Wireless G Router Slow Ethernet Connection

[JumBie]

I am currently using a Linksys WRT54GS, and have a 120mbps connection. My wireless speeds are consistent with wireless G, in at around 18-20mbps.

However, to my knowledge, I should be maxing out at least 100mbps on the ethernet ports of the router, instead I am only getting around 20mbps when hard wired into the router via ethernet.

Any idea what could be causing this to happen? Or am I wrong in believing that I could achieve higher speeds when connected directly to the router.

 

[JoeMcJoe]

No way that router can give you that speed on the WAN-LAN connection, it is way underpowered for your needs.

You need to upgrade your router. For a good brand look at ASUS.

 

[PliotronX]

Do you mean wireless -> ethernet or ethernet -> ethernet? If the latter, that is definitely not right, if the former that is about right for an 11g connection. The limitation is the wireless connection, not the ethernet. A decent 11n connection is still going to fall far short of a 100Mbps ethernet connection.

 

[Mushkins]

You'll also need to specify if you're talking about internal speeds or external. How are you measuring performance and what are you trying to do to utilize that throughput?

 

[azazel1024]

It sounds like you are talking WAN->LAN or LAN->WAN and not anything to do with WLAN->WAN or WAN->WLAN...is that correct?

If so, I doubt that the WRTG54 can push nearly like port speed over the WAN connection. Very old and under powered router. 20Mbps or so is a little suprising for WAN capability, but it isn't that suprising to me. You are talking basically a 10 year old design (I can still remember having a blisteringly fast 3/768 comcast connection 10 years ago).

However, if you are talking LAN to LAN, it should certainly be pushing more like 80-90Mbps.

 

[JackMDS]

Linksys never made a really good Wireless Router, the GS is one of the worst of their line.

The original WRT54G as is was mediocre too. It got its fame not from Linksys doing but from the 3rd party firmwares that was developed for it (DD-WRT, Tomato, and few more).

Currently there are Wireless Routers for about $30 that are much better than the GS.

 

[VirtualLarry]

WAN-to-LAN throughput of a WRT54G/GS isn't great, certainly not port speed. 20MBit/sec, give or take a few due to firmware differences, is about right.

Time to get a new router. A Netgear WNR2000 draft N300 router can be had refurb for $20 often at Newegg, and it can do 80-90Mbit/sec WAN-to-LAN (tested).

 

[JumBie]

MODEM->WANPORT(ROUTER)->LAN(ETHERNET)->COMPUTER

I am not trying to achieve transfer speeds, I am trying to achieve WAN SPEED (internet), if your saying that I cannot get anymore than 20mbps through ethernet with this router then I will just switch to my wireless N router.

 

[PliotronX]

MODEM->WANPORT(ROUTER)->LAN(ETHERNET)->COMPUTER

I am not trying to achieve transfer speeds, I am trying to achieve WAN SPEED (internet), if your saying that I cannot get anymore than 20mbps through ethernet with this router then I will just switch to my wireless N router.

Yeah that ain't right, while not the best by today's standards I'm pretty sure the WRT54GS has a fast ethernet WAN port so it should not be affecting your ethernet LAN port speeds to the interwebs. Have you scoped out the DD-WRT firmware? It may breathe life into that little guy. Better yet the tomato firmware performed better with my Buffalo 11g router based on the same Broadcom chipset. The flashing of these firmware can be tricky as you have to go through the trouble of statically configuring your PC into the 192.168.1.x range and then get in there and play with it so if this is too much time and effort, I'd just probably throw the N on as the gateway and if you need more ports check this out.

 

[JumBie]

Yeah that ain't right, while not the best by today's standards I'm pretty sure the WRT54GS has a fast ethernet WAN port so it should not be affecting your ethernet LAN port speeds to the interwebs. Have you scoped out the DD-WRT firmware? It may breathe life into that little guy. Better yet the tomato firmware performed better with my Buffalo 11g router based on the same Broadcom chipset. The flashing of these firmware can be tricky as you have to go through the trouble of statically configuring your PC into the 192.168.1.x range and then get in there and play with it so if this is too much time and effort, I'd just probably throw the N on as the gateway and if you need more ports check this out.

I am currently using Tomato firmware, reason being that it allows me to control the bandwith of specific mac addresses. I used DD-WRT before, but eventually reverted back to tomato. The issue is, I specifically remember being able to achieve max speeds through the lan port of the router, not sure why its giving me the same speed I would get over wifi.

 

[PliotronX]

I am currently using Tomato firmware, reason being that it allows me to control the bandwith of specific mac addresses. I used DD-WRT before, but eventually reverted back to tomato. The issue is, I specifically remember being able to achieve max speeds through the lan port of the router, not sure why its giving me the same speed I would get over wifi.

Tomato already on there??

Is it possible the MAC throttling is related? Can you for S&G back up the profile and reset afresh? Is it the Tomato Speedmod or newer Shibby build?

 

[JumBie]

Tomato already on there??

Is it possible the MAC throttling is related? Can you for S&G back up the profile and reset afresh? Is it the Tomato Speedmod or newer Shibby build?

Its using the shibby build, I refreshed the whole thing and its still giving me the same speeds. I plugged in a wireless N router and I am getting full speeds through LAN. I am just about to give up on this router.

 

[azazel1024]

Its older than my car, put it to sleep. It wasn't fast when new and that was basically a decade ago.