Couple of wireless problems... Please help

[Zan1987]

Well first off I guess I can start with the speed problems.

Around 2months ago we upgraded to 8mb broadband which for the first few hours it was on we where getting max speed on speedtest.net. However a day or so later I noticed download speeds where getting lower and I did regular speedchecks on the same site and noticed I was only getting on average of 4mb now. Today I did another one and I was getting 1.3mb, it's really frustrating as we are paying for 8mb and not 1-4mb. We called our ISP and they where not very helpfull at all, asked us the usual questions and everything is setup properly and they couldn't help.

I'm using a Linksys wireless router with 2x linksys wireless adapters on 2 PC's. Even with only one PC on the speed is slow. I never had any problems with my hardware before but that leads me to another problem...

Recently my internet connection has been dropping out after every few hours which I need to restart my router to regain and even then it takes a while to reconnect. I don't know if it's hardware related.

I have always used the program that came with the adapters to gain my wireless connection but recently windows Wireless Zero Config has been using itself against my wishes and not letting the other program start. Even if I do services.msc the Wireless Zero Config cannot be stopped which is really annoying me. I have done virus and spyware checks and don't know what else to do.

Please help.

 

[Speakersrock]

Well first off I guess I can start with the speed problems.

Around 2months ago we upgraded to 8mb broadband which for the first few hours it was on we where getting max speed on speedtest.net. However a day or so later I noticed download speeds where getting lower and I did regular speedchecks on the same site and noticed I was only getting on average of 4mb now. Today I did another one and I was getting 1.3mb, it's really frustrating as we are paying for 8mb and not 1-4mb. We called our ISP and they where not very helpfull at all, asked us the usual questions and everything is setup properly and they couldn't help.

I'm using a Linksys wireless router with 2x linksys wireless adapters on 2 PC's. Even with only one PC on the speed is slow. I never had any problems with my hardware before but that leads me to another problem...

Recently my internet connection has been dropping out after every few hours which I need to restart my router to regain and even then it takes a while to reconnect. I don't know if it's hardware related.

I have always used the program that came with the adapters to gain my wireless connection but recently windows Wireless Zero Config has been using itself against my wishes and not letting the other program start. Even if I do services.msc the Wireless Zero Config cannot be stopped which is really annoying me. I have done virus and spyware checks and don't know what else to do.

Please help.

I have had many problems over the years with my routers, and slow connections.
I can give you the advise that i have been passed onto, but first Can i ask a few things.

are you sure this is all the time, the low speeds?, you have not just checked it at the peak times or something?

You say you have to restart the router every few hours, I got this problem, and it got worse once it got down to a speed almost slower than dial-up!
A lot of my problems seam to be due to over-heated routers - Which when I have told other pc technicians they say they have never heard of it. - But im still sure thats what it is.

Can you feel it, is the router hot to touch?
Has it got lots and lots of ventalation arround it?


Let meh know, and I will sugest the things which I tried!

 

[Zan1987]

Thanks for replying.

Yes I am sure about the low speeds. I check morning, afternoon and night (as my ISP told me to) and get consistently 35-4mb on a good day. The router is usually very hot to the touch but it has plenty of ventilation, it's off the floor but nothing is close to it to block ventilation. And yes it does seem it cuts out as the speed gets very slow just like you said.

Hope you can help me.

 

[kjjb0204]

I would try a new router. If it's overheating like that, might not be good. My router is cool to the touch and I work from home, so there's a constant stream of data passing through it. Had a linksys a few years ago, worked great for 3 years, then just dropped speeds like you describe. Bought a new one, speeds returned like magic.

 

[JohnWill]

First off, try with a wired connection to eliminate wireless interference issues. Second, when the speeds are slow on a wired connection, please do this:


Register at DSLReports and run their line quality tests. Post a link to the results here.

 

[Zan1987]

I would try a new router. If it's overheating like that, might not be good. My router is cool to the touch and I work from home, so there's a constant stream of data passing through it. Had a linksys a few years ago, worked great for 3 years, then just dropped speeds like you describe. Bought a new one, speeds returned like magic.

I've had my linksys router for over 2 years now so it looks like I'll need to buy a new one. Seeing as I linksys adapters would it be wise to get a new linksys router or will say a Belkin do the same job just as well? PS can anyone recommend a good router at a decent price?

JohnWill:

Unfortunatly my computers do not have ethernet ports (no NIC's) so thats why i am using wireless too. that quality test says my IP is not pingable...

 

[Speakersrock]

Himm...for now i will not bother saying what i tryed on my 'overheating router', becuase as trhe others have already said, The best thing to do is just buy a new router.
After passing through serveral routers, I use a little more hidden company called Safecom.

I have an older version, so don't know for the newer ones, but it has never overheated, is very relyable, have'nt restarted or anyhting for like over 6months, e.t.c, e.tc.
However the only set back with it is that it is quite confusing to configure, and the old instructions, for me, were not very useful.

You can find the website here http://safecom.cn/code/sub/category.asp?prdid=236&subcatid=1

 

[kjjb0204]

Just go to best buy and plunk down some money on a g or draft-n router and matching cards for your pc's. Cards from varying manufacturers are typically interoperable, but they each seem to throw in their own speedboost technology that only works with same-brand adapters.

 

[TerryNet]

$5 plus shipping after rebates: http://www.compusa.com/products/pro...n Blog&cm_pla=General&cm_ite=x&ref=performics

I suggest just buy a standard 802.11g 54Mbps and continue to use your current adapters until they need replacement. Belkin, D-Link, Linksys, Netgear, ZyXel, etc, pick your poison. Some will give great service for years and years and a few will be dead on arrival or soon after.

 

[Speakersrock]

Of course, If you don't mind to much on cost, And want a really 'propper' router, try a dreytek one. An industry styandard, advanced, expensive, but ery relyable company.

http://www.draytek.co.uk

 

[JohnWill]

Of course, there is no real need for a vast majority of people to spend a lot of money for a "proper" router (whatever that is), and a standard SOHO router will serve them just fine.

 

[Speakersrock]

Of course, there is no real need for a vast majority of people to spend a lot of money for a "proper" router (whatever that is), and a standard SOHO router will serve them just fine.

Yes, you are compleatly right, John.
I just thought I would sujest, as if anyone is like me and fedup out of thir brains with routers overheating, either one of the two I have sujested will be just great - Besides the need for it for more technical reasosns.