Wireless Internet forum: Slow wireless speeds... others on network are getting better

Anyone?? Did some more testing and router config today but still no luck. One issue was that we were on an interfering channel, so I changed that and get a near full signal now.. yet somehow that did nothing to help my speeds. I also changed the mode from 65Mbps b/g/n up to 150Mbps g/n mixed and again saw no improvements at all. So maybe it isn't my router?

Very frustrating getting (now) 1Mbps when the kid next to me is getting 20-25 through the same wireless connection.

I was waiting for the make and model of the laptop.

I had the same issue on my Samsung RC512 but can't tell if that would help.
Bob

Sorry it's a Gateway W650I.

I'm also wondering now if the problem might also be related to my roomate whos room is in between mine and the router. I believe after he went to sleep last night I was getting 10down4up and now this morning I am still getting 10/4, or consistently close to it while he is asleep.

Wifi is a shared system and since you can't test when others are getting access for speed, the speed tests don't mean much.

Sorry but I can't use that model number. I look at gateway and would have to guess it's the M6318.

http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/2008/Tempest/2906013R/2906013Rnv.shtml

http://support.gateway.com/us/en/product/default.aspx?partNumber=2906013R shows an Intel driver from 2010 and I think there is newer at intel.com. Try those.
Bob

I have already downloaded the newest drivers from Intel, forgot to mention that as well. I'll try the one that shows up on the gateway page but I'd doubt it's any different.

I'm still getting consistently high speed ratings right now. I know that's not indicative of what my modem is putting out but I think it's relative to what my router is putting out and how interference, etc. is coming into play. It does not make sense that one or two extra computers is literally dropping my connection by a 10x factor, does it? Could this relate to each individual laptop's driver settings such as transmission/receiving rate?

Wifi is RF and "shared space." Speaking in a empty room works well, and in a crowded room with everyone talking is problematic.

I think you know this but do try a few drivers and if speed is paramount, get wired.
Bob

No.. I realize how WiFi works and that it's never good to be in a congested area. But I've also never had issues before.

Anyway, here's something interesting. I just switched my router's channel again. Now all of a sudden my speeds have doubled. Getting consistently above 10Mbps now averaging around 15Mbps. This is the first time I've gotten speeds that high, even before when I was directly next to the router.

So how do I make sense of this? I thought the channels just were a way to avoid interference. But I shouldn't have been getting interference when I was testing directly next to the router.

Anyway, this is definitely a good sign.

However, I'm still in need of some help. My original concern was because my Netflix no longer worked on my Wii. After switching channels, it didn't appear to do much for my Wii connection. My Samsung Focus, on the other hand, also improved drastically. Went from a .5Mbps average to 4-6Mbps average.

So is there anything I can do to help my Wii? Drivers? Or is it just the nature of the older device and I'll have to go wired for that?

See if your router can automatically find open channels. My newer routers do that so I don't have to find open channels.

Your test of being right next to the router is unfortunately flawed. The other devices are going to be heard too and muck it up. Have you worked in the RF field before? My background is cellular and pagers. What I learned there helps me figure it out.

The Wii should be better if you can find an open RF slot.
Bob

Yes, the router can find open channels. But from what I've read most routers aren't very good at that. I'm using inSSIDer 2.0 to view local activity and found a channel no one else is on.

Is there any type of settings we can mess with on individual computers to try to minimize interference? I was reading about the transmission and receiving options for the cards driver.. but am not quite sure optimal settings and whether or not this will actually make much of a difference.

I found the defaults are usually pretty good. Maybe this was untrue many years ago but for now the defaults, simple SSID, WPA2/AES and I'm done.
Bob