Network transfer speed - Gigabit router / non gigabit extender

Mike1983 · 30 Dec 2009 at 17:29

First of all sorry if some of the terminology is wrong but I'll try and explain my question...

This question relates to transfer speeds around my home network, for example copying a 2GB .avi from my laptop to my NAS drive.

My network is currently setup as described below
Modem > non-Gigabit router > Gigabit switch > devices

The router is only there for DHCP / firewall / wireless so hard wired connections to the switch allow transfer at a nice fast speed.
However when transferring the same file over wireless, with a verygood wireless signal verified as an "N" connection rather than "G" the transfer speed is much slower. Likewise if I were to try the same transfer using a wired connection directly into the router (rather than the switch) the slower transfer rate is still present.

Given the above, I have assumed the slow-down can be attributed to to the non-Gigabit rated connection between my router and my switch.
On the assumption that the above is correct I intend to replace my router with a Gigabit rated item thus leaving my current router spare.

I intend to use my non-Gigabit spare router as a range extender placed downstairs (as opposed to my main router which is upstairs).

So my overall question is that once the above is setup what will the overall transfer speed be rated at using a wireless connection? Will it be the full Gigabit offeredby my main router or the non-Gigabit offered by my range extender router.

Hopefully this makes sense!

Thanks in advance

Mike

PhillyDee · 30 Dec 2009 at 17:32

You will not get gigabit speeds with wireless.
N is upto 300mb/s. A third of Gigabit. And thats assuming that everything is the best it will ever be. Even a slight bit of interference will drop the signal and slow the connection.

What router do you have?

Mike1983 · 30 Dec 2009 at 17:40

PhillyDee said:
You will not get gigabit speeds with wireless.
N is upto 300mb/s. A third of Gigabit. And thats assuming that everything is the best it will ever be. Even a slight bit of interference will drop the signal and slow the connection.

What router do you have?

Thank you for the reply.

I see I should have re-worded things now... I am aware that wireless N will not offer the full Gigabit capacity.
My question should still stand though as far as will a wireless connection allow transfer of up to 100Mb/s (my non-Gigabit range extender) or up to 300Mb/s (my gigabit rated main router)

My current (what will become the range extender) router is a D-Link DIR 615
My proposed replacement is a D-Link DIR 855

Thanks

Mike

Yamahahahahaha · 30 Dec 2009 at 17:43

N is 300mbit but if it's anything like G, half of that will be overheads. So you might see 15MB/s transfer speeds at best.

Mike1983 · 30 Dec 2009 at 17:47

The main reason I'm upgrading my router is to get the additional hard wired Gigabit ports, this is actually just a side issue.

I am interested though in getting the best wireless connection possible hence my question. If for example the best connection I will get is that of the lowest rated device (the extener) then I won't bother connecting it.

Seems like a tricky one to answer?? As it's just a side issue I think I'll just exeriment as I'll be getting the router anyway.

Thanks

PhillyDee · 30 Dec 2009 at 17:50

Well, since it only has 10/100 mb ports on the back, that is the maximum it can transfer between your 300mb/s wireless (unacheivable) and 100mb/s network.
The switch is largely irrelevant. The maximum speed from the wireless to the gb network is the link which is 100mb/s.

So to answer, yes, you will theoretically increase the speed. Wether or not you actually will see an increase is different entirely!

Mike1983 · 30 Dec 2009 at 18:16

PhillyDee said:
The switch is largely irrelevant. The maximum speed from the wireless to the gb network is the link which is 100mb/s.

Thanks...

But just to confirm

The extender (DLink DIR-615) will offer a "link" rated at 100mb/s
The main router (DLink DIR-855) will offer a "link" raed at 1000mb/s

I suppose my question can be simplified as "which router will my wiresless connection go through? will it be the main router or the range extender?"

Thanks

PhillyDee · 30 Dec 2009 at 19:04

Mike1983 said:
Thanks...

But just to confirm

The extender (DLink DIR-615) will offer a "link" rated at 100mb/s
The main router (DLink DIR-855) will offer a "link" raed at 1000mb/s

Yep.

I suppose my question can be simplified as "which router will my wiresless connection go through? will it be the main router or the range extender?"

Havent got the foggiest idea how to set up a range extender, so I wouldn't personally bother! someone else will confirm.
Thanks