Belkin Wireless PCI Card

dubmick

I picked up one of these to replace a zyxel usb adaptor that I had been using with a zyxel modem on BT Broadband.

I'm getting very good - excellent signal strength but speed is dropping to only 1-2 mb's...anyone got any idea what could be causing this?

Cheers

Mick

Sponge Bob

pick another channel to dodge around interference ( set it on the zyzel in advanced options for wireless , if it says 7 make it 11 )

dubmick

thanks Sponge Bob

I changed it from 11 to 7 and moved the modem a bit. Signal strength is still excellent and the speed is now 5.5mbps.

Doesn't seem to be too much 'noise' on either channel so I can't understand why I am not getting 48 or 54 mbps.

I updated the Belkin software and the driver too.

My modem is in the main bedroom and the pc is across the landing in the box room.

Anyone got any ideas?

I probably am getting the max download speed but if it drops to 2 mbps or 1 mbps I don't think I am. I on a 2mb line with BT.

Wish I had of got a phone connection in the box room. Wireless is a pain imo.

Sponge Bob

Could it be a 802.11b card (or the modem only supports b ) which was the 1st wifi standard really at 11 mbits nominal or is it clearly connecting as 802.11g which is 54mbits

/me usually chills as long as his wireless connnection is faster than his BB connection

it does not sound like distance anyway , you may still have interference on 7 but not as bad as the default 11 you were originally set to.

I would note nominal vs typical speeds

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11

Protocol Data Rate (Typical) Data Rate (Max) Range (Indoor)
802.11b 6.5 Mbit/s 11 Mbit/s ~100 meters

Not every channel is the same in terms of bandwidth, the widest (fastest) are 11 7 6 and 4 IIRC

dubmick

the modem and the card are definitely 802.11g.

The connection speed always starts at 54 and goes rapidly down.

What I can't understand is that when I was using the usb adaptor I was usually getting 'good' signal strength and a speed of about 24-36 mbits.

So it's

Excellent / 5.5mbps v Good/ 24 mbps

I suppose if it is over 2mb it's ok.

Sponge Bob

run a ping, if you have a 2mbit DSL connection then its working fine if you can ping www.boards.ie at a constantish 30-40ms

watty

Compare with Linksys, Dlink, Netgear, zyxel etc WiFi PCI card or PCI -PCMCIA/PCcard adaptor and laptop card.

Peanut

Belkin stuff tends to be really really shoddy..

subway

move the modem in beside the pc and see what speed it conencts at then.