Increasing my wireless speed

[Jin]

I'm having trouble with my wireless connection. When I first installed the adapter (MN-730), I was getting speeds of around 24-36Mbps. I just recently did a clean install of WinXP and now I'm getting speeds of 11Mbps or lower. The signal strength hasn't changed at all. It still changes between Good and Low, but that's how its been when I installed the adapter. I haven't changed/moved anything in my room from when I first installed the adapter. Everything is still the same. I'm just not sure why the speed dropped. I'm also occasionally getting messages that my connection is limited and when that happens, I lose my internet connection.

Is there anything I can do to increase the speed? Like maybe a signal booster or something like that.

Note: My modem and router is downstairs and I'm using a computer upstairs.

[wee96]

You could possibly have interference of some kind (microwaves, cordless phones, etc). What speed is your adapter connecting at and does it keep the same rated speed or does it fluctuate? Do you get any packetloss to the router?

[Jin]

I kinda ruled out interference because I've always had my cordless phone right above my computer. My computer is on the floor in my room and the phone sits on the computer desk that covers the computer.

Here's a pic of what I mean:


I've always had that setup. I just don't know if I f'ed it up when I did a install of XP again.

The speed does fluctuate. I sometimes get 18Mbps, but that's as high as it will go. The speed will drop when I surf the internet or just out of the blue.

How would I go about finding out if I have packetloss?

[mnosteele52]

Have you installed the latest drivers for your wireless card and do you have the latest firmware for your router?

[wee96]

Try pinging the router's ip (if its still the default settings, the routers ip should be 192.168.0.1) so you would goto start, run, type "cmd" without quotes, then type in "ping 192.168.0.1 -t -l 1500" without quotes and let it run for about 10 minutes or so. Hit control-c to end it and display the results, itll tell you your % of packetloss if there's any.

[Jin]

mnosteele52:
I can't update the firmware of the router. I just tried to do it and it kept giving me an error. I noticed that the light for the power turns orange about 10-15 secs into the update. Not sure what happened, but I can't update the firmware.

wee96:
Ping statistics for xxx.xxx.x.x:
Packets: Sent = 9096, Received = 8928, Lost = 168 (1% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 3ms, Maximum = 103ms, Average = 6ms

I left the thing on for about 2 hrs., if that makes any difference. I also lost internet connection at the end when I got back and checked on it. It kept displaying 'Destination host unreachable'

[mnosteele52]

I would think there is some type of problem with the router if you cannot update the firmware. Make 100% sure you have the right firmware, a lot of times there are different versions of the same router so there are different firmwares, you can also try resetting the router with it's reset button then try updating again.

Newer firmware usually offers much better performance and more advanced features for your router so it's important that you update it.

[Jin]

I believe I have old firmware or so says the update installer. I mean if I have the latest firmware, then I shouldn't be getting a notice that says there are updates for it, right?

I use the MSBN Utility that's is installed on the computer and it tells me that there are updates for my router. I go and d/l the update, try to install it, and yet I get problems from it.

I guess I'll try the reset button and see if that works.

I should say that right now, the connection seems to be working alot better. My connection speed is now at either 48/54Mbps and my signal strength is fluctuating between 2-4 bars.

I'll post an update tomorrow.

[mnosteele52]

What router do you have?

[YeOldeStonecat]

I use the MSBN Utility that's is installed on the computer and it tells me that there are updates for my router. I go and d/l the update, try to install it, and yet I get problems from it.

Disable any software firewalls you are running on your computer (including the WinXP built in one), and disable antivirus real time protection, then try to update the firmware. Once it's done, just remember to re-enable them. Is the router running rather default settings? I haven't worked on a Microsoft router in a while, trying to remember if they were finicky about being reset to default prior to upgrading or not.

[Jin]

mnosteele52:
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/br...pe=BaseStation

The one on the left. MN-700.

YOSC:
I'll give that a try and what do you mean by default settings?