30mbps router, 2 mbps wifi connection....

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

Recently, our cable internet company upgraded our "everyday low price internet" from 2 mpbs to a 30 mbps connection. Even so, I've noticed that when I occasionally hook up the kids PC to update Minecraft or a few Steam games, I am only getting 1 to 2 megabits per second connection, very, very occasionally going up to 3. It is a 16 foot, direct line of sight connection with no walls. Residential (houses) neighborhood, with the homes having maybe ~25' between them along the street. 2mbps situation persists even when I turn off our Android set top box hooked up to the TV, which is also wifi, and often on.

While the Netgear router supports simultaneous dual band wireless N, the wireless N dongle/antenna I temporarily insert is decidedly no name and generic.

So my questions are:

A) is this typical for folks? I mean, is it pretty normal to get wifi speed that is about 10% of your cable internet speed?

Can anybody recommend a better wifi dongle that might help solve this issue? Mine has an antenna, but that doesn't seem to make much of a difference compared to a similar one we have with no antenna. Clearly I don't need blazing speeds here, since we are limited to 30 mbps on our internet connection. However, it would be nice if we could get 10 mbps regularly.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[Fardringle]

If you haven't already, cycle power on everything. Unplug the cable modem, router, and turn the computer(s) off. Wait a few minutes, then plug the cable modem back in. Wait until it finishes reconnecting to the ISP and shows that its connection lights are solid and active, then plug in your router (if you have a separate router). Wait until the router finishes starting up, then turn the computers on.

Quite often after a rate/service change, cable modems have to be rebooted in order to properly recognize and make use of the new connection speed.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

Thanks - I do reboot the router & cable modem using the power strip, probably every 5 or 6 weeks. I did not notice any speed change after doing this.

 

[VirtualLarry]

A) is this typical for folks? I mean, is it pretty normal to get wifi speed that is about 10% of your cable internet speed?

Sadly, yes, that is all too common, unless you go all-out, and buy high-end WiFi NICs or Client / Media Bridge units (AC 3x3), or high-end routers (again, AC 3x3), and configure them as Client Bridge.

Can anybody recommend a better wifi dongle that might help solve this issue?

Look for Aukey AC1750 USB3.0 Wifi dongles on ebay, they are around $15 from a legit dealer, although I've found 2-packs for around $20 or slightly above, all "New".

Also, look for PremierTek 8812AU adapters, those are USB3.0/2.0, and wireless AC 2x2. The Aukey 1750 ones are 3x3, also RealTek chipset, but more generic. Both are similar sized.

Just a note, too, those "really generic" N150 or N300 wifi dongles, especially the "Nano-sized" (barely bigger than the USB port connection), have HORRID transfer rates, like 1-2Mbit/sec, basically. Maybe 10-25Mbit/sec if you're really lucky, but I've had most of mine in the 1-2Mbit/sec range.

Those Aukey and PremierTek dongles are larger, bigger antennas, 3x3 and 2x2 AC, they get 500Mbit/sec to a 3x3 AC router in the next room fairly easily.

edit: Also recommend an Asus AC66U / "AC1750" router, refurb, for $60-70. Those used to be the creme-dey-la-creme of routers, back in the day, and they're fairly inexpensive even new. (Of course, expense is relative.)

But there's really no excuse not to use AC wireless for most residential situations these days.

Edit:I highly recommend these routers:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320330

That, or the AC68U/R/P, which are a tad bit more expensive ($80-120 refurb). They are AC1900 and 3x3 AC.

 

[mxnerd]

Set your WiFi router channel to automatic and see if the situation improves.

When you said direct line of sight, also make sure the dongle is not at the back side of PC.

 

[VirtualLarry]

That's true. pick up a USB3.0 shielded extension cable, plug the dongle into that, plug the other end into the back of the PC. Basically, put the dongle on top of a desk or something.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

Thanks for all of the product suggestions - looks like I'm going to have an excuse to buy some new hardware!

Oh, and yes, the front of the PC is towards the router, that is where I've been hooking up. It might not be a bad idea to get an extension cable, at that. Some of the dongle/antennas I've seen came with an extension cable and 'cradle' for putting it on top of the computer. I suppose that would also tend to orient the antenna on the dongle to vertical, which if my guess is right, might help it pick up signal from the router better than if oriented pointing at the router?

I will probably hold off on getting a new router at this time. If our internet speed was higher, it might be worth it. However, with our top speed limited at 30 mbps, and the router already capable of 300 mbps, the max speed it can get is already just 10% of its rated highest speed. I'm thinking the generic dongle is more likely the culprit for the slower speeds. Thanks again, everyone.

 

[IEC]

Have you tested on a wired port on the router to verify you are actually getting 30Mbps?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

1) Yes, verify with a hard-wired client that you're actually getting your full 30Mbps connection speed.
2) Reboot everything.
3) What are you using to benchmark to wireless clients? Screenshots?

Are you sure you're getting 1-2 Mbps and not MBps (2 MBps would be 16Mbps, which is not great, but would be passable-normal for a wifi-N connection in congested airspace.) I know you probably know the difference, but I have to ask because so many people get wrapped around the axle on this point.

 

[Ketchup]

Have you tried the Netgear wifi analytics phone/tablet app? One of the many things it does is tell you which channel will provide the best performance.

Plus, as has been mentioned, make sure you aren't getting Mbps and Mbps mixed up. Your internet provider will always rate their speed in bits. Anything in Windows will be in bytes.