How do I get faster speeds with a wireless connection?

Question

I bought my daughter a new computer for Christmas and hooked it up through a wireless connection to my other computer which is directly connected through a DSL modem. It seems like the speed is just not there like the one that is hooked up direct. The computer that's directly connected is upstairs and my daughter's is downstairs. How can I increase the connection speed on the wireless computer? It is also a desktop. Thanks.

Answer 1

Wireless G speed is a typical 58 Mbs bi-directional between your PC/Laptop and the Router. Your ISP is ALWAYS going to be slower that this , typically 4-8Mbs download and <1Mbs pushing.

What limits speed on wireless the most, is distance from the router. A poor connection winds up giving you about 2Mbs.

In addition, WEP and WPA cut your range in half, but you need it.

In older houses with thick walls, install a Linksys Range Extender somewhere mid-distance in the house. All the difference in the world. A medium to high signal level will still be faster than your actual internet connection so don't worry about speed loss unless you are below those levels.

Update: External antennas are not cost effective for the increase in range that they give. Take it from professional experience that you should use a Range Extender to propagate good signal quality in your home or office.

Because of the way WIFI packet reception and transmission works, a range extender can actually give a 4-fold increase in coverage and usually triples the strength of the signal to the remote device.

A high-gain antenna is very directional, and rarely ever gives a more than 25% increase in coverage and percieved signal strength from the remote end.

Everyone knows that if you move closer to the router, the better it gets, but in the real world, that is rarely an option. You need connectivity where YOU want the equipment located.

Answer 2

The stronger the wireless signal, the faster it can work. To prove that solves the problem, simply temporarily locate the new computer closer to the WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) AP (Access Point) and see if it works at lot faster. If it does, you'll need to relocate the AP to get better signal strength for all your wireless computers, or possibly connect a new higher gain external antenna to your WLAN AP. Here is one antenna type you might consider (link below).
http://www.pacwireless.com/products/inwave_series_10.shtml

Answer 3

Streamline your startup programs. Go to RUN from the START menu and type MSCONFIG. Go to the startup section and uncheck programs that you do not need. Leave your Anti-virus program checked. You should have an anti-spyware solution on your computer. I recommend that you go to http://www.download.com and get AD-AWARE and SpyBot Search & Destory. Install, run, update and scan your computer with both programs.

Good luck and Happy Computing!

Answer 4

here is a site that tests your speed.

http://us.mcafee.com/root/speedometer/

the only suggestion I can come up with in this scenario is maybe the router should be downstairs, but then that doesn't make sense because my netgear router at home is on the ground floor and my daughter's PC is downstairs in the basement and works fine.

Answer 5

The answer may be as simple as software! What is she using for malware protection? Good protection will slow her connection dramatically! Thats the pitfall with it!

Answer 6

if u want to only access the Internet so use mozilla firefox as browser it is a free browser