this forum usually signifies hyperlinks, so click on them!..:wall:
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