Stupid Computer Question

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 7:33 am

Ok all you smart guys/gals out there. I have internet at home with my suddenlink cable, I have it set up on a(I am assumming) cheap wireless router that came from them. I think I have the bottom line slower version from them that has a maximium of 54Mbps. It is fine when it is at 54 but it isn't there very often.

Will a new wireless router help this, is it the wireless software on my computer, or do I just need to upgrade services?

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:10 am

What kind/model of router is it?

No matter what, it should be faster than your internet connection. Where are you seeing the slowdowns? Is it communicating from one computer to another or with the internet?

If you have more than one wireless computer connected, the connection can be throttled down to the slowest speed of the connected computers. That depends mostly on the router but even at it's slowest speed, it should still be faster than your internet connection.

If you have a poor connection to the router, that can affect your speed as well. How close is the router to your primary computer? Does it seem to get a strong signal most of the time?

Jim

KendtEklund · **Joined:** Tue Mar 27, 2007 7:29 pm **Posts:** 1204

Another possibility - are you in a populated area where someone could be piggybacking on your internet connection?

if you have wireless, stealing your bandwidth can be trivial if you don't have security setup correctly.

If you shut off *all* your computers do you still see activity on the router?

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:25 am

KendtEklund wrote:

Another possibility - are you in a populated area where someone could be piggybacking on your internet connection?

That's funny. The only things stolen in Cline's neighborhood is golf balls and Geritol.

:wink:

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 9:43 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

KendtEklund wrote:

Another possibility - are you in a populated area where someone could be piggybacking on your internet connection?

That's funny. The only things stolen in Cline's neighborhood is golf balls and Geritol.

:wink:

well two of my old neighbors share a paper subscription. He reads it from about 6:30 to 7:30 and then walks across the street to, in his pajamas, and gives it to the octiganarian lady neighbor. Ok, before you perv's go wild, gives her the paper.

Back to the originall issue. It will just fluctate will you are on it, 54-36-18-24. It is a Motorola router

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

I'm assuming that you're running a 802.11g router whose maximum throughput is 54Mbps. What kind of signal strength are you observing? Are you running any kind of security? Have you tried changing the channel that it the router is using?

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Some 2.4GHz cordless (landline) phones will interfere with wireless signals also. I had the same problem as you did, plus static on the phones. Ditched my 2.4 phones and bougt 5.8GHz phones, problem solved.

If you have 2.4GHz phones, try turning one on and seeing if the wireless problems start then.

Bernie Baake · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:13 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

That's funny. The only things stolen in Cline's neighborhood is golf balls and Geritol.

:wink:

You forgot Viagra

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:40 am

Bernie Baake wrote:

Ryan Holton wrote:

That's funny. The only things stolen in Cline's neighborhood is golf balls and Geritol.

:wink:

You forgot Viagra

Viagra alway's comes up (no pun intended) when the corvette drivers get involved.

I'll try the phone thing and see if that helps.

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:42 am

Wes Eargle wrote:

I'm assuming that you're running a 802.11g router whose maximum throughput is 54Mbps. What kind of signal strength are you observing? Are you running any kind of security? Have you tried changing the channel that it the router is using?

It ranges from 54 to 18, sometimes if it remains slow I will go in and change the channel and sometimes see an immediate improvement but not long lasting. I am running AVG security software

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

clinehall wrote:

Wes Eargle wrote:

I'm assuming that you're running a 802.11g router whose maximum throughput is 54Mbps. What kind of signal strength are you observing? Are you running any kind of security? Have you tried changing the channel that it the router is using?

It ranges from 54 to 18, sometimes if it remains slow I will go in and change the channel and sometimes see an immediate improvement but not long lasting. I am running AVG security software

I was going more along the lines of a WEP or WPA key in the router providing security (eavesdropping and access). The AVG is just for antivirus protection.

Graham Jagger · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 12:53 am **Posts:** 1718

clinehall wrote:

Bernie Baake wrote:

Ryan Holton wrote:

That's funny. The only things stolen in Cline's neighborhood is golf balls and Geritol.

:wink:

You forgot Viagra

Viagra alway's comes up (no pun intended) when the corvette drivers get involved.

I'll try the phone thing and see if that helps.

Then turn all the phones off. Take a big sheet of reynolds wrap. Fold it like a radar antenna, wrap around your neck and over your head like a bonnet. See if the signal strength improves. If not get your wife and kids in the room. At least it'll be entertaining... :wink:

clinehall · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 12:01 pm

Graham Jagger wrote:

clinehall wrote:

Bernie Baake wrote:

Ryan Holton wrote:

That's funny. The only things stolen in Cline's neighborhood is golf balls and Geritol.

:wink:

You forgot Viagra

Viagra alway's comes up (no pun intended) when the corvette drivers get involved.

I'll try the phone thing and see if that helps.

Then turn all the phones off. Take a big sheet of reynolds wrap. Fold it like a radar antenna, wrap around your neck and over your head like a bonnet. See if the signal strength improves. If not get your wife and kids in the room. At least it'll be entertaining... :wink:

Corvette Drivers, there a different breed or maybe they shouldn't breed, or maybe they are too old to breed :lol:

Bernie Baake · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:01 pm

clinehall wrote:

ok, here is a pic of the result of a 99 bonneville rear
ending me.

I said it before I'll say it again
Mini drivers take it in the rear end, especially blue ones

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:11 pm

There is an easy way to test for this. Your wireless router likely has a wired connection as well. I would connect via ethernet cable and see if the bandwidth fluctuates a lot. You can go to a site like:

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

test your speed for the same location every 5 minutes for 30 minutes. It shouldn't vary widely, less than 5% or so. If it remains stable, then likely there is a problem either with the wireless portion of the router or it could be the access point in your laptop (internal or PCMCIA). The router is more likely.

I have a Netgear Rangemax that due to the incredible signal strength, I can get maximum speed from anywhere in my house, whereas my previous router would fluctuate due to signal blocking (electrical wiring, 2.4 GHZ phones, etc.). Likely, this is the case with you. - AB

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