DIfferent Connection Speeds - Same Router

[TWG1572]

I'm a networking beginner, so assuming there is a simple answer to this.

I've got a Frontier 7550 dsl modem/router. Set up as mixed wireless mode (B,G,N).

My home computer has a Broadcomm 4322AG A,B,G, draft N adapter. It typically connects to the router at 5-20 Mbps. That is from the connection status box.

My work computer has an Intel WiFI link 5300 AGN. It claims to be connecting at 110-144.0 Mbps. This is sitting right next to my home computer at the same time.

I understand the connection speed is not internet speed, but since I have an NAS it would be nice to see the home computer connect to the router at a higher rate of speed.

Is this a difference in wireless cards, or some setup item I need to do on my home computer? Before Frontier, I used to have a dual antenna router and the home one would connect at 144. So I know the capability is in the card.

Thoughts? What gives?

 

[Quattro Pete]

You need to test actual transfer speeds by copying large files over. The connection speeds reported by network cards are not very reliable.

 

[OVERKILL]

Try updating the drivers for the card for starters.

 

[Jeffy_D]

After making sure that all drivers are updated (get from manufacturer website, not windows update) and router firmware is up to date, try setting the router to only broadcast "N", and your laptops to only look for "N" networks. See if that helps. If you have legacy devices that need G,, then changing broadcast channels on the router may be a better option. I have good experiences using channels 6 or 11.

You also have to factor the overall performance of your laptop and the read write speed.of the NAS.. If the laptop is running slow, it will only be able to transfer data as fast as it can copy the data from the source laptop. Try giving the laptop in question a tune up, run ccleaner and defraggler.

 

[TWG1572]

Thanks for the comments so far guys! I'm slowly working through them....

Driver was not the most current one per the HP website. Downloaded the new one, no change.

Set the router to N only. Doubled the reported connection speed to 40. I did notice that it connects at 133 initially, then reports the slower speed. I have to run mixed because of the Wii unfortunately.

Router is on channel 11. InSSIDer shows that as the cleanest in my hood. 3 networks are showing on 2.4mhz, on 1, 6, and 11. Nothing on 5mhz, even when I go N only.

I'm not sure how to make the computer look for N only networks. I could use some help here. I'm running Win 7. When I had the dual channel modem, I just used a different name for the N network.

Computer was newly refreshed with a clean windows install. HP Pavilion Dv5t.

The next logical step is to do that large file transfer and see what the actual speeds are. I'll see if I can do that over lunch..

 

[PandaBear]

Drivers usually (IMO) fix reliability problem rather than performance improvement, and if you had no problem, chances are your driver update will not speed it up.

Like Quattro said you have to try large transfer to get the speed accurately. From my experience speed has to do with what chipset the router and your computer use and how many antennas they use, and the lower end router usually use lower end chipset and fewer antennas that make it slower, and there's nothing you can do other than changing the router.

Like all thing wireless, distance and line of sight is the biggest factor in speed. Get a router closer to your equipment and raise it higher off the ground will get you some improvement on the RF.