Strange PS3 / Network issue

benftl · 22 Jul 2010 at 19:35

Hi,

I'm having a very strange issue when transferring files to my PS3. I wish to use a laptop and the gigabit ethernet port on it is physically broken so I'm unable to go wired, instead I'm using Wireless N. My arrangement is as follows:

PS3 -> Cat5 (gigabit) -> WRT610n router
PC -> Cat5 -> Router
Laptop -> Wireless N -> Router

If I transfer a file across to the PS3 with my desktop (wired) PC it'll hit around 8MB/sec. Transferring the same file via wireless N / laptop, I'll hit 4.6MB/sec

Thinking that the wifi was the bottleneck, I then FTP'd a file across from laptop to PC where it topped out at a consistent 8.5MB/sec.

Using these results, why on earth are transfers so slow over wifi compared to wired?

I'm stumped!

Psycho Sonny · 22 Jul 2010 at 20:17

ps3 is wireless g.

your laptop is wireless n.

there is about 250 mbps difference in connection speeds there.

benftl · 22 Jul 2010 at 20:19

Sorry, I should have said, the PS3 is cat5 wired (gigabit).

Psycho Sonny · 22 Jul 2010 at 20:32

the ps3 ethernet or wireless is slow, it was built mainly for online gaming and therefore isnt very fast but more than fast enough for gaming.

speedtests show me hitting 4 mbps in the network connection settings. even though im using a wired connection to my router which is connected to my modem which has a 50 MB connection.

upload varies about 600 kbps to 1 MB even though it is 1.6 MB.

so i can safely assure you the networking part of the ps3 is crap compared to pc's but its more than fast enough for its needs.

it is working normally. sony skimped on certain parts to reduce the manufacturing costs, so im guessing there is a bottleneck inside the machine somewhere, which you cannot fix. the same thing happens on every ps3, my cousins have 3 ps3's in their house and all of them have the same problem as mine.

benftl · 22 Jul 2010 at 20:44

Fine, but that doesn't explain why I'm able to upload over wifi at around 8MB/sec to my PC but only 4.5MB/sec when I try to do the same with my PS3 (and the wireless N upload is more than capable of going higher than that as proved by my FTP-PC transfer).

Psycho Sonny · 23 Jul 2010 at 03:02

as stated above the ps3 cannot handle those speeds, its networking is limited by the hardware inside the machine.

the ps3 will always be slow when it comes to downloading or uploading.

RedGooner · 23 Jul 2010 at 06:41

I had the same problems with PC fast and PS3 / PSP slow. I blamed it on my ISP, but it turned out to be my linksys router. I got a belkin N1, and my PS3 speed is up to 23Mb download.

Red

benftl · 23 Jul 2010 at 11:07

Psycho Sonny said:
as stated above the ps3 cannot handle those speeds, its networking is limited by the hardware inside the machine.

the ps3 will always be slow when it comes to downloading or uploading.

You're not reading the OP correctly. Don't worry

manic_man · 23 Jul 2010 at 13:26

I would hazard a guess that part of your problem is simply down to what is being reported by (I assume) Windows.

The rate Windows gives you is very "damped" (i.e. its very averaged) in order that it looks pretty consistent. The problem with WiFi is that its very peaky. Get yourself a net stat gadget or somethign similar, and watch the difference between wired and WiFi. The stated rates of the techs are maximum burst throughout, i.e. unsustainable over long periods. However wired tech tends to be better at sustaining higher and more stable throughput.

What might be interesting is to actually do a timed test using the same file. Allowing for the fact that the faster sending computer may have a slight edge regardless of its connecting tech. Do it using FTP. Ill bet the WiFi will be somewhat slower than the wired, albeit probably not 100% slower as Windows was suggesting.