Wireless connection speed differences...crazy?

[captair]

i have 2 pc's and one laptop, all with identical usb wireless network adapters all going through a wireless router. all same brand name...d-link. NOW, why would my laptop run at 1000kbps and my 2 pc's run at 300 kbps?? my laptop is 2-3 years old and both of my pc's are less than one year old. all running windows xp home edition. using a cable connection. i'm very curious to hear if anyone has experienced this and why it works that way...AND if i can fix it so my pc's will get a bigger slice of the pie!! thank you all captair

[JackMDS]

Try this on three computers:

Download DrTCP:
http://www.dslreports.com/front/DRTCP021.exe

Run the program, it will show the current settings of TCP/IP parameters. Write them down.

You can change any variable that you want, click Apply, and reboot the computer, if no good; you can always change to your original values.

Start with:

MaxMTU - DSL =1492 Cable = 1500 DialUp = 576

Tcp Receive - 255552 (This is the varaible to play with!)

Window Scaling - Yes

Time Stamping - No

Selective Acks - Yes

Path MTU Discovery - Yes.

Black Hole - NO

Max Duplicate - 2

TTL - 64

Notice it said above Start with

These settings are not written in "stone" there is variability depending on the computer other setting. So try few setting and measure your Download for each setting.

In addition, in case a person has a Router the Router's MTU if set differently can affect the general MTU.

Link: Measuring the "Speed" of Internet Connection. (http://www.ezlan.net/Internet_Speed.html)


:D

[cszeto]

Distance, placement and obstacles also have a big influence in wireless performance. None of which was mentioned between the systems.

Desktop systems tend to be disadvantaged in all concerned areas when the unit is stuck underneath a desk that is up against a wall, etc... Notebooks have the advantages of being portable and typically winds up in open areas.

The signal meters on each of the units might give some clues, but they are far from conclusive. You might try gauging them from equal distances and positioning for a fair comparison.

[captair]

yes, i did forget to mention the distance factor. i have BETTER reception on my pc's (per the wireless device software AND windows built in wireless info) and they (the pc's) are getting a slower connection to the internet...300k as apposed to 1000k on my laptop that gets worse reception (when further away from base). i'll try the above post...thanks!

[captair]

Thanks JackMDS!! that did the trick. now getting 1.2mbps on all three computers!

[cszeto]

That's great. These problems seem to come in different waves. We've had a rash of corrupted XP TCP/IP stacks not too long ago and now it seems that MTU settings are the dominating issues.

[captair]

Hi Folks, thank you so much for you quick responses (not to mention, very knowledgeble ones). I'm impressed with your forum!

Anyway I have a new problem. (not really problem, but would be nice to fix).

I hooked one of my pc's up with a direct cable line from my wireless router. on this pc i get 2.6 Mbps. Now, on my other two pc's i get 1.2 Mbps and they are completely wireless (UNWIRED?)!

My router is 11Mbps capable. Is there a way to increase or change the output of the router to increase speed to my unwired pc's?

It seems as though my router is a "bottleneck" "venturi" at this point.

Your knowledge is greatly appreciated!
captair

[cszeto]

How are you expecting to get "more" wireless throughput when you stated that at best, you achieved 1.2 mbps to start with?

Wired is typically faster than wireless. Your wired connection is probably capable of more throughput than 2.6 mbps, but that number looks suspiciously like the maxim throughput of your high speed connection, if that is how you are measuring your throughput.

The only possible ways to "squeeze" more throughput across your wireless connections might to:

- disable WEP
- switch over from PCMCIA to Card Bus notebook adapters
- run only one wireless client at any given time

Other than that, there just isn't anything else that can be done, short of ripping out the 802.11b for 802.11g. In that case, your mileage will still vary depending on the brand and chip set used in the particular 802.11g variety...

[captair]

Ok, maybe i am getting maximum mileage now...I just thought because i'm getting 2.6 on my wired pc and 1.2 on my unwired ones that the router was causing a bottleneck and I thought that maybe I could change a setting or two to "open" the bottleneck. Thanks!

[cszeto]

Those three options may yield a little more speed, but nothing to get too excited about - except maybe the Card Bus setup (the increase can be significant in some cases).

[captair]

Thanks for the help!