Wireless network.... Speeds...confussed!!
 

Hi,

After some advice..... please!

I have a Sony Vaio connected to a Belkin Pre n router/modem using the in-built wireless. All connected well, and broadband works OK. Just have a query though....

When I connect the laptop to the router with ethernet all is fine and fast. However, when I use wireless the broadband internet is either fast (as fast as wire/ethernat) or very very slow.. The network speed varies from 22mbps to 54mbps. Broadband speed test sometimes go down to 100kbps from a normal 950kbps!

Right, now I am not too clever on these things, but surely even if the wireless speed drops to 24mbps, that should have no effect on my 2-8 mbps broadband? Siganl strength has always been excellent full greens.

Belkin say that it is a setting problem with the built in wireless, or perhaps by a Pre n PCMCIA card.

Also, is it normal for the wireless speed to reduce so much? I have tried different channels, and still the same. In auto now.
I have some DECT phones, but switched these off, with no difference. Is 24mbps about right, with 54mbps max?

Appreciate any advice, thanks very much!

I'm the same. Signal strength is 'excellent' but it fluctuates between 36/48/54. Also seem to get what i pressume is packet loss as playing UT i get stuttering and in BF2 i get 'lost server connection' every 5mins.

I updated the wireless driver for my laptop and i went from 4 bars to 5. Still didnt change the fluctuating.:( Only 5m away from the router but through a wall.

Have you tried a different Wireless Channel? Maybe you have something interferring with the signal such as a cordless phone. Most wireless devices use the same 2.4ghz frequency. Normally the channel is defaulted to 9. Maybe 11 or 6 will cure this.

Tried all of the channels, all 13! By default it is in auto, so have left it there at the moment.
I do have cordless phones, but they are DECT phones, which I believe run a different frequency. I have tried with them turned off, and still have a drop to 24mbps.
But, surely even running 24mbps, my broadband at only 2-8mbps should be OK?

Cheers

Have you updated the Wirless card drivers?

Well....
It is an Intel 2200BG wireless, and there is an update on the intel site. However it suggests not to use it, and instead use the laptop manufacturers drivers. So went to the Sony site, and there isn't any avail for the wireless.
Didn't want to make things worse. The intel download is about 70MB, and conatins loads of drivers etc!

Cheers

I tried a different wireless card tonight to eliminate one more source of my woes. A 3g usb one that came with the old router. Sig strength varied from 54/48/24. Sticking to the built in one. Must be something to do with interference between the router and my laptop. Outcome?....bought a 20m long ethernet cable.:D :D

I personally would try Intels drivers but thats me :)

FYI - true wireless speed is about 2/5 of what is advertised. This would be on full signal strength with no encryption.

how do you change the channels?

With the Belkin, channel change is in utilities, under channel.

Would 128b encryption slow the connection then?

Thanks

Encryption would slow things down a bit due to the re-encryption side of things. Maybe worth trying without to see if theres a difference.

I guess trying it with no encyption wouldn't be wise....? What do you think?

Would another enrcryption be any better?

Thanks

Logon onto the router. The channel selection will be found under the wireless section/settings.

For the consumer market there is 3 different types of encryption

WEP 64/128-bit - software encyrption - larger overhead the higher the encryption

WPA-PSK TKIP - software encryption - addressed most of the security issues with WEP thus more secure and its easier to implement.

WPA-PSK AES - aka WPA2 - software/hardware encryption. most secure of all. The latest routers come with hardware accelerators to eliminate the overhead of encryption.

GE90 - I would try the following.

What is the postion of your router? i.e. is it on a shelf, tucked away etc?

Another thing to try. Remove all security and change the SSID name from the default one and try channels 1, 6 & 11. Does the signal stability improve at all? The process will only take 10mins or so and the risk of a open network during that time period is not huge.