Slow wireless AC speeds

[darth_adversor]

Hey everybody, long time lurker, first time poster.

So I'm concerned about file transfers from two client machines to my server. Server is hard-wired via gigabit Ethernet. I'm using a TP-Link Archer C5 router. Initially I went with Intel 7260 AC cards, but then also threw a Broadcom BCM4352 into the mix.

So, initially I was using the Intel cards on both machines. Laptop was inconsistent, with transfer speeds ranging from 15 MB/s all the way up to 45 MB/s. HTPC never went above 20 MB/s, often times lower. Something happened - planets aligned or the barometric pressure was finally just right - and the laptop started running consistently at around 40 MB/s, while the HTPC stayed the same. Enter the Broadcom card.

The Broadcom card was detected in the HTPC and drivers installed fine, but Windows could not find any networks. I put it in the laptop and BAM, transfer speeds are consistently between 50-60 MB/s.

So that leaves the HTPC. I took the original 7260 out and put the one from the laptop in, thinking the first card was defective. Speeds are still way low, hovering between 15-20 MB/s.

My thoughts:

- Regarding the HTPC, with the Broadcom card mysteriously not working and both Intel cards being slow, maybe the mini-PCIE slot is defective and somehow limiting bandwidth?

- My laptop's chassis is mostly plastic, whereas the HTPC is the opposite. Maybe the metal in the computer case is interfering with the signal and an antenna extension cable would help? Currently using this, which allows me to have the antennas placed a few inches from the case:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A4I3AGE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Beyond those two possibilities, I'm pretty much out of ideas. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Misc. info:

- I've connected my laptop to the router via Ethernet to ensure the problem isn't with my server. File transfers averaged around 90 MB/s.

- I'm on the 5GHz band and connecting via AC, the adapter shows an 866 Mbps connection. I've tried playing around with various channels, tweaking roaming aggressiveness, turning off power management features in Windows, etc. I've tried uninstalling drivers and re-installing, tried the basic Windows driver versus the full-featured PROSet ones, etc.

- I have several devices in my home connected to the 2.4 band, but only the two machines referenced above are connected on the 5GHz band.

- I've performed all of my testing with only one machine connected at a time, and I always perform the tests on both machines from about 10 feet away with a direct line of sight to the router.

Clients:

Dell Studio 1745 laptop, 1st gen Core i7, 8GB RAM, SSD, Windows 7 Home Prem. 64-bit

HTPC running an MSI AM1I mini-ITX board, Sempron 3850, 8GB RAM, SSD, Windows 7 Home Prem. 64-bit

Sorry for the long post, thanks for reading.

 

[LurchFrinky]

There is more to the wireless signal than just the transfer rate and knowing things like link quality and signal strength will help you with the troubleshooting process.
I know it isn't much help to you, but I use wavemon on my linux home systems and it is very informative. I just don't know what software will do this in Windows.

When you test your machines "about 10 feet away with a direct line of sight", are they in the exact same position? The signal topography from the router isn't perfectly smooth and the HTPC might just be in a bad spot.

But from the data you provided, it sounds like the HTPC is only receiving the 2.4GHz signal clearly. 5GHz has faster speeds, but a much shorter range and it sounds like you are not quite tapping into this potential.

 

[darth_adversor]

Hey there, thank you for the reply. I've posted the question on a few other forums, it's so refreshing to receive an educated reply, something other than, "20 MB/s...there's nothing wrong, your speeds are average."

Anyway, both machines are reporting similar signal strength. When I checked a couple of days ago, I believe my laptop was at -57dB, whilst the HTPC was showing -58dB. Difference should be pretty negligible.

As far as link quality, I found a clever way to check using the event log in Windows. My laptop reports 78, while the HTPC showed 99. I have to admit, I'm a bit leery of that figure. The Broadcom driver for my laptop relies on Windows to manage the connection, while the HTPC's Intel card is using the PROSet utility. I feel like I should uninstall the PROSet software and try again with just the basic driver installed, for a more apples-to-apples comparison.

As for location, I haven't had the ability to test each computer in precisely the same spot, but pretty close. Within a foot of each other, basically. Even in the next room with a wall in between me and the router, the laptop is still faster than the HTPC.

It does, indeed, sound like the HTPC is being limited to the 2.4 band, but the Intel software, as well as Windows, reports a consistent link rate between 780-866 Mb/s. The laptop's link rate fluctuates a bit as well, FWIW. A link rate that fast shouldn't be possible if I were on the 2.4 band.

I've got a mini-PCIE to PCIE adapter on the way, as well as an antenna extension cable, so we'll see if either of those make a difference. Really appreciate the response, feel free to post any additional thoughts.

 

[fuzzymath10]

This is why I prefer wired. I have a huge mix of wifi devices and nothing approaches the consistency of wired.

My rule of thumb is I tolerate 30% effective transfer rates, and I consider 40% to be very good.

e.g. wireless G @ 54 - around 2-2.5MB/sec

wireless A @ 54 - around 2.5-3MB/sec (one laptop has an old A/B/G card, and I finally tried out 5GHz on my new AC router)

wireless N @ 300 - around 10-12MB/sec (Intel 2230)

wireless N 5GHz @ 450 - around 16MB/sec (Intel 5300)

wireless AC @ 866.7 - around 30-40MB/sec (Intel 7265)

For reference, on Gb ethernet - 70-100MB/sec

 

[darth_adversor]

I totally agree with your rule of thumb. If I could get ~30 MB/s on the HTPC, I'd call it good and move on with my life.

I'm moving in a few weeks and the possibility exists that I may be able to wire the HTPC to the router in the new place. I have to admit, though...my OCD isn't going to allow me to let this go. The fact that one machine mysteriously runs so much faster than the other is driving me insane.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

How many streams can your cards handle? Have you tried alternate cards other than those listed? My experience is not all wireless cards are created equal, I personally love the Intel 7260AC

 

[Puffnstuff]

Yepper intel 7260ac for the win.

 

[darth_adversor]

I've tried two different Intel 7260AC's and the Broadcom BCM4352. Gotta tell you, at least at close range, the Broadcom blows the Intel card away, in terms of speed. I've heard that the 7260 has better range, but that doesn't matter to me, as I'm in the same room as my router.

Anyway, so in the HTPC, which is the problematic machine, I'm currently using a 7260. It's the second 7260 I've tried. It's a 2x2 card. Transfer speeds while in my laptop averaged 40 MB/s. Took it out and installed in the HTPC...15 MB/s.