802.11b VS. 802.11g speeds when surfing internet

[peterskm]

I just set up a wireless network at home using a linksys 802.11b router and 802.11b card for my laptop. The speed is slower than a dialup connection. Even when I walked into the room with the router, the speed did not increase at all. The signal strength and speed graph bars in linksys' utility pulse from full to none at all.

I didn't go with 802.11g stuff primarily because I am using the network primarily to surf the internet. I was reading about 802.11g, after seeing a good deal on Netgear's 802.11g products, and I found that the speed for wireless is degraded since it does extra error checking. I am wondering if this is my problem (high expectations). Does it make sense that since 802.11g is faster, it will make my internet surfing faster?

My current setup sucks, but I don't know how to fix it. Perhaps a different card for my laptop?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[vi edit]

Sounds like more of an issue with drivers/hardware than the wireless protocol itself.

I've got about 20 wireless networks running 802b with netgear wireless routers without any speed concerns at all. Unless you have an insanely fast broadband connection, you would never tap the available bandwith of an 802.11b network.

Try reinstalling your device driver for your wireless card, and also try placing your access point in a different place. Also, for trouble shooting concerns, temporarily disable WAP encryption and see how your speed is.

 

[scorpioLP]

there is no point going to wireless-G. This is a problem that lies somewhere else.

I would first connect your PC directly to the broadband modem and do speed tests, to make sure that your problem doesn't lie with the modem / connection.

If it works great with a direct connection, than update the firmware on the router. Update the drivers on the NICs. Eliminate all security and do some more tests. Slowly add back your security measures and test until you find what's killing your speed.

 

[peterskm]

I have a desktop wired to the router and the speed is fine. I have WEP turned off and have upgraded the firmware on the router to the latest version. I will reinstall the drivers for the card and see if that makes a difference. I have heard of others who have had this problem and said that they replaced the Linksys card with a Netgear and all was fine. I might try that route next.

 

[vi edit]

Also - are you running DHCP or static IP on your clients?

Try hardcoding the DNS servers into the IP settings of your clients. That *could* cause some problems.

 

[gunrunnerjohn]

I see a comment about the signal strength varying wildly when you're close to the WAP, that's certainly not normal. My guess is you have some device, possibly a 2.4ghz phone, interfereing with your wireless connection.

 

[peterskm]

I am using static IP addresses. As far as interfering devices, I have a 2.4 GHz phone, but it is not in the same room as the router (and was not in use), so I can't see how this could affect the speed when I was right next to the router with the notebook.

When I get home tonight I am going to call tech support since many say they are competent. If not, it gets boxed up and goes back for a Netgear instead.

 

[kylef]

Unplug your 2.4 Ghz phone from power, especially if it's a Panasonic. See if that helps. Panasonic 2.4 Ghz phones seem to wreak havoc on 802.11b devices unless you've got one that can be set to a particular channel, far away from the 802.11b channel in use.

 

[AEB]

G does have its benifits, beside local file sharing wireless networks have signal strength. if you have fair signal strength on G you are going to get a lot better speeds that on B. also with the higer bandwith if something does cut it down you can still maintaina reasonable speed.

That said i agree most if not all home users only need B. I use powerline so i dont have any worries like that

 

[peterskm]

Last night I set up right next to the router and the signal would fade in and out. One minute, Windows XP would see it, the next, it wouldn't. I didn't bother to unplug my phone as, if this was causing the problem, I didn't want the router/card anyway.

So, I boxed it up and sent it back to Amazon for a Netgear G setup. We'll see if this works any better. Upside is it was actually cheaper than the Linksys B setup.