Can a wireless router slow down the dsl connection to the host computer.?

Question

my buddie has dsl connected to his computer via a modem. I connected a wireless router for my laptop. now he says his connection slowed down... Can my router affect his dsl speed??

Answer 1

yes, the router interferes with the modem so that it will have less of a connection and be slower.

Answer 2

the long and short of it is yes and no.

the WiFi router has a higher bandwidth than that of the dsl modem.
so in that sense no the router is not slowing the dsl connection.

however, with more computers using the same access point, all the computers on that access point will share the bandwidth of the access point. sounds difficult but it is simple

if you have one computer using 1.5Mbps that computer has a theoretical access to the internet of 1.5Mbps now if there are two or more computers that access the net at the same time through the same access point, they have to share the bandwidth.

and sense you have dsl (probably at 1.5Mbps) this would be the bottleneck in the access to the internet, not the WiFi router which would be at at least 11Mbps, now of course there are connection factors that could slow the WiFi connected computers, but the hard wired (Cat 5e) connected computers are not limited by the WiFi factors.

Answer 3

The obvious issue is now he has another person sharing the same connection. If you do alot of downloading (streaming media, downloading, etc.) he'll notice the difference regardless of wether it's wifi or not.

I assume you added the router between the modem and his computer. That should still allow his connection to perform at 100mb (wired) while you're at 11, 54, or 108 depending on wifi brand/standard.

Maybe your router has a problem?

You can try this...
1) Go to www.dslreports.com and run one of their speed tests from your machine and then his machine.
2) Then remove the router and try the same test as above on his machine.

You shouldn't see a significant difference.

mike

Answer 4

Your network will have a limited range--you've probably experienced a decrease in speed at a certain distance from an access point. That's why you must adjust the location and configuration of your wireless setup to obtain the best possible performance, range, and reliability.

Pick the best location: The farther your wirelessly networked computer is from a wireless access point--and the greater the number of solid objects that stand in the way--the slower your connection will be. To optimize your network's speed and range, position your wireless access point at least a few feet above the floor and away from metal objects, particularly large appliances like refrigerators. Though most manuals for networking products tell you to position the access point in the middle of the coverage area, it's often better to identify the locations where you expect to use a computer and put the access point where it will be in a direct line of sight (or close to it) to as many of those places as possible. Don't waste time worrying about "dead spots" if no one is likely to use a computer there. Once your network is up and running, even slight changes in your wireless network card's position (say, a shift in the orientation of your laptop as you recline on the couch) may dramatically improve throughput or even restore a dropped connection.

For larger areas--or areas with many obstructions--your only option may be to shell out the cash for multiple access points. If you go this route, you'll find that setup is easy: Simply make sure that the access points have identical settings. Virtually all wireless network adapters support "roaming": In areas where access point coverage overlaps, the adapter will latch on to the strongest signal.

Change channels: The crowded 2.4-GHz spectrum that 802.11b uses can be susceptible to interference in some instances, but the 5-GHz spectrum of 802.11a (802.11b's speedier successor) is largely interference-free. Depending on the configuration of your home or office, Microwave ovens, 2.4-GHz cordless telephones, power lines, Bluetooth devices, and quirky light fixtures--not to mention pesky neighbors who have their own Wi-Fi wireless network--can quash throughput or force dropped connections under some circumstances.

Experimenting with Wi-Fi channels often solves the problem--especially if you discover that your neighbors are using the same channel for their network. The 83-MHz-wide 802.11b band is divided into 11 channels, each one 22 MHz wide. As a result, only channels 1, 6, and 11 don't overlap one another. To change from the default channel, you must delve into the setup software for your wireless access point and for each wireless network card, and reset them all to the same, new channel (the procedures vary from manufacturer to manufacturer). Note that 802.11a devices have far more flexibility, with 12 nonoverlapping channels. Businesses sometimes choose 802.11a just because it lets them deploy multiple, adjacent networks without interference (the fact that it's nearly five times faster than 802.11b doesn't hurt either).

Boost your signal: Performance, range, and reliability in wireless networking all hinge on the quality of the signal. The cheapest measure you can take is to keep the antenna on your access point vertical at all times, rather than fiddling with it as you would with old-fashioned rabbit ears on a TV (manufacturers say that pushing the antenna into a horizontal position is not a good idea). Beyond this, adding an extra-cost antenna to your network adapter, access point, or both can improve your signal quality significantly. Add-on antennas for laptop PC Cards cost around $30 and may give your network access a lift. Note, however, that extra-cost antennas are available only for 802.11b access points.

Answer 5

Actually it can, especially if you have not configured the router for WEP. Securing your router could greatly enhance your browsing.