Help with Wireless Network

[TheWickedOne]

I've just moved back in with my parents and they are running a Wireless network with a Cable net connection. I installed my wireless PCI card and everything works great. The only problem I'm having (which is expected) is some packet loss. This wouldn't be a problem except for me being a hardcore gamer.

When playing UT2k4, I experience some packetloss, but nothing horrendous and it's certainly tolerable. The main problem occurs when I'm using voice comms (Ventrilo) with my clan. The second I get PL I lag out of the Vent server. This does not happen while using TeamSpeak though.

So, I have two questions. First, do you guys know of any tips or tweaks I could do to help reduce the PL? Right now I'm just letting XP configure things. Second, if any of you use or are familiar with Ventrilo, is there anything I can do with that to keep from laggin out?

Thanks

 

[TheWickedOne]

Dont everyone jump in at once...................

 

[0roo0roo]

info is sparse

 

[Matt84]

Is your computer in direct LOS to the access point, this could help but shouldn't be the problem

My wireless network works fine even through a double layer solid brick wall with insulation. Sure it has a weaker signal but i have not experienced packet loss

Im using a DLink DI-614+ with a DW-650+ CardBus card over a distance of around 15M.

List your setup with more detail

 

[TheWickedOne]

It's pretty much a Direct LOS with just a couple typical house walls in between with maybe 100 ft in between. I'm running a D-link DWL-520 PCI Adapter and letting XP do the configuration. The router is a Linksys, but I'm not sure of the model number. Both are 2.4GHz and 802.11b platforms

 

[Matt84]

Originally posted by: TheWickedOne
It's pretty much a Direct LOS with just a couple typical house walls in between with maybe 100 ft in between. I'm running a D-link DWL-520 PCI Adapter and letting XP do the configuration. The router is a Linksys, but I'm not sure of the model number. Both are 2.4GHz and 802.11b platforms

If you have walls inbetween your computer and the access point then you don't have direct LOS. See what happens when you move your PC right next to the access point and try playing your games. Going through walls can be the problem - it depends what they are made of when it comes to inteference.

Also i don't like the default XP config for network, i use the DLink utility and it works a charm

 

[CubanCorona]

Are there multiple access points in the house?

I'm assuming this is an 802.11b network. Are there any other 2.4 GHz devices in the house? (e.g. portable phones)

 

[TheWickedOne]

There are 3 puters in the house. The main with the router, my brothers (right next door) and mine both with PCI adapters. There are 2 portable phones in the house as well

 

[jgreg]

Consider restricting your wireless setup by mac address, you never know if someone nearby is roaming. secondly, make sure you run ad-aware and hijackthis.exe on all the machines in your network. One of them could be a zombie and eating your bandwidth.

-jgreg

 

[TheWickedOne]

What do you mean by roaming and mac address?

And this is a bump as well

 

[jgreg]

U can restrict your wireless access by the Mac address on those wireless cards. War drivers with long enough antennas can get acces to your wireless hot spot if its not properly secured. Could be a teen that reads this forum, right next door... running peer-to-peer software and eating up your bandwidth. None of this is probably hepping right now, but its not unheard of... all I know is I get free internet when I'm traveling

 

[TheWickedOne]

So how do I check if its secure or not?

 

[jgreg]

try and grab someones laptop with a wireless card and see if u can get online or portscan other computers.

 

[TheWickedOne]

Dont really have access to a laptop right now. Does it help any that all I did to get on with my computer is plug the card in and turn on the machine? No configuration had to be done at all. It was just there