Making BT Broadband faster (wirelessly)

philstanbridge · 10 Dec 2006 at 10:59

I've got an 8mb unlimited connection (business) with BT Broadband. I discovered recently via some fault finding that I get a much faster connection when I'm patched into my wireless Draytek router via RJ45. I can download files up to the maximum 800k/ps which is what you'd expect. However if I connect wirelessly to BT Broadband (even via 54g) I can only download files up to 150-200k/ps max - it also feels slower and less stable generally. Is there any way I can reconfigure anything to help the speeds or would that be considered normal?

The main issue I have is the phone socket is one side of the room, and the computer is the other - so I prefer to connect wirelessly where possible to eliminate cables.

Mr router is a Draytek Vigor 2600G and it's 12 months old.

tolien · 10 Dec 2006 at 11:09

If it works fine connected with a cable, it's got nothing to do with BT - it's between your machine and the router.
What wireless adapter are you using, and what kind of signal strength is it reporting?

touch · 10 Dec 2006 at 11:19

philstanbridge said:
even via 54g

Do you mean its actually connecting at 54Mbs? or that your card is rated 54g.
If its only your card thats rated 54g go into the network properties and check the actual speed. (However, its unlikely that the speed of your wireless connection will drop below that of your bb)

philstanbridge · 10 Dec 2006 at 11:38

tolien said:
If it works fine connected with a cable, it's got nothing to do with BT - it's between your machine and the router.
What wireless adapter are you using, and what kind of signal strength is it reporting?

That's my thoughts too - but it's not quite as clear cut as that. I can access these pages but there's a distinct lag - it took 30 seconds to even load this page, yet consequential pages are more or less instant. Yet it's perfect and quick when patched in via the RJ45.

I've tried two different NICS, the Asus onboard (my board is the P5W-DH) and I'm now using the Dlink Airplus 54g. It's reporting an excellent connection at 54G.

I think it *has* to be a configuaration problem router side, or the router itself is not working as it should.

philstanbridge · 10 Dec 2006 at 11:39

touch said:
Do you mean its actually connecting at 54Mbs? or that your card is rated 54g.
If its only your card thats rated 54g go into the network properties and check the actual speed. (However, its unlikely that the speed of your wireless connection will drop below that of your bb)

Connected at 54 Mbps currently.

philstanbridge · 10 Dec 2006 at 11:40

Let me just add, that this is a new problem - everything was working perfectly until I installed IE7 (for what it's worth - although I'm sure that's coincidence). I've had the problem for about 2-3 weeks.

tolien · 10 Dec 2006 at 11:45

philstanbridge said:
That's my thoughts too - but it's not quite as clear cut as that. I can access these pages but there's a distinct lag - it took 30 seconds to even load this page, yet consequential pages are more or less instant.

If it's fine when you're wired, it's still an issue with the wireless connection (whether it's within the router or not). It is as clear cut as that.
You mean there's a delay before the page starts loading (which would imply a DNS issue)?

philstanbridge said:
everything was working perfectly until I installed IE7 (for what it's worth - although I'm sure that's coincidence)

Easy way to be sure - uninstall IE7 and see.

If you want to eliminate the router, find a different one from somewhere (borrow it or whatever), and see what it's like.

philstanbridge · 10 Dec 2006 at 15:26

tolien said:
If it's fine when you're wired, it's still an issue with the wireless connection (whether it's within the router or not). It is as clear cut as that.
You mean there's a delay before the page starts loading (which would imply a DNS issue)?

Easy way to be sure - uninstall IE7 and see.

If you want to eliminate the router, find a different one from somewhere (borrow it or whatever), and see what it's like.

Okay it's a wireless problem then - but I dont have access to another router. I've uninstalled and formatted and it made no difference. It must be some config settings?

tolien · 10 Dec 2006 at 15:52

Poke around in the wireless settings on the router I guess - what encryption system are you using (and is it any different with no encryption)?

touch · 10 Dec 2006 at 15:55

Check to see if you have the same problem with firefox.
If the problem goes, uninstal IE7
If the problem stays, uninstal IE7