If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Why is wireless Internet speed much less than wired
Hi,
I have a little wireless/wired Ethernet network in my home/office with three PC's, an Xbox 360 and a wireless network printer. I like to use the Internet speed test at www.whatismyip.com to benchmark my Internet speed. The server in San Francisco records the best results, upto 25 mbps download and about 500 kbps upload. The San Francisco download Internet speed results appear to be right at the top range of the theoretical signaling rate of my Internet cable modem speed. I noticed that the download speeds on wireless are only a fraction of the wired Internet speeds. In both cases the highest speeds are only a fraction of the theoretical speeds, 54 mbps for 11g wireless and 100 mbps for wired Ethernet. Also the LAN wireless speed is slower than LAN wired Ethernet speeds. Why is this so? Is there a larger hardware/software overhead for wireless networking? What are the implications for Gigabit Ethernet or for 11n wireless? Thanks for the enlightenment. m. |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Why is wireless Internet speed much less than wired
Mike Vandeman wrote:
I have a little wireless/wired Ethernet network in my home/office with three PC's, an Xbox 360 and a wireless network printer. I like to use the Internet speed test at www.whatismyip.com to benchmark my Internet speed. The server in San Francisco records the best results, upto 25 mbps download and about 500 kbps upload. The San Francisco download Internet speed results appear to be right at the top range of the theoretical signaling rate of my Internet cable modem speed. I noticed that the download speeds on wireless are only a fraction of the wired Internet speeds. In both cases the highest speeds are only a fraction of the theoretical speeds, 54 mbps for 11g wireless and 100 mbps for wired Ethernet. Also the LAN wireless speed is slower than LAN wired Ethernet speeds. Why is this so? Is there a larger hardware/software overhead for wireless networking? What are the implications for Gigabit Ethernet or for 11n wireless? Thanks for the enlightenment. What type of Internet connection do you have? (What speed do you pay your Internet Service Provider for?) What does http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ give you for speed when connected by wire? (Yes - I saw you did the test at whatismyip.com... I would still like you to try a couple of cities at the above site - particularly any *close* to you.) What does http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ give you for speed when wireless? (Yes - I saw you did the test at whatismyip.com... I would still like you to try a couple of cities at the above site - particularly any *close* to you.) Were the above two tests done on the same computer/device? Do you have the most up-to-date wired and/or wireless device drivers from the actual hardware manufacturer of each device (Microsoft is unlikely to have been the one to manufacture either of those devices - don't get your hardware device drivers for these devices from them)? Visit their web page(s) and find out. (Belarc Advisor or just Device Manager can help you figure out what manufacturer and what device you have.) I get ~11,500kbps download and ~1,000kbps upload at home on a cable modem. My grandmother pays much less and gets about 1300kbps download and 320kbps upload speed on her DSL. All of those numbers are reguardless of wired/wireless (given a good wireless connection/strong signal) since neither is anywhere near the 54Mbps theoretical maximum wireless or 100Mbps maximum wired (the actual maximum is always less.) At work I get ~95,000kbps download and ~18,000kbps on wired, but top out wirelessly for the download speed due to the limitation (right now) of using wireless g technology. All of the Internet tests are affected by many things. What version of Flash you are running, for example. The processor speed of your computer could even be a factor. The drivers for the network technology you are using. The time of day and how many other users using the same speed test or even the same ISP you are. The path that your ISP takes to get to the test site you choose to use. However - if you say you have ~25Mbps (~25,000kbps) download speed and 500kbps upload speed (although what a strange combination, IMO, of speeds to pay for) then I'm not sure you really have much to worry about in terms of using the Internet. Perhaps just being picky, but it's 802.11 or at least ".11"... ;-) Wireless a, b, g or n right now. 802.11 (2Mbps theoretical max) 802.11b (11Mbps theoretical max) 802.11a (54Mbps theoretical max) 802.11g (54Mbps theoretical max) 802.11n (100Mbps theoretical max) If you are getting a significant drop in speed between a wireless connection to your LAN vs a wired connection to the same LAN -- then you need to look at *your* equipment and drivers. Router updated? Router configured to give you the best speed? Wireless network devioce in your computer(s) updated with the latest driver from the manufacturer? System up to date with the OS and application drivers? What if you test the transfer speed from one computer to another with one being on wired and the other being on wireless within your own LAN? What is the transfer speed between the two like? You should grab a good ~60% of the wireless maximum speed or more. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Why is wireless Internet speed much less than wired
Mike Vandeman wrote:
I have a little wireless/wired Ethernet network in my home/office with three PC's, an Xbox 360 and a wireless network printer. I like to use the Internet speed test at www.whatismyip.com to benchmark my Internet speed. The server in San Francisco records the best results, upto 25 mbps download and about 500 kbps upload. The San Francisco download Internet speed results appear to be right at the top range of the theoretical signaling rate of my Internet cable modem speed. I noticed that the download speeds on wireless are only a fraction of the wired Internet speeds. In both cases the highest speeds are only a fraction of the theoretical speeds, 54 mbps for 11g wireless and 100 mbps for wired Ethernet. Also the LAN wireless speed is slower than LAN wired Ethernet speeds. Why is this so? Is there a larger hardware/software overhead for wireless networking? What are the implications for Gigabit Ethernet or for 11n wireless? Thanks for the enlightenment. What type of Internet connection do you have? (What speed do you pay your Internet Service Provider for?) What does http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ give you for speed when connected by wire? (Yes - I saw you did the test at whatismyip.com... I would still like you to try a couple of cities at the above site - particularly any *close* to you.) What does http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ give you for speed when wireless? (Yes - I saw you did the test at whatismyip.com... I would still like you to try a couple of cities at the above site - particularly any *close* to you.) Were the above two tests done on the same computer/device? Do you have the most up-to-date wired and/or wireless device drivers from the actual hardware manufacturer of each device (Microsoft is unlikely to have been the one to manufacture either of those devices - don't get your hardware device drivers for these devices from them)? Visit their web page(s) and find out. (Belarc Advisor or just Device Manager can help you figure out what manufacturer and what device you have.) I get ~11,500kbps download and ~1,000kbps upload at home on a cable modem. My grandmother pays much less and gets about 1300kbps download and 320kbps upload speed on her DSL. All of those numbers are reguardless of wired/wireless (given a good wireless connection/strong signal) since neither is anywhere near the 54Mbps theoretical maximum wireless or 100Mbps maximum wired (the actual maximum is always less.) At work I get ~95,000kbps download and ~18,000kbps on wired, but top out wirelessly for the download speed due to the limitation (right now) of using wireless g technology. All of the Internet tests are affected by many things. What version of Flash you are running, for example. The processor speed of your computer could even be a factor. The drivers for the network technology you are using. The time of day and how many other users using the same speed test or even the same ISP you are. The path that your ISP takes to get to the test site you choose to use. However - if you say you have ~25Mbps (~25,000kbps) download speed and 500kbps upload speed (although what a strange combination, IMO, of speeds to pay for) then I'm not sure you really have much to worry about in terms of using the Internet. Perhaps just being picky, but it's 802.11 or at least ".11"... ;-) Wireless a, b, g or n right now. 802.11 (2Mbps theoretical max) 802.11b (11Mbps theoretical max) 802.11a (54Mbps theoretical max) 802.11g (54Mbps theoretical max) 802.11n (100Mbps theoretical max) If you are getting a significant drop in speed between a wireless connection to your LAN vs a wired connection to the same LAN -- then you need to look at *your* equipment and drivers. Router updated? Router configured to give you the best speed? Wireless network devioce in your computer(s) updated with the latest driver from the manufacturer? System up to date with the OS and application drivers? What if you test the transfer speed from one computer to another with one being on wired and the other being on wireless within your own LAN? What is the transfer speed between the two like? You should grab a good ~60% of the wireless maximum speed or more. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Why is wireless Internet speed much less than wired
"Shenan Stanley" wrote in message
... Mike Vandeman wrote: I have a little wireless/wired Ethernet network in my home/office with three PC's, an Xbox 360 and a wireless network printer. I like to use the Internet speed test at www.whatismyip.com to benchmark my Internet speed. The server in San Francisco records the best results, upto 25 mbps download and about 500 kbps upload. The San Francisco download Internet speed results appear to be right at the top range of the theoretical signaling rate of my Internet cable modem speed. I noticed that the download speeds on wireless are only a fraction of the wired Internet speeds. In both cases the highest speeds are only a fraction of the theoretical speeds, 54 mbps for 11g wireless and 100 mbps for wired Ethernet. Also the LAN wireless speed is slower than LAN wired Ethernet speeds. Why is this so? Is there a larger hardware/software overhead for wireless networking? What are the implications for Gigabit Ethernet or for 11n wireless? Thanks for the enlightenment. What type of Internet connection do you have? (What speed do you pay your Internet Service Provider for?) What does http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ give you for speed when connected by wire? (Yes - I saw you did the test at whatismyip.com... I would still like you to try a couple of cities at the above site - particularly any *close* to you.) What does http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ give you for speed when wireless? (Yes - I saw you did the test at whatismyip.com... I would still like you to try a couple of cities at the above site - particularly any *close* to you.) Were the above two tests done on the same computer/device? Do you have the most up-to-date wired and/or wireless device drivers from the actual hardware manufacturer of each device (Microsoft is unlikely to have been the one to manufacture either of those devices - don't get your hardware device drivers for these devices from them)? Visit their web page(s) and find out. (Belarc Advisor or just Device Manager can help you figure out what manufacturer and what device you have.) I get ~11,500kbps download and ~1,000kbps upload at home on a cable modem. My grandmother pays much less and gets about 1300kbps download and 320kbps upload speed on her DSL. All of those numbers are reguardless of wired/wireless (given a good wireless connection/strong signal) since neither is anywhere near the 54Mbps theoretical maximum wireless or 100Mbps maximum wired (the actual maximum is always less.) At work I get ~95,000kbps download and ~18,000kbps on wired, but top out wirelessly for the download speed due to the limitation (right now) of using wireless g technology. All of the Internet tests are affected by many things. What version of Flash you are running, for example. The processor speed of your computer could even be a factor. The drivers for the network technology you are using. The time of day and how many other users using the same speed test or even the same ISP you are. The path that your ISP takes to get to the test site you choose to use. However - if you say you have ~25Mbps (~25,000kbps) download speed and 500kbps upload speed (although what a strange combination, IMO, of speeds to pay for) then I'm not sure you really have much to worry about in terms of using the Internet. Perhaps just being picky, but it's 802.11 or at least ".11"... ;-) Wireless a, b, g or n right now. 802.11 (2Mbps theoretical max) 802.11b (11Mbps theoretical max) 802.11a (54Mbps theoretical max) 802.11g (54Mbps theoretical max) 802.11n (100Mbps theoretical max) If you are getting a significant drop in speed between a wireless connection to your LAN vs a wired connection to the same LAN -- then you need to look at *your* equipment and drivers. Router updated? Router configured to give you the best speed? Wireless network devioce in your computer(s) updated with the latest driver from the manufacturer? System up to date with the OS and application drivers? What if you test the transfer speed from one computer to another with one being on wired and the other being on wireless within your own LAN? What is the transfer speed between the two like? You should grab a good ~60% of the wireless maximum speed or more. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html Thanks. Interesting points. I cannot yet begin to cover the whole territory as you describe it. I should also mention that I test the LAN connection speed between my Vista desktop PC and my Xbox 360 using the Media Center. HD works well with wired Ethernet but not well with 11g wireless connections. I think that Microsoft recommends wired connections. I just never understood why. I have Shaw cable Internet in Canada. I'm really happy with my TP-Link 11g wireless router and an SB 5102 cable modem. If I interpret you correctly, in an imperfect world, I would do better with a Gigabit 11n wireless router and adapters and I could probably support the Media Center connection as well or better with 11n, but 11n would likely be slower than Gigabit. Given what you say, I think a Gigabit wireless router and adapters would save a lot of difficult technical work. One cannot go wrong given a 15 day money back policy. Have a nice holiday. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Why is wireless Internet speed much less than wired
"Shenan Stanley" wrote in message
... Mike Vandeman wrote: I have a little wireless/wired Ethernet network in my home/office with three PC's, an Xbox 360 and a wireless network printer. I like to use the Internet speed test at www.whatismyip.com to benchmark my Internet speed. The server in San Francisco records the best results, upto 25 mbps download and about 500 kbps upload. The San Francisco download Internet speed results appear to be right at the top range of the theoretical signaling rate of my Internet cable modem speed. I noticed that the download speeds on wireless are only a fraction of the wired Internet speeds. In both cases the highest speeds are only a fraction of the theoretical speeds, 54 mbps for 11g wireless and 100 mbps for wired Ethernet. Also the LAN wireless speed is slower than LAN wired Ethernet speeds. Why is this so? Is there a larger hardware/software overhead for wireless networking? What are the implications for Gigabit Ethernet or for 11n wireless? Thanks for the enlightenment. What type of Internet connection do you have? (What speed do you pay your Internet Service Provider for?) What does http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ give you for speed when connected by wire? (Yes - I saw you did the test at whatismyip.com... I would still like you to try a couple of cities at the above site - particularly any *close* to you.) What does http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ give you for speed when wireless? (Yes - I saw you did the test at whatismyip.com... I would still like you to try a couple of cities at the above site - particularly any *close* to you.) Were the above two tests done on the same computer/device? Do you have the most up-to-date wired and/or wireless device drivers from the actual hardware manufacturer of each device (Microsoft is unlikely to have been the one to manufacture either of those devices - don't get your hardware device drivers for these devices from them)? Visit their web page(s) and find out. (Belarc Advisor or just Device Manager can help you figure out what manufacturer and what device you have.) I get ~11,500kbps download and ~1,000kbps upload at home on a cable modem. My grandmother pays much less and gets about 1300kbps download and 320kbps upload speed on her DSL. All of those numbers are reguardless of wired/wireless (given a good wireless connection/strong signal) since neither is anywhere near the 54Mbps theoretical maximum wireless or 100Mbps maximum wired (the actual maximum is always less.) At work I get ~95,000kbps download and ~18,000kbps on wired, but top out wirelessly for the download speed due to the limitation (right now) of using wireless g technology. All of the Internet tests are affected by many things. What version of Flash you are running, for example. The processor speed of your computer could even be a factor. The drivers for the network technology you are using. The time of day and how many other users using the same speed test or even the same ISP you are. The path that your ISP takes to get to the test site you choose to use. However - if you say you have ~25Mbps (~25,000kbps) download speed and 500kbps upload speed (although what a strange combination, IMO, of speeds to pay for) then I'm not sure you really have much to worry about in terms of using the Internet. Perhaps just being picky, but it's 802.11 or at least ".11"... ;-) Wireless a, b, g or n right now. 802.11 (2Mbps theoretical max) 802.11b (11Mbps theoretical max) 802.11a (54Mbps theoretical max) 802.11g (54Mbps theoretical max) 802.11n (100Mbps theoretical max) If you are getting a significant drop in speed between a wireless connection to your LAN vs a wired connection to the same LAN -- then you need to look at *your* equipment and drivers. Router updated? Router configured to give you the best speed? Wireless network devioce in your computer(s) updated with the latest driver from the manufacturer? System up to date with the OS and application drivers? What if you test the transfer speed from one computer to another with one being on wired and the other being on wireless within your own LAN? What is the transfer speed between the two like? You should grab a good ~60% of the wireless maximum speed or more. -- Shenan Stanley MS-MVP -- How To Ask Questions The Smart Way http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html Thanks. Interesting points. I cannot yet begin to cover the whole territory as you describe it. I should also mention that I test the LAN connection speed between my Vista desktop PC and my Xbox 360 using the Media Center. HD works well with wired Ethernet but not well with 11g wireless connections. I think that Microsoft recommends wired connections. I just never understood why. I have Shaw cable Internet in Canada. I'm really happy with my TP-Link 11g wireless router and an SB 5102 cable modem. If I interpret you correctly, in an imperfect world, I would do better with a Gigabit 11n wireless router and adapters and I could probably support the Media Center connection as well or better with 11n, but 11n would likely be slower than Gigabit. Given what you say, I think a Gigabit wireless router and adapters would save a lot of difficult technical work. One cannot go wrong given a 15 day money back policy. Have a nice holiday. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|