Disappointing 54g speeds

[Transition]

So i wanted to have a wireless server in my house to host some of the large files that i normally keep on my main PC's hard drive. I wasn't of course expecting 54mbps throughput - but thought even 1mbps would be nice.

The router is set to communicate on G-Only, WPA is enabled, Operating on channel 6, SSID broadcast off. When i'm not getting dropped on the wireless network, i'm getting about 500kbps max. Using the latest firmware on the router, and the WUSB54G also has the latest drivers.

Does anyone have suggestions on how i can increase performance?

 

[Shenkoa]

Do you have a 2.4 GHz phone?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Is the WUSB54G one of the USB models (seems obvious, but you never know)? If so, try unplugging all other USB stuff in the system.

Try turning off WEP, just for a speed test. It's been known to slow things down, but not by that much.

 

[Transition]

Originally posted by: Shenkoa
Do you have a 2.4 GHz phone?

5.8

 

[Transition]

Yea the WUSB54G is the USB2 adapter. And currently, the adapter is the only USB periphial on the machine. Same results are had w/ no encryption on.

 

[Transition]

Hmm ok odd. I just disabled WPA, changed to channel 11 and now i'm getting decent speeds... More investigating is needed.

 

[bond007taz]

Is your phone a true 5.8 or is it 5.8 transmit / 2.4 receive? I had an issue like yours and I had to find a phone that was in fact 5.8 both ways.

 

[0roo0roo]

speeds highly dependent on distance and obstructions.

 

[fuzzynavel]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
speeds highly dependent on distance and obstructions.

yes you are right but seeing as the guy said this....

Hmm ok odd. I just disabled WPA, changed to channel 11 and now i'm getting decent speeds... More investigating is needed

Then the other argument is void seeing as a change in settings facilitated better speed thereby disproving the obstruction theory....

Even things like magnetic disturbances such as HIFI speakers (i.e unshielded) or mobile phones (Cell phones for the yanks) can affect transmission.... or even televisions...

how about power lines...any nearby....

Do your USB ports happen to be on a PCI card???

Do you happen to have a wireless mouse!!!??

 

[Transition]

As indicated by the Windows wireless network 'icon' i'm getting about 80% signal strength. Another thing to note that might be a factor is i live in a townhouse, i literally pick up about 6 other networks - all on Channel 6.

how about power lines...any nearby....

Just burried lines. Nothing high-voltage.

Do your USB ports happen to be on a PCI card???

Yes, actually. I'm using an old POS E-Machines, and had to put in a USB2.0 PCI card.

Do you happen to have a wireless mouse!!!??

I do have a wireless mouse hooked up on a machine that is right next to the wireless router. The machine that's using the wireless though only has the power supply cord and wireless adapter plugged in - no mouse or keyboard. Everything is being done through VNC.

[/quote]

 

[Transition]

Originally posted by: bond007taz
Is your phone a true 5.8 or is it 5.8 transmit / 2.4 receive? I had an issue like yours and I had to find a phone that was in fact 5.8 both ways.

I'm using this Panasonic model. From what i see on the technical specs it appears to be a 'true' 5.8ghz.

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Transition
As indicated by the Windows wireless network 'icon' i'm getting about 80% signal strength. Another thing to note that might be a factor is i live in a townhouse, i literally pick up about 6 other

Right and that can be 60% noise and 20% relevant signal.

What is matter in Wireless communication is Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and SNR is Not available in Entry Level Wireless.

So you first start with the source and the Client one foot apart. Doing so allows for proper configuration and assuring that the hardware works correctly.

Then you move, and if dose not work you do not blame any one but you start working on distance issue, or may be it is time to change domicile.

Link to: Wireless - Basic Configuration.

Link to: Wireless Security.

Link to: Extending the Distance of Entry Level Wireless Network.

Link to: Wirelessly Bridging Home / SOHO Network.

:sun:

 

[Transition]

Originally posted by: JackMDS

Originally posted by: Transition
As indicated by the Windows wireless network 'icon' i'm getting about 80% signal strength. Another thing to note that might be a factor is i live in a townhouse, i literally pick up about 6 other

Right and that can be 60% noise and 20% relevant signal.

What is matter in Wireless communication is Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and SNR is Not available in Entry Level Wireless.

So you first start with the source and the Client one foot apart. Doing so allows for proper configuration and assuring that the hardware works correctly.

Then you move, and if dose not work you do not blame any one but you start working on distance issue, or may be it is time to change domicile.

Link to: Wireless - Basic Configuration.

Link to: Wireless Security.

Link to: Extending the Distance of Entry Level Wireless Network.

Link to: Wirelessly Bridging Home / SOHO Network.

:sun:

Thanks Jack. Whether the wireless PC is one foot away from the AP or directly downstairs i receive the same type of transfer speeds. Distance does not appear to be the issue.

 

[fuzzynavel]

Originally posted by: Transition
As indicated by the Windows wireless network 'icon' i'm getting about 80% signal strength. Another thing to note that might be a factor is i live in a townhouse, i literally pick up about 6 other networks - all on Channel 6.

how about power lines...any nearby....

Just burried lines. Nothing high-voltage.

Do your USB ports happen to be on a PCI card???

Yes, actually. I'm using an old POS E-Machines, and had to put in a USB2.0 PCI card.

Do you happen to have a wireless mouse!!!??

I do have a wireless mouse hooked up on a machine that is right next to the wireless router. The machine that's using the wireless though only has the power supply cord and wireless adapter plugged in - no mouse or keyboard. Everything is being done through VNC.

[/quote]


The reason I asked about the PCI card was that your speed could have been affected by thePCI bus...I.e it can easily become saturated if you have a few cards on it and an AGP graphics card etc...

how old is your E-machine???

The wireless mouse next to router could affect it but doubtfull......more likely that it is the other wireless lans......As someone else has said you could be detecting other peoples connections...

Here's another idea.....do a search and see if the other users have secured their wireless properly....if not buy yourself a second wireless net card and use their connections for downloading/uploading!!!

 

[Transition]

The server eMachine is an old 600mhz machine. The video is actually integrated into the mobo, so the wireless adapter is the only periphial on PCI.

I think i'm going to plug in my external USB2.0 hard drive into the server and see what type of transfer speeds i get on that PCI bus.

 

[fuzzynavel]

Originally posted by: Transition
The server eMachine is an old 600mhz machine. The video is actually integrated into the mobo, so the wireless adapter is the only periphial on PCI.

I think i'm going to plug in my external USB2.0 hard drive into the server and see what type of transfer speeds i get on that PCI bus.

Do you have much RAM? and what OS are you using?

the reason I ask is that if you don't have much RAM then the page file is going to be used constantly on your HD that creates work for the processor which has to process the data from the PCI bus which holds the USB2.0 ports.....minimum spec for USB 2.0 appears to be 266Mhz plus 32MB RAM so you appear to be ok....but I think that was for onboard USB2.0 and may differ with add-on cards. so you may be ok with that...

My advice would be to try lots of settings with the wireless I.e different frequency bands or channels and see if you get any better connections.....maybe the PCI bus has nothing to do with it....
You could just have had a quiet few minutes when you changed channel earlier and got a decent result....try retesting...

I'm grasping at straws!!!!

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Transition
Whether the wireless PC is one foot away from the AP or directly downstairs i receive the same type of transfer speeds. Distance does not appear to be the issue.

The improvement that you experienced by switching to channel 11 indicates that among what ever troubles you have Noise is one of them.

So stay in the close proximity until you solve the problem, if you have few problems you would not be able to correct any if Distance is one of them.

I can tell you what I would do.

The easiest is to try the client card, on an other computer.

If it does not help you try to borrow another card (or get as a spare a second card there are cards available for $10-$20 with rebates).

However if no additional card is available.

Configure the Wireless with the manufacturer utility (I.e. Disable Windows Native Wireless support).

Go over all the settings slowly and if you do not find any thing wrong call the manufacturer support and ask for an RMA.

:sun:

 

[Transition]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
The easiest is to try the client card, on an other computer.

Yea i'm going to bring another computer in and see if that helps at all. Thanks for the help everyone.