NEWB Networking & Bandwidth Issues . . .

[miracleagenda]

Hi Everyone,

Let's Start with what I'm running:

iBook 800mhx 640mgs RAM, OSX Panther 10.3.3, Airport
PIII 600mhz 128mgs RAM, Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft xBox
Microsoft MN-500 Wireless router + 4 Port Switch
Linksys Wireless Gaming Adapter
D-Link DP-300u Print Server
SBC DSL 3.0down/384up
SpeedStream 5100 ADSL Modem

I am having a few issues so let's number them:

1. I connected the print server and have been able to print from the PC but not on the Mac (it won't even print a test page from the web config {which I am able to get into from the Mac})

2. My downloading has been fine up until about a week ago when they started downloading then stopping then downloading again then completing before the full file has been downloaded (I understand this can be site specific but it with all sites). This has been the case with Internet Explorer, Safari, and Camino.

3. When I run the speed test from DSL Reports on the iBook it comes out sometimes very low and sometimes about what I would expect from my ISP. When I run it on the hard-wired PC it is consitently high everytime.

Any help for these problem would be most appreciated. Please post any questions about my config or situation,

 

[InlineFive]

1. Is the printer hooked up to the USB or Parallel port? I don't know how those things work but your Mac might just need a driver.
2. That router with early firmware revisions has had problems with packets dropping. Try updating to the latest firmware for that model.
3. Is the Mac using wireless or wired? If it's wireless that could well explain the speed drop since wireless is much slower the wired.

-Por

 

[miracleagenda]

1. The printer is hooked up to the usb port of the print server. I don't think I need a driver since it works fine when I plug the printer directly into the iBook.

2. I'm pretty sure I have the latest firware on the router but I'll check that out when I get home. Thanks!!

3. The Mac is using wireless. Should I plug directly into the router when downloading?

 

[miracleagenda]

BTW I've also thought of doing a clean install of the OS on the Mac to see if it's just out of whack. I have a 160gig firewire drive so backing up would be a snap.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: miracleagenda
1. The printer is hooked up to the usb port of the print server. I don't think I need a driver since it works fine when I plug the printer directly into the iBook.

2. I'm pretty sure I have the latest firware on the router but I'll check that out when I get home. Thanks!!

3. The Mac is using wireless. Should I plug directly into the router when downloading?

1. Have you double checked to make sure that AppleTalk is enabled for the print server?
3. No. Wireless networks are much slower then wired networks and are easily hampered by devices with high frequencies near by. That could severly lower the speed. If you can try setting the MTU on the Mac to 1492 or 1500 and see if that fixes it.

 

[miracleagenda]

My issue with Appletalk is that I've always heard that it is not needed. "Never turn it on!!" they always say. Should I be using it? Isn't it an outdated protocol?

 

[miracleagenda]

Any one with further advice on this one?