How do i tell if my router will handle a faster internet connection?

Question

Im using cable broadband, and i have a Linksys WRT54G wireless router attatched to it. I want to upgrade to 20mb broadband but will my router support that? Not sure if this is a stupid question or not, but im supposed to be on 2mb just now and i only get 1, so i wasnt sure if its my routers fault or not?

Answer 1

The WAN on the WRT54G is a 10/100 RJ-45 port, so it can support a 20Mbps connection. Try to connect the modem directly to your computer instead of going through the router. If you're getting 2Mbps, then there's something going on with the router. If you're still getting 1Mbps, then it's either your internet provider or a faulty network cable.

Are you connecting via wireless to the router? If so, check to see if you're getting a weak signal, which deteriorates transfer rates. Also check if you have other devices nearby that use 2.4GHz, which might cause interference (microwaves, 2.4GHz cordless phones, etc.). If you're going for 20Mbps and are connecting via wireless to your router, make sure your computer's wireless adapter supports 802.11g.

A big thing to check is to make sure no one else is accessing your router via wireless that shouldn't have access. If you have absolutely no security settings in place, anyone can use your wireless router and use your internet. While you're looking in the router's settings, go into the Advanced Wireless settings and make sure the transfer rate wasn't set to 1Mbps.

Answer 2

The wireless G routers will transmit up to 54MB, the reason you are only getting 1 MB out of your 2 MB connection is that cable braodband is a shared connection. You rarely if ever get the full bandwidth that you are paying for. DSL on the other hand is dedicated bandwidth, i.e. you get what you pay for. You will get higher speeds when you go to the 20MB cable connection,they just may not be a full 20 all the time. Hope this answers your question

Answer 3

If you're running 802.11b, there'd be no sense upgrading. 802.11b is only capable of 11 Mbps, so then the bottleneck would be at your router. If you're running on 802.11g, you're fine to upgrade since 802.11g runs at 54 Mbps.

Answer 4

It will handle those speeds fine. It can transmit data wirelessly at 54Mbps so I think it can handle the 20Mbps.

Answer 5

For all practical purpose, your router has no limits were speed is concerned.