increasing wireless throughput

[zimu]

current configuration: 54mbps minipci on laptop, 54mbps linksys router, 10mbit internet connection (1.2mbytes/sec).

now i've seen that if i transfer a file locally, the maximum throughput of my wireless network is 1.4mbytes/second.

my broadband is being upgraded to 20mbit in a month or so.

my question is: can i increase the throughput without upgrading to another technology? i have two wireless routers, if that helps at all - is there some way to bridge it, and use two wifi cards on the laptop?

would love some input here; don't think i'm ready to make the 802.11n jump just yet.

cabling is not an option, not yet at least.

 

[spidey07]

Best you can get out of G is 22-24 Mbs. TOPS.

If you can configure the data rates on your router to support "802.11G only" do that. If you can manually select the data rates then don't allow 1, 2.5, 5, 11 Mbs.

Also change channels to 1, 6 or 11 and choose the one that gives the best throughput.

 

[zimu]

i'll try that...

do you think if i upgrade to the latest firmware it'd make any difference? i'm currently on v23 of dd-wrt. i see there is a v24 beta out, any idea if that would increase throughput?

 

[zimu]

ok so did as you said, 802.11g only, channel 11 was best.

my sustained throughput is 1.55mbytes/second (12.4mbit) which is still half of what it should be...

any further tips?

i have wireless security enabled (wpa-psk) which i know would have a slight performance degredation, but definitely not 50%!!

 

[zimu]

shocker. i just moved to the "tomato" firmware. it has increased my throughput with DEFAULT settings from 1.55mbytes/second to 2.5mbytes/second, so i'm now getting my 22mbit!!

all ready for my bandwidth bump just around the corner

 

[JackMDS]

Firmware per-se should not increase bandwidth unless your environment decreases the signal and the firmware boosts the output of the Radio.

How far is the wireless client from the source?

 

[zimu]

thats what i would've thought... except a few others on the dd-wrt forums are witnessing the same thing.

both firmwares had the maximum radio output set (241 or whatever it is) rather than the smaller defailt of what, 40 or something.

the client is in the room directly above the radio, full signal strength. although i tried this taking my laptop literally 2 meters from the radio for both, and witnessed this super bump in throughput.

 

[VisionxOrb]

Originally posted by: zimu
thats what i would've thought... except a few others on the dd-wrt forums are witnessing the same thing.

both firmwares had the maximum radio output set (241 or whatever it is) rather than the smaller defailt of what, 40 or something.

the client is in the room directly above the radio, full signal strength. although i tried this taking my laptop literally 2 meters from the radio for both, and witnessed this super bump in throughput.

Thats actually hurting you, pusing the radio that hard is going to increase its noise lvl reducing your signal quality.

 

[zimu]

very correct indeed! literally 45 minutes ago i dropped the power level from 251 to 43 and its shot up my throuhgput...

the 2.5mbytes/second i was getting before was short lived (think my neighbors wireless was off, now its on - i can see it in my list). however with the decrease in power level output its shot back up to 2.4-2.5 mbytes/second!

thanks for all the help guys!

 

[JackMDS]

Each Boostable Wireless Router has each own Sweet Point.

As an Example my Wireless Router works the best at about 55mW (the default is ~33mW), if you Boost more the noise outwash the Signal.

http://www.ezlan.net/wbar.html

 

[spidey07]

Jack, that's the quality of the radios at work there.