How fast should downloads be on a computer w/ a 802.11b?

Question

I get download speeds using Speekeasy, about 1800-2400 on my IBM with a 802.11b card, from my Netgear router. Using my Mac Mini wired directly to my router I get about 5800-6100. Also I'm using Comcast.
Is there a setting I can change to get it to go faster or is 2.5mb about as fast as a "b" card can go?
It does say "11.0mbps" on the status window when connected, so it seems it should do the full 6.0mbps.

Any Ideas????

It isn't any faster even when I sit right next to the router. It usually says Signal Strength: Very Good".

I even connected to my neighbors "Linksys" network and it still wasn't any faster. hit 2.1mb.

I'm thinking its something with my IBM Thinkpad, or software.

I did dissable my McAfee firewall, privacy service and antivirus, this time when I did this test, but didn't change anything.

Also I did change the channel and it didn't make a difference.

Answer 1

Distance matters. Close the distance between router and NIC and remove object in between. If you can't do this, there is wireless antena extension that can boost your signal. Even you are connected at 11MBps, if signal is weak, computer ask retransmit the packets. Everytime when it does that it reduces the speed until it recieve reliable packets.

Yes, if your wireless card and router is very close, you should get about 6Mbps which is max speed for your ISP connection as it seems.

Also as other guy suggested, changing channel might help. Not only neighbor's router interfere with it, but high freq wireless phones at home can interfere with your signals.

Also you might want to run your wireless router at native 11b mode instead of 11g+b mode if your router is more updated than your wireless card.

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It is hard to imagine your wireless card is bad. It is suspicious that the bandwidth is not correctly being reported. Is your computer old with low memory? Sometimes that can report low speed on bandwidth meter. Try different bandwidth meter.
Also if you definitely believe that that is the bandwidth you are getting, than I would go check the properties of the wireless adapter that you have. There can be manual setting as "Rate" which you can set the rates. If you have already juggled with wireless card properties which resulted in lower bandwidth. I would suggest removing the device from device manager and reinstall the driver hoping that it resets to default settings which generally be "best rate"

Answer 2

You asked "is 2.5Mb about as fast as a "b" card can go?", the answer is no, you can get close to 11M (that's 11 MegaBITS per second). It is probably a problem of interference since the status window says it thinks it is using 11mbps. Why interference? Because 802.11 has 11 channels (like radio channels). You may have a neighbor who has a router on the same channel. You can avoid the interference by going into your Netgear and telling it to use a different wireless channel.

Answer 3

Theoretically up to 54Mbps. You will NEVER see these speeds due to CSMA/CA collision avoidance. You also cannot get full duplex (sending and receiving at the same time.) You will probably max out around 10 Mbps or so.

Answer 4

im only getting 5.25 mbps.