• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Just got cable internet service and redid home network.

T

TheVrolok

Lifer
Just went from DSL (1.5/.384) to Cable (5/.384) at my home. I redid my network as follows:


Cable Modem
Linksys WRT54G
My Desktop Computer
Linksys WRT54G
Second Desktop
Third Desktop
Network Printer

Both WRT54Gs are set up identically as far as wireless (same channel, SSID (non-broadcasting), security) as I was hoping for seamless roaming of the wireless network in my home.

That's the structure. The second WRT54G is set as a router and using the first WRT54G as the gateway so that all the computers appear on the home network. The two routers are connected via about 100' of cat5e (had to run it up a wall, across the attic, and down into the other room). From there, the Second/Third Desktops and Printer are connectd by 15-25' cat5e cables.

Now, the second/third desktop (on the second router) are noticeably more sluggish than My Desktop (on the first router). I just ran a speed test at got 2.6/384 on My Desktop with a latency of 16 ms, and 1.4/384 with a latency of 44 ms on the second desktop. Yes, I realize even the 2.6 is slower than the advertised 5 (from the company) but it's a busy time, and I think it's just bogged down from the advertised burst - I was getting 4.2-4.6 earlier in the day on My Desktop.

My question is, why is the second part of the network so sluggish? 100' of cat5e and the second router really add that much delay? Going to run a speedtest on my laptops just to see what's going on with the wireless.
 
Those are completely unreliable numbers. If you want to test your local network you need to test via the LAN not an external speedtest server. If your local tests indicated a problem check for packet loss, and test each and every cable you ran. Make sure each in wall cable is terminated properly into a keystone jack, and use factory made cables to go from wall -> device.
 
Originally posted by: Crusty
Those are completely unreliable numbers. If you want to test your local network you need to test via the LAN not an external speedtest server. If your local tests indicated a problem check for packet loss, and test each and every cable you ran. Make sure each in wall cable is terminated properly into a keystone jack, and use factory made cables to go from wall -> device.
Click to expand...

I can't agree with you that the numbers are "completely unreliable." 2 computers on the same network with varying speeds to the same server indicates something intrinsic to the network. It's not like I ran a speed test just once and hours apart. All the cables are terminated well into the wall jacks, and all the cables from wall -> device are indeed factory. What would you recommend I use to benchmark the LAN? Any specific software recommendations?
 
most likely you have a cabling problem. Did you do the cabling yourself? If so that's the likely culprit. Second only to not having speed/duplex set to auto on all the NICs. Those two things account for almost all network performance problems.

Also you're getting co-channel interference by having the wireless on the same channel. Use channel 1, 6, 11 on them and make sure they are different. And broadcast the SSID, nothing good can come from not broadcasting it.

There really is no reason to be doing the routing you are. Just make everything a single subnet. Basically what I'm saying is keep it as simple as possible because there is no good reason not to.
 
I'm not sure how else I could set it up, to be honest. What could the cabling problem be, if it exists? I can recheck the ends mounted to the wall jacks, but they didn't seem to be poorly connected. Beyond that, what else is there?
 
How do you know that they're not poorly connected? If you made the cables, there is room for error. Buy some pre-made cables from monoprice.com and be done with it 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
How do you know that they're not poorly connected? If you made the cables, there is room for error. Buy some pre-made cables from monoprice.com and be done with it 🙂
Click to expand...

I thought about it, not sure how I'd run it easily at this point. I think I could probably rig an elaborate set of ways to pull it through, but it would not be easy. Can anyone recommend a good way to test the LAN so that I can make sure it's cabling, before I do anything else? 🙂
 
Originally posted by: TheVrolok
Originally posted by: Nocturnal
How do you know that they're not poorly connected? If you made the cables, there is room for error. Buy some pre-made cables from monoprice.com and be done with it 🙂
Click to expand...

I thought about it, not sure how I'd run it easily at this point. I think I could probably rig an elaborate set of ways to pull it through, but it would not be easy. Can anyone recommend a good way to test the LAN so that I can make sure it's cabling, before I do anything else? 🙂
Click to expand...

There are a wide range of network testers, from several thousand dollar Fluke devices to a tester that just checks continuity in the cables. You definitely need at least a basic tester since you ran the cables yourself. Radioshack sells some cheap ones I think, others might be able to give you more specific recommendations.

All you need to do to test on your LAN is to try copying files around the network to make sure it's going at the right speeds. Windows to Windows copying you should see max out around 10MB/s. There are tons of programs that do bandwidth testing on your local LAN as well, if you have access to Linux iperf is a great tool, on Windows the only thing I've used in the past is SiSoft Sandra's network testing but it's been a while.

 
Have you tried moving your 2nd desktop to where the first desktop is at or move the first one to the slower position? That should tell you if it's a pc problem or cables.
 
I'd check the latency on the second side of the network. Have each PC ping your Gateway with the -250 switch to get a good data sample and check if your latency is higher in the second part of your network. You can also use tracert to yahoo and see if there is a difference.
 
If it were me I would use just one router and a switch in place of the second router.
Using two routers on the same network can be tricky.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top