I'm currently running a Compaq PC (excellent piece of kit if anyone wants a recommendation) in my office with wireless interweb access. Only problem is, best signal I can achieve is 3 bars (our of 5) and it's slooooooooooooooooooooooooow. I've got a 4mb internet connection and it'll download files at 5-6kbps!!!!!!! The other wireless computer in the other office downloads at full speed. I've little doubt it's got something to do with signal - I know, doesn't take a genuis to work it out! But does anyone know how to get a better signal - I want wired access but it's just not possible as there's no way of hiding the cable and I don't want cables everywhere. What I'm doing at the moment is keeping a long cable from the router ready so I can trail it in across the floor if I needed to download a file but that's getting a nuisance now and even web pages are getting so slow.
I've seen wireless extender things which are about £50 - do they work? I don't mind forking out that kind of money if I can guarantee full speed downloads but not if I can't
Does anyone have any bright ideas for getting faster downloads for as little money as possible?
Thanks chaps and chapesses.
Keith
Full Version: Wireless Interweb
If your getting 3/5 bars I'd first suggest doing something as simple as reseting the wireless access point (there'll be an option for this on your router - look in your manual for the IP that your router uses so you can log in)
If thats still not working and your router is a few rooms away from your laptop, yes you could buy yourself another wireless router to act as a network bridge. This can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it, consider rockin down to your local maplins and finding the cheapest router.
Lastly theres the option of using AC. A few companies (I think even belkin now) sell AC adapters that use your home's/office AC circuit as a LAN. I've tried it once and it was sh*t, but most people report success with them.
But I'd always always always use bog standard LAN cable and wire up the home/office if it was me, it's the only way to be sure, and you'll always get the fastest speed possible
If thats still not working and your router is a few rooms away from your laptop, yes you could buy yourself another wireless router to act as a network bridge. This can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it, consider rockin down to your local maplins and finding the cheapest router.
Lastly theres the option of using AC. A few companies (I think even belkin now) sell AC adapters that use your home's/office AC circuit as a LAN. I've tried it once and it was sh*t, but most people report success with them.
But I'd always always always use bog standard LAN cable and wire up the home/office if it was me, it's the only way to be sure, and you'll always get the fastest speed possible
[quote name='tHomBleached' post='521812' date='Mar 17 2008, 07:34 PM']If your getting 3/5 bars I'd first suggest doing something as simple as reseting the wireless access point (there'll be an option for this on your router - look in your manual for the IP that your router uses so you can log in)
If thats still not working and your router is a few rooms away from your laptop, yes you could buy yourself another wireless router to act as a network bridge. This can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it, consider rockin down to your local maplins and finding the cheapest router.
Lastly theres the option of using AC. A few companies (I think even belkin now) sell AC adapters that use your home's/office AC circuit as a LAN. I've tried it once and it was sh*t, but most people report success with them.
But I'd always always always use bog standard LAN cable and wire up the home/office if it was me, it's the only way to be sure, and you'll always get the fastest speed possible[/quote]
I know wiring is the best option, and the one I want to do but I can see no way of trailing the wires out of sight. All the carpets have been fitted so I can't push it down the edge very easily and the cable is a dark grey colour so I can't disguise it if nailed it to the skirting board. I hate wires trailing everywhere, but then I hate wireless things too!!! I'm so easy to please!
If thats still not working and your router is a few rooms away from your laptop, yes you could buy yourself another wireless router to act as a network bridge. This can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it, consider rockin down to your local maplins and finding the cheapest router.
Lastly theres the option of using AC. A few companies (I think even belkin now) sell AC adapters that use your home's/office AC circuit as a LAN. I've tried it once and it was sh*t, but most people report success with them.
But I'd always always always use bog standard LAN cable and wire up the home/office if it was me, it's the only way to be sure, and you'll always get the fastest speed possible
[/quote]I know wiring is the best option, and the one I want to do but I can see no way of trailing the wires out of sight. All the carpets have been fitted so I can't push it down the edge very easily and the cable is a dark grey colour so I can't disguise it if nailed it to the skirting board. I hate wires trailing everywhere, but then I hate wireless things too!!! I'm so easy to please!
3 out of 5 bars for signal strength shouldn't be causing you any problems. If you sit next to the router so that you get 5 bars does the transfer speed then rocket along? Sounds like there is actually a different issue on your laptop, albeit I have no idea what 
Different coloured LAN cable? You can get pretty much any colour you like (as long as its white, grey or black!) from maplins or other techy-leccy shops. and agreed about the 3/5 bars thing, but a reset of the access point may fix that. If not do an online speed test and see what it says?
Done the speed test - 65kbps. I'll try a reset.....
ps, it's not a laptop, it's a desktop.
ps, it's not a laptop, it's a desktop.
If its using onboard LAN then see if there are updated drivers available.
Signal strength sounds fine mate. Its possibly interference which causes lost packets/resends although this sounds way too slow speed for the problems you are having.
Have you tried another channel? It may not be related to the problems you are having but worth a go.
Check if the deterministic network enhancer is on in your IP settings for the wireless card - I've found this doesn't really determine things very well sometimes - especially for wirelss. Remove it if it is there.
Is the wireless USB or internal? If USB, check its getting enough power. It could be borderline - try it with other usb equipment unplugged.
There must be a way of running the cables somehow. Worth paying a carpet fitter to re-lay? Is it boards or concrete floor? Under the boards and run to a few for other rooms as well if wireless has difficulty.
Have you tried another channel? It may not be related to the problems you are having but worth a go.
Check if the deterministic network enhancer is on in your IP settings for the wireless card - I've found this doesn't really determine things very well sometimes - especially for wirelss. Remove it if it is there.
Is the wireless USB or internal? If USB, check its getting enough power. It could be borderline - try it with other usb equipment unplugged.
There must be a way of running the cables somehow. Worth paying a carpet fitter to re-lay? Is it boards or concrete floor? Under the boards and run to a few for other rooms as well if wireless has difficulty.
[quote name='Geoffers' post='521837' date='Mar 17 2008, 08:14 PM']Signal strength sounds fine mate. Its possibly interference which causes lost packets/resends although this sounds way too slow speed for the problems you are having.
Have you tried another channel? It may not be related to the problems you are having but worth a go.
Check if the deterministic network enhancer is on in your IP settings for the wireless card - I've found this doesn't really determine things very well sometimes - especially for wirelss. Remove it if it is there.
Is the wireless USB or internal? If USB, check its getting enough power. It could be borderline - try it with other usb equipment unplugged.[/quote]
(best Dr Evil impression) 'Riiiiight'
Umm, it's a USB wireless - that's the only part of your advice I understood! I save lives, not computers!!!
Have you tried another channel? It may not be related to the problems you are having but worth a go.
Check if the deterministic network enhancer is on in your IP settings for the wireless card - I've found this doesn't really determine things very well sometimes - especially for wirelss. Remove it if it is there.
Is the wireless USB or internal? If USB, check its getting enough power. It could be borderline - try it with other usb equipment unplugged.[/quote]
(best Dr Evil impression) 'Riiiiight'
Umm, it's a USB wireless - that's the only part of your advice I understood! I save lives, not computers!!!
i had similar problem regarding wires and went outside with the wire. yes eventually it'll deteriorate but it'll be good for a long time and you get much faster access on wired.
as above posts say 3 bars shouldn't interfere with speed, but may be somehting else interfering. I have an issue with my wireless, hence why i went wired that from March to October (i.e. when we tend to get sun) the wireless goes off and won't connect from about 11am to 5pm. router is out of the sun but close to the side of the house where the sun comes up. Convniced it is an environmental thing, tried everything to fix it, but still happens.
Much easier to go wired if you can.
as above posts say 3 bars shouldn't interfere with speed, but may be somehting else interfering. I have an issue with my wireless, hence why i went wired that from March to October (i.e. when we tend to get sun) the wireless goes off and won't connect from about 11am to 5pm. router is out of the sun but close to the side of the house where the sun comes up. Convniced it is an environmental thing, tried everything to fix it, but still happens.
Much easier to go wired if you can.
Get an N standard wireless access point / router or one of those mains to ethernet adapters. Should solve your problems.
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