AKAK
04-08-2007, 01:50 PM
My primary computer, attached to a combination DSL modem & wireless router, connects at about 2.5 Mbps. My secondary computer (a four-year-old Dell desktop with a Netgear MA-101 adapter) connects at only about 700 Kbps even though the signal strength shows "very good" or "excellent." I've been trying to narrow down the reason it's so slow.
First hypothesis: It had USB 1.0, so I just installed a USB 2.0 card. No effect.
Second hypothesis: It's an 802.11b adapter. I recently switched to a "g" router, so I could upgrade the adapter. But (1) signal strength isn't the problem, and (2) my laptop also has a "b" card, and its speed, from the same place in the house, is terrific - nearly the same 2.5 Mbps as the primary computer.
Third hypothesis: Not enough RAM. The computer is running XP with 256 MB. But so is my primary computer. Also, several people have convinced me this might slow down certain applications but is unlikely to explain low connection speeds.
I've ruled out malware as an explanation; the computer is well protected and frequently scanned. And the speed was just as low before I got this modem/router combo, when I had a Netgear router. So what does that leave?
First hypothesis: It had USB 1.0, so I just installed a USB 2.0 card. No effect.
Second hypothesis: It's an 802.11b adapter. I recently switched to a "g" router, so I could upgrade the adapter. But (1) signal strength isn't the problem, and (2) my laptop also has a "b" card, and its speed, from the same place in the house, is terrific - nearly the same 2.5 Mbps as the primary computer.
Third hypothesis: Not enough RAM. The computer is running XP with 256 MB. But so is my primary computer. Also, several people have convinced me this might slow down certain applications but is unlikely to explain low connection speeds.
I've ruled out malware as an explanation; the computer is well protected and frequently scanned. And the speed was just as low before I got this modem/router combo, when I had a Netgear router. So what does that leave?