slow internet...dont know what is or how to fix it

[Azndude2190]

I have a notebook and desktop(both in the same room).I use Charter Communication DSL through a Modem/Wireless G Router and use IE for my browser...so both use wireless adapters to connect to the internet.The problem is both speed is extremely slow for DSL its basically running at a 56k speed...in the notification area were my network icon shows up both computers always show 1-11mbps(normally at 1mbps)and signal strength is always at low...the connection itself seems to be fluctuating constantly and it just feels "weak"...exne minute I'll be looking at a site(dont forget this is actually waiting for a long time for the site to even load) the next minute I click on a link the loading bar at the bottom of the browser freezes...or like when I download off of a p2p program the speed will be at 40-50kbps than all of the sudden drop down to 0kpbs and then my icon in the notification area shows the "red cross"...or when i'm using AIM and talking to someone;at a random time it disconnects me...and the most irriating is when my ping in games is at 50-90 and jumps to nearly 200 and everything is "frozen",sometimes I wont even be able to connect to the server...Note:This ALL happened after I specifically reformated and installed WinXP HE SP2(before I had HE SP1)and also downloaded and installed Longhorn.For my desktop I've been using WinXP HE SP2 also.And the distance between my two computers from my modem/router is moderate(only 2 rooms away)the router is placed at the bottom of a table like furniture in my living room.So whats wrong?

 

[mzkhadir]

if you test your connection at

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

what speeds do you get ?

If you turn one wireless connection off do you get better speeds ?
Is there a way to look inside the router config and see who is connected ?
Is someone stealing your bandwidth ?
Do the SpeedTest and tell us your upload/download speed ?
Who is your ISP ?

 

[Azndude2190]

ok my dl speed is 169kbps
upload speed is 217kbps

My ISP is Charter Communication

 

[mzkhadir]

what was your supposed bandwidth you should be getting from charter ?

How far is your Central Office ?

If you go to http://www.dslreports.com/prequal/distance

How was it before the drop ?

 

[Azndude2190]

Okay I did a speed test again...this time I directly connected my notebook to my modem with an ethernet cable and these were my speeds:
dl speed:2877
upload speed:240

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: Azndude2190
Okay I did a speed test again...this time I directly connected my notebook to my modem with an ethernet cable and these were my speeds:
dl speed:2877
upload speed:240

the 2nd site you gave me doesnt work
and dslreports.com seems to be down cuz i cant get on

OK, so DL speed went from (wired) 2877 down to (wireless) 169.

That's not an internet problem. That's a 'your wireless connection' problem.

Looks like you need to find the problem in your wireless internet connection.

 

[Azndude2190]

Originally posted by: dclive

Originally posted by: Azndude2190
Okay I did a speed test again...this time I directly connected my notebook to my modem with an ethernet cable and these were my speeds:
dl speed:2877
upload speed:240

the 2nd site you gave me doesnt work
and dslreports.com seems to be down cuz i cant get on

OK, so DL speed went from (wired) 2877 down to (wireless) 169.

That's not an internet problem. That's a 'your wireless connection' problem.

Looks like you need to find the problem in your wireless internet connection.

yeah but how is my question...where do u begin?...it could be router...or the wireless adapters...i doubt anyone is hacking my wireless connection since I live in a "old peoples" community....in my original post i sed ALL of this started to happen after i reformated and installed SP2 and Longhorn... sow ut i'm trying to get is maybe the it has something to with the os?

 

[mzkhadir]

What type of Network card are you using ?
Is the Network card also G rated or is it just B rated ?

If you take your wireless laptop in the same room as the wireless connection does the internet speed go up ?

Is there any type of interference with anything else between where you are and between where the router is ?


Because your problem is basically with the network card because of the drastic speed up from the card to no card.


This has nothing to do with you dsl line at all then its your network card and router.

 

[Azndude2190]

well like i sed my computers are in my office room and my modem/router is in a living room with a kitchen and another room between it...

 

[Eureka]

Well, try testing it out in your living room... if it does rise, then your connection is being interfered with by something.

Norm

 

[mzkhadir]

Originally posted by: Azndude2190

Originally posted by: dclive

Originally posted by: Azndude2190
Okay I did a speed test again...this time I directly connected my notebook to my modem with an ethernet cable and these were my speeds:
dl speed:2877
upload speed:240

the 2nd site you gave me doesnt work
and dslreports.com seems to be down cuz i cant get on

OK, so DL speed went from (wired) 2877 down to (wireless) 169.

That's not an internet problem. That's a 'your wireless connection' problem.

Looks like you need to find the problem in your wireless internet connection.

yeah but how is my question...where do u begin?...it could be router...or the wireless adapters...i doubt anyone is hacking my wireless connection since I live in a "old peoples" community....in my original post i sed ALL of this started to happen after i reformated and installed SP2 and Longhorn... sow ut i'm trying to get is maybe the it has something to with the os?

If its working fine when you plug it in directly to your dsl line, then its not the OS. Its your wireless card because its just staying at 1-11mbps.

Have you tried to reinstall your wireless card or drivers for your onboard card ?

 

[Azndude2190]

Originally posted by: mzkhadir

Originally posted by: Azndude2190

Originally posted by: dclive

Originally posted by: Azndude2190
Okay I did a speed test again...this time I directly connected my notebook to my modem with an ethernet cable and these were my speeds:
dl speed:2877
upload speed:240

the 2nd site you gave me doesnt work
and dslreports.com seems to be down cuz i cant get on

OK, so DL speed went from (wired) 2877 down to (wireless) 169.

That's not an internet problem. That's a 'your wireless connection' problem.

Looks like you need to find the problem in your wireless internet connection.

yeah but how is my question...where do u begin?...it could be router...or the wireless adapters...i doubt anyone is hacking my wireless connection since I live in a "old peoples" community....in my original post i sed ALL of this started to happen after i reformated and installed SP2 and Longhorn... sow ut i'm trying to get is maybe the it has something to with the os?

If its working fine when you plug it in directly to your dsl line, then its not the OS. Its your wireless card because its just staying at 1-11mbps.

Have you tried to reinstall your wireless card or drivers for your onboard card

yeah i'm doing it right now

 

[Azndude2190]

Okay i'm now connected on my wireless connection...my notebook(wireless adapter) is about 2 feet away from the router...and signal strength is at excellent...and my speed is at 54mbps...everything seems to run smooth and fast now at status its sending and recieving packets...so now i just need to figure out how to make it work in my office...btw my desktop in my office is shutdown

 

[mzkhadir]

So, if you move to the other room, does the signal drop dramatically.

 

[Azndude2190]

no the signal hass not dropped dramitically(i moved back to my office)..it only dropped one bar and went from excellent to very good....mbps speed is 36mbps....

I ran two tests again:

First one is with my adapter 2 feet away from router:
dl speed 2688
upload speed 230

Second one is with my adapter in my office:
dl speed:2533
upload spped 143

 

[mzkhadir]

So, your problem is fixed.

 

[Azndude2190]

update*

i'm letting it sit for awhile in my office...and the signal strength,speed,etc are fluctuating...now my speed is at 11mbps and signal strength is very good...but there was a time frame about 30 seconds in which my signal was at low...but right now I THINK its running stable...i'll update later

 

[Azndude2190]

lol another update:
speed was at 18mbps and signal strength is at low...then went up to signal sttrength excellent at 36mbps...dit another test:
dl speed: 2307kbps
upload speed: 238kbps

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: Azndude2190
lol another update:
speed was at 18mbps and signal strength is at low...then went up to signal sttrength excellent at 36mbps...dit another test:
dl speed: 2307kbps
upload speed: 238kbps

That's excellent.

You really should turn on security (once you've fixed all these issues) so no one can hijack your wireless connection. At the very least set up a simple WPA password. Change your router's password, too.

 

[Azndude2190]

Originally posted by: dclive

Originally posted by: Azndude2190
lol another update:
speed was at 18mbps and signal strength is at low...then went up to signal sttrength excellent at 36mbps...dit another test:
dl speed: 2307kbps
upload speed: 238kbps

That's excellent.

You really should turn on security (once you've fixed all these issues) so no one can hijack your wireless connection. At the very least set up a simple WPA password. Change your router's password, too.

I dont know if reseting the router did anything...but I did...I dont know anything about router configuration so how do you setup a password?

 

[dclive]

Originally posted by: Azndude2190

Originally posted by: dclive

Originally posted by: Azndude2190
lol another update:
speed was at 18mbps and signal strength is at low...then went up to signal sttrength excellent at 36mbps...dit another test:
dl speed: 2307kbps
upload speed: 238kbps

That's excellent.

You really should turn on security (once you've fixed all these issues) so no one can hijack your wireless connection. At the very least set up a simple WPA password. Change your router's password, too.

I dont know if reseting the router did anything...but I did...I dont know anything about router configuration so how do you setup a password?

The router setup guide should be in the manual you got in your wireless router, or can typically be found online at your router vendor's website.

Your router should be secured (with both a setup password and a WPA password for your wireless connection) at all times, ideally.