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funkyCable
25-10-2010, 12:10
Hi

I got upgraded to 50Mb connection on Friday. To be honest, I'm not feeling the extra speed and not impressed with it. I'm having more problems loading sites than I did on my 20Mb connection.

I used to have 20Mb and used a 4 year old G router. The router could only handle 7mb so I thought if I upgrade I'll get a new N router and adaptor. I know using wifi you not going to get 100% signal but surely my devices should see the network when its positioned right next to the router.

Two devices (1 laptop and 1 pc(this one is using the supplied usb dongle))cannot see the new router network. It finds all the other networks from my neighbours but not my network even when its position right next to it. My SSID is not hidden.

How do I test my connection ? Sites take a lot longer than they used on a 20Mb connection.

Any advice much appreciated.

roger skillin
25-10-2010, 12:41
You're correct, you wont get a very fast connection via wifi, i have my pc connected via ethernet and get 50mb full speed where as the Laptop which is connected via wifi i get between 5mb and 11mb so if you want to use 50mb to its advantage i suggest at least having the pc connected via ethernet.
Test you connection via speedtest.net and ping via pingtest.net
Your problem sounds like you havn't set the router up correctly, i have only had 50mb for 4 weeks but after setting the router up using the cd i was able to connect the laptop,ps3 and iphone via wifi with no problems, so as you title states, you can't really blame the 50mb connection for any of the problems you're experiencing

funkyCable
25-10-2010, 14:25
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/10/21.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
http://www.pingtest.net/result/26732991.png (http://www.pingtest.net)
Using wifi.

why cant some of my device see the network?

---------- Post added at 13:25 ---------- Previous post was at 13:24 ----------

Should I be changing the firmware to dd-wrt?

pabscars
25-10-2010, 14:48
I would ascertain your getting 50Meg down your pipe before ditching the router, I take it youve tried wired to the modem? ,if so what speed did you get

Have you tried a different wireless channel?

What router are you actually using?

What security have you selected on the router?

What standard is the router broadcasting? eg B,G or N

Are your power levels ok from the modem?

Come on Funky you've been lurking around this forum long enough to know you need to provide a bit more info matey ;)

Chuck a dog a bone dude :)

funkyCable
25-10-2010, 14:51
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/10/20.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
http://www.pingtest.net/result/26734089.png (http://www.pingtest.net)
not bad wired

Youtube is always buffering when I an using Wifi I never had a problem on 20mb

pabscars
25-10-2010, 14:53
Your upload sucks, is it possible your upstream port is fubar.

Do you ever get near 1.5 to 1.75Mbps up

funkyCable
25-10-2010, 15:09
I would ascertain your getting 50Meg down your pipe before ditching the router, I take it youve tried wired to the modem? ,if so what speed did you get

Have you tried a different wireless channel?

What router are you actually using?

What security have you selected on the router?

What standard is the router broadcasting? eg B,G or N

Are your power levels ok from the modem?

Come on Funky you've been lurking around this forum long enough to know you need to provide a bit more info matey ;)

Chuck a dog a bone dude :)
Lol check my latest post with the router to pc through a cable.

Router: dlink dir615 D4 version.
router broadcasting: mixed (B G and N). I only use G and N
how do I check the power levels on the modem? I'm not sure the make but its a shiney black top with blue led on the top as well.

I have tried changing the channels and that helped a little bit but not much.

I'm using WPA/WPA2 with the Cipher Type set to Auto and PSK / EAP set to PSK

---------- Post added at 14:01 ---------- Previous post was at 14:00 ----------

I cant remember every it going passed 1Mb.

---------- Post added at 14:09 ---------- Previous post was at 14:01 ----------

My engineer did a test and my dl was below 50mb and he recon it was because it was friday afternoon (16:30) and thats why the connection was not 50. He was also surprized how bad the speed was when II did it on wifi. When I tried to ping my router the engineer told me straight that he knows nothing about pings...

pabscars
25-10-2010, 15:20
I would try selecting "G" only on your router if you can, I have and I get upto 30Mbps through my router which is ample for browsing, youtubeing etc.

Regarding looking at your power levels, type 192.168.100.1 into your browser and post your up and down power levels, SNR (ReMER), and copy the log editing out your MAC address.


The fact you never get above 1Meg Up, I would say is your biggest cause for concern as it suggests issues with your network.

What did the engineer get upload wise when he tested it.

funkyCable
25-10-2010, 15:37
Cant say i remembered see the upload.

Is this what you after?
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=21135&stc=1&d=1288013656
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/attachment.php?attachmentid=21134&stc=1&d=1288013656

funkyCable
25-10-2010, 15:39
I can only select
1. N
2. B/G
3. B/G/N

I've now changed it to option 2.

pip08456
25-10-2010, 15:50
Wireless g is your problem

802.11g was the third modulation standard for Wireless LAN. It works in the 2.4 GHz band (like 802.11b) but operates at a maximum raw data rate of 54 Mbit/s, or about 19 Mbit/s net throughput.

source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11g-2003)

funkyCable
25-10-2010, 15:53
if thats the case then how can pabscars be getting 30Mbps on G? why does streaming seem to suffer? why cant my other pcs see the network?

pabscars
25-10-2010, 15:54
Your power levels look decent enough, very similar to mine in fact so at least you can rule out a power level issue.

Now that youve tried changing it to B/G only try a few different channels to see if it helps, but I would also try speedtesting using a few different computers, laptop/netbook etc, just to prove your upload sucks, then get on phone to tech support.

funkyCable
25-10-2010, 15:57
whats that program that scans channels to see what other networks are using the channels?

pip08456
25-10-2010, 15:58
The only way to find out if the upload sucks is hard wired to the modem. Any wifi connection is affected by enviromental problems (interference etc) and can not be used to prove anything.

Why Does My 802.11g Speed Keep Changing?
802.11g and other Wi-Fi network protocols include a feature called dynamic rate scaling. If the wireless signal between two connected Wi-Fi devices is not strong enough, the connection cannot support a maximum speed of 54 Mbps. Instead, the Wi-Fi protocol reduces its maximum transmission speed to a lower number to maintain the connection.

It is fairly common for 802.11g connections to run at 36 Mbps, 24 Mbps, or even lower. When dynamically set, these values become the new theoretical maximum speeds for that connection (which are also even lower in practice due to the Wi-Fi protocol overhead described above).

source (http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wirelessfaqs/f/howfastis80211g.htm)

SideWeaver
25-10-2010, 16:08
Also on the topic of upload speeds, I would not worry so much a bout that for the moment. They are upgrading the upload speeds. This is what you will have to look forward to.

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/10/19.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

pabscars
25-10-2010, 16:10
whats that program that scans channels to see what other networks are using the channels?

a quick goggle gives the one below for you to try

http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider

I dont know if its any good but give it a try it might help

pip08456
25-10-2010, 16:11
a quick goggle gives the one below for you to try

http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider

I dont know if its any good but give it a try it might help

It works! Had it a while, a very handy little app.

funkyCable
25-10-2010, 16:17
ok i managed to get one machine to find the network now when i was playing around with the channels. IN the same instance my netbook lost the connect.

from http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/
Download Speed: 49321 kbps (6165.1 KB/sec ) Upload Speed: 934 kbps (116.8 KB/sec )

and then I get this on speedtest

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/10/18.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
both were run while i was connected to the router with a network cable.

pip08456
25-10-2010, 16:23
To get your modem signal levels

http://root:root@192.168.100.1

pabscars
25-10-2010, 16:42
ok i managed to get one machine to find the network now when i was playing around with the channels. IN the same instance my netbook lost the connect.

from http://www.speedtest.bbmax.co.uk/
Download Speed: 49321 kbps (6165.1 KB/sec ) Upload Speed: 934 kbps (116.8 KB/sec )

and then I get this on speedtest

https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2010/10/18.png (http://www.speedtest.net)
both were run while i was connected to the router with a network cable.

Your first speed test using bbmax was very good indicating 49.32Mbps Down and 0.93Mbps Up, yet the one you did on speedtest.net looks pants.

Could it be your security that's slowing things down? have tried testing speed with your firewall etc turned off.

I know on the wifes lappy and netbook to which I run the free virgin media utility which gives you anti-virus, firewall etc it can really slow it down but I just turn it all off when I,m testing.

funkyCable
25-10-2010, 16:49
Thanks pip my modem does not need the root:root bit before it.


I've installed that app. I'm just trying to understand the graphs. Is it better to have a lower db? Mine is quiet high (30-40s) where the rest of the networks in my range are in the (90-100) range).

---------- Post added at 15:49 ---------- Previous post was at 15:46 ----------

I'll try turning off the firewall, anti-virus etc.

pabscars
25-10-2010, 16:53
Thanks pip my modem does not need the root:root bit before it.


I've installed that app. I'm just trying to understand the graphs. Is it better to have a lower db? Mine is quiet high (30-40s) where the rest of the networks in my range are in the (90-100) range).

Unless I've got my wires crossed that sounds like your routers wireless performance is pants compared to your neighbours which to be honest is not the first time its been mentioned about the D-link router in question.

Why not try your old router just for kicks and see how that performs, if its better I would get on the blower to VM and ask for another router

funkyCable
25-10-2010, 17:03
can i just straight swap my router or will i need to register the mac etc.

pip08456
25-10-2010, 18:58
As long as you power cycle your modem you can straight swop it.

---------- Post added at 17:58 ---------- Previous post was at 16:28 ----------



I've installed that app. I'm just trying to understand the graphs. Is it better to have a lower db? Mine is quiet high (30-40s) where the rest of the networks in my range are in the (90-100) range).

---------- Post added at 15:49 ---------- Previous post was at 15:46 ----------

I'll try turning off the firewall, anti-virus etc.

The lower the amplitude the better (higher the graph), I can do some screen shots later but I'm going out soon.

What you need to be looking at is the 2.5GHz channel graph and avoiding others on the same or overlapping channels to you. e.g. channel 8 overlaps channels 6-10 I have someone close on ch6 and another on ch11 so for me ch8 is the best wireless option, the lower channels did not return the speeds or stability.

I will add speedtest sites go a bit haywire with the wireless connection I put this down to perhaps caching in the router hence why I always say do the tests wired.

I will add I only use wireless when I am repairing or testing a PC or laptop other than my own as I stick with wired. (I set up my PC with the dongle to answer your remarks about the graph.)

jb66
25-10-2010, 20:09
Why is the OP being asked to not use wireless N? You should be using the dongle you should have got free and wireless N to stand half a chance of getting near the full 50MEG

funkyCable
25-10-2010, 21:37
Its still so SLOW compared to my 20mb. I'm not a happy bunny at all even page loading on this site is dead slaow. How can my network connection be quicker(i.e various speed testing sites suggest I am) but it taking longer to bring up pages. I know I'm using Wifi and its suppse to be slower but still surely the pages should be quicker.

---------- Post added at 20:37 ---------- Previous post was at 19:38 ----------

Plugged in my old g router and the pages are flying....do you recon i should call and complain?

pabscars
25-10-2010, 21:39
Why is the OP being asked to not use wireless N? You should be using the dongle you should have got free and wireless N to stand half a chance of getting near the full 50MEG

Only reason I suggested it was because both my laptops run happier on G, not that they are N in the first place, but I just thought it was worth a shot.

Had the op been getting good speeds eg 20 to 30 Mbps wirelessly but wanted more I would have recommended N only, if he had the option.

I'm no expert when comes to setting up wireless networks so will have to bow down to those more in the know.

All my devices are "G" so I set my router to broadcast in "G" only, and it runs sweet as.

Not only that but in a way it acts by limiting the amount of bandwidth any wireless appliance can consume at any given time, in effect a bit of Qos if you like.

hope this clears it up

funkyCable
25-10-2010, 21:50
any ideas why my old router works better than the new n one? even thought speed sites recon I have the speed.

pabscars
25-10-2010, 21:52
Its still so SLOW compared to my 20mb. I'm not a happy bunny at all even page loading on this site is dead slaow. How can my network connection be quicker(i.e various speed testing sites suggest I am) but it taking longer to bring up pages. I know I'm using Wifi and its suppse to be slower but still surely the pages should be quicker.

---------- Post added at 20:37 ---------- Previous post was at 19:38 ----------

Plugged in my old g router and the pages are flying....do you recon i should call and complain?

Well I would say so, plenty of people on here have complained about the wireless performance of the D-link, but before discarding why dont you try setting the d-link to broadcast in "N" only and seeing how that goes.

Its got to be worth a punt

Good luck

jb66
25-10-2010, 21:58
Ok the d~link can only broadcast g or n, it can't do two types at the same time. So if a wireless g device connects to the n router everything drops to wireless g. Give channel 13 a go, for some reason I find in alot of cases it improved speed

funkyCable
25-10-2010, 22:03
I cant use channel 13 as my work laptop does not find that channel. It can broadcast in two types B/G or B/G/N or just one type N

pip08456
25-10-2010, 23:09
If both router and laptop are set to N trhen you will get the best speed.

Also as JB mentioned in another thread, have you used TCPoptimiser?

funkyCable
26-10-2010, 10:35
TCPoptimiser wont help on my windows 7 machine but I might try it on my other xp netbook. My work laptop only has built in G and my company will not upgrade it. So I cannot set it to N alone.

pabscars
26-10-2010, 10:40
TCPoptimiser wont help on my windows 7 machine but I might try it on my other xp netbook. My work laptop only has built in G and my company will not upgrade it. So I cannot set it to N alone.

Are you still using your old router funky, if so how has it been

funkyCable
26-10-2010, 11:03
I'm still using my old Safecom SWBR-5400 (I've had this for about 4-5 years) even though when I do speed tests they recon my connection is 5Mb its still a hell of a lot more responsive and I can feel the speed difference. Weird I know surely if my connection is slower the response would be slower.

---------- Post added at 10:03 ---------- Previous post was at 10:01 ----------

I'm wondering if I should upgrade the firmware as a lot of sites are suggesting it improves the response rate and less likely to reboot the router.

pabscars
26-10-2010, 11:44
I'm still using my old Safecom SWBR-5400 (I've had this for about 4-5 years) even though when I do speed tests they recon my connection is 5Mb its still a hell of a lot more responsive and I can feel the speed difference. Weird I know surely if my connection is slower the response would be slower.

---------- Post added at 10:03 ---------- Previous post was at 10:01 ----------

I'm wondering if I should upgrade the firmware as a lot of sites are suggesting it improves the response rate and less likely to reboot the router.

Could be worth a shot although I still think that router is junk for wireless performance IMO, I would be tempted to bite the bullet and get a decent router.

Stephen
26-10-2010, 11:50
When you say its slow on the new router. Are you connecting wirelessly and is your actual equipment Wireless N enabled or is that just G?

Are you using the USB dongle thing?

My Laptop and iPad are Wireless N and I constantly get very fast speeds over wireless.

pip08456
26-10-2010, 11:57
TCPoptimiser wont help on my windows 7 machine but I might try it on my other xp netbook. My work laptop only has built in G and my company will not upgrade it. So I cannot set it to N alone.

You can if you use the USB adaptor you should've been given.

funkyCable
26-10-2010, 12:18
I cant install the usb adaptor as my company IT security has locked down the USB ports and I cannot installed any drivers on it.

Actually thinking about it. I could try the new router on N as I have the usb and

This is my kit

1 x PC with win7 64bit (Edimax Wireless N Draft 2.0 Pci Card)
1 x Acer Aspire One Netbook with XP and G network
1 x Dell Dimension (My server) running ubuntu 10.04 server edtion - NEW N USB Adaptor
1 x Work Laptop with XP and G network.

Originally I was going to use the new router as my main router then change my saefcom as an access point for my server. DO you think this would work and be safe(to a degree) if I set my safecom router to be an access point that accepts G networks and then setup my new dlink router to accept the N signal though. I was hoping to separate my server from my existing network.


Shoudl this perhaps move to the Network section?

pip08456
26-10-2010, 13:04
Could you not ask the company IT to install the drivers for you?

funkyCable
26-10-2010, 13:08
No they will not just install anything. It has to be tested on a model laptop and tested with other applications. This process takes months before its even concided and I would have to get hold of Senior managers to get involved. So not really worth it.

roughbeast
26-10-2010, 20:59
BTW be careful using speedtest.net London servers as your benchmark. NAMESCO, (200Mb enabled), is no longer the only server used there. It also uses CellC, which is quite abysmal.

pip08456
27-10-2010, 00:29
BTW be careful using speedtest.net London servers as your benchmark. NAMESCO, (200Mb enabled), is no longer the only server used there. It also uses CellC, which is quite abysmal.

If you want to use the Namesco server every time it is quite easy.

Click on settings and select the 2nd London server in the preferred server list.

roughbeast
27-10-2010, 01:00
If you want to use the Namesco server every time it is quite easy.

Click on settings and select the 2nd London server in the preferred server list.

Thx for the tip.