Wi-fi in USB performance

[Doppel]

I bought from Amazon a TP-LINK 150 mbps N wifi USB dongle. It's tiny and pretty snazzy.

My problem is its wifi performance is quite awful. I have it about 20' away from my 54g router with near line of sight (20/2 internet speed) and it's got a solid 5 bars always. It connects at either 36 or 54mbps. However, pretty much constantly my speedtest results are like this:

Ping: 50
Download: ~3 mbps
Upload: 1-2mbps

Contrast with every other device in my home, positioned similarly, including a laptop next to it:

Ping: 20-50
Download: 11-15 (my devices get near 20 when near router)
Upload: 1-2 mbps

This is a USB 2.0 device in a USB 2.0 port. I tried a different port with no different results. Out of the blue once I managed an 8 mbps download, but otherwise it's reliably slow.

Any ideas? I don't want to get a powerline adapter yet, and I know my router is old, but none of my idevices or windows laptops perform so slowly.

I haven't contacted customer service and don't want to over a $10 item

 

[Blastman]

USB wireless adapters are pretty sensitive to how they're oriented, but since you have 5 bars and a 36/54 mbps connection, that doesn't seem to be an issue and I would think it should be performing a lot faster than only 3.0 mbps.

You could try using it right next to your router and see how it does best case scenario.

Uninstall drivers, then reinstall is all I can think of offhand. Or look for newer drivers on website.

 

[John Connor]

I have had nothing but bad luck with those USB WIFI devices. I think it's either router or firmware related. My laptop gets a solid 18 Mbps and 6 Mbps up. But the damn USB WIFI adapters are a crapshoot.

If this is a desktop I would get an Intel PCI card.

 

[JackMDS]

The small USB Dongles are usually OK if use in the room with the Wireless source for casual connection while Speed does not matter.

Made from Plastic and being so small creates Heat dissipation problem and their power is reduces for self protection.

If you have to stay with USB get this it works very well - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833166046

 

[John Connor]

This is something I was thinking of getting. Higher positive reviews and a Atheros AR9271 chipset.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833704045

I have this and it doesn't work well. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833166074

Speeds will go down to 1 Mbps.

Also, look at the warranty difference.

 

[John Connor]

This also seems good. http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Linksys-.../dp/B003B20F5E

http://wireless-adapter-review.toptenreviews.com/

I'm thinking Ralink is a good chipset to get.

 

[Doppel]

Thx for replies. It seems a somewhat common problem. I think the really strong reviews at least on this product are not fair. I wonder how many people really speedtested.

That Cisco one is probably good, but geeze for $95 I can almost have somebody come and run lines!

 

[Doppel]

Quick bump, I stumbled upon a USB extender. It's only 3' long but the results were significant. These tests were at speedtest.net run back to back with the dongle either at front of PC or attached to extender on same port and the dongle just lying on the floor a foot or two away from the PC.

PING/DOWN/UP

Dongle in PC:
19, 8.38, 1.9ish
23, 9.25, 1.92
23, 10.58, 1.98

Dongle in extension:
26, 15.31, 1.88
21, 15.23, 1.67
21, 14.25, 1.64

Dongle again in PC:
26, 7.92, 1.98
25, 8.18, 1.70
25, 8.60, 1.96

 

[Blastman]

Good to see that extender cable improved things … that's almost 2x as fast.

A fair amount of USB wireless dongles come with some sort cable extension and/or cradle so you can move them around and get a better orientation. My Asus USB N13 dongle came with a small 4 inch extender like the one pictured here … ASUS. It's stiff so it will stay in whatever position you orient it. Moving it around to different positions can make quite a difference in my connection speed and moves the dongle away from the back of my metal computer case which probably helps too.