Terrible wireless speeds

partyatmygaff

I am having some major problems with my wireless link to my router which is causing me a lot of problems. My ping in games stays between 500-1500 (The odd time it can be 120 e.t.c. but thats very rare). Internet browsing is generally unaffected but streaming video just does not work in any way. Streaming videos simply do not load more than 5 seconds before starting to buffer indefinitley. I've tried everything, My signal strength is 74% and yet my ping is absolutely terrible. I've even made a parabola antenna for my router and my ping is still terrible.

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=21ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=20ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=6ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=1253ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=64
Reply from 192.168.1.1: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=64

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
    Packets: Sent = 48, Received = 48, Lost = 0 (0%
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 1ms, Maximum = 1253ms, Average = 29ms

Overheal

Lets try some wild eyed experiments. First, move the router to a different home circuit, just in case its some kind of AC issue. And then test the signal again from point blank range. Just to rule out any analog source of interference.

You say youve built a dish antenna for youre router? wth man? Are you trying to boost the signal through a lead floor or something?

PogMoThoin

Belkin router by any chance?

You'll have to go into more detail to describe Your setup. Where is the router in relation to the pc? What make router? Is the pc a laptop or desktop with wifi attachment? Have You tried changing channel? Have You tried plugged in with wireless disabled to see if its the pc?

partyatmygaff

Overheal wrote: »

Lets try some wild eyed experiments. First, move the router to a different home circuit, just in case its some kind of AC issue. And then test the signal again from point blank range. Just to rule out any analog source of interference.

You say youve built a dish antenna for youre router? wth man? Are you trying to boost the signal through a lead floor or something?

I doubt its an AC issue as my laptop works fine (Outside my room) and gets a normal 1ms ping to the router. Inside my room the signal degrades for some reason, There is no apparent reason for it. The antenna isn't some crazy massive thing. Its a parabola (Think a pringles tube cut in half except much wider) and it increased my signal from 39% - 45% to 65% - 72%.

PogMoThoin wrote: »

Belkin router by any chance?

You'll have to go into more detail to describe Your setup. Where is the router in relation to the pc? What make router? Is the pc a laptop or desktop with wifi attachment? Have You tried changing channel? Have You tried plugged in with wireless disabled to see if its the pc?

Not a belkin router, its a standard BT Voyager 2110 (Not the best I know but I don't think its causing my problems!). To be exact, my router and my pc are about 25M apart at most. My PC's wireless antenna is facing the router's and between both routers is a wardrode, a door and then the floor. Its a desktop PCI card (Belkin PCI Card 54MBps). I've tried every channel available, the channel that works best for me is channel 2 (Which is what I'm using). I brought the desktop down and plugged it in, as you could expect I got <1MS ping to the router. Just to let you know what I have done to try and solve the problem.

I've disabled Vista's WLAN Autoconfig service
I've disabled IPV6
My computer is 100% spyware free and 100% virus free

Cuddlesworth

Just so I'm clear on this, your complaining of wireless latency to your router which is in another room? On a different floor? With a couple of inches of material between the antenna's?

partyatmygaff

They aren't very far apart. They are at most 15M apart. The router is downstairs beside the stairs in my house. My room is just adjacent to the stairs. It is a tiny distance but the signal gets easily degraded for some reason.

Cuddlesworth

Could be a number of things, power cables routed between the router and pc along the joists, foil backed plaster board, concrete, nails, wood, interference from other wireless signals in the area, even at that I would say a 20ms ping at 15 Metres with a wall in between is really good. Why are you so sure it isn't? do you expect to get it down to 1ms?

Overheal

To be exact, my router and my pc are about 25M apart at most. My PC's wireless antenna is facing the router's and between both routers is a wardrode, a door and then the floor. Its a desktop PCI card (Belkin PCI Card 54MBps).

Are they both on the pringle setup and are you sure they are matched up precisely? Either way 25m or even 15m is a considerable distance. And this is a Single-Antenna router?

I notice on Amazon the router's advertised at 50m indoors and 250m outdoors? And youre at 15-25m and you need to resort to pringles cans?

Ditch the router or re-evalutae your setup. Is there nowhere else you can position the router?

But your pingtest seems to suggest theres some kind of EM interference. Either from between the walls or the router itself. I know for instance a Phone Charger (or any step down transformer) emits a lot of very localized but strong EM interference. I plug my phone in next to the FM Radio at work when I want to get my boss off the GOD channel. Oh sorry boss, looks like a bad signal (/switch to Rock)

PogMoThoin

Wireless is not some magic shít that goes thru everything, it works best with line of sight

partyatmygaff

I know it doesn't go through everything but for example sitting about 50m away from the router (Garden for example) I can get a 60% signal on my N95. There is nothing blocking the line of sight minus a door . I can't position the router anywhere else as its at the only phone point. 20MS ping to a router is absolutely terrible! I get between 1 and 2 on my laptop. Thats not to mention packet loss which happens from time to time (At random, it doesn't coincide with anything that might cause interference)

PogMoThoin

Get rid of the Belkin pci card, seems other devices don't have a problem

Overheal

Then frankly, it might be time to consider replacing this router? How old is it?

I agree with Pog, another PCI card might work better.

Speaking of which, the PC's Own PSU could be a source of localized interference. Have you tried a Cable extenstion? Does the antenna stick out the ass of the computer or does it sit on your desktop using an extenstion cable?

partyatmygaff

The router is working fine! I can assure you. The ping is normal on every other computer besides mine.

PogMoThoin

Its the Belkin card, I've seen them be terribly laggy before, they produce some really shíte networking products. I've never had any luck with them and have seen them cause serious problems for customers

partyatmygaff

I've just checked interference, I think I might have found my problem.

I've just had a little check with my electric guitar (Its very sensitive to AC interference so I amn't crazy :pac:)

There doesn't appear to be any interference coming from my power sockets. The amplifier goes crazy when the guitar faces the back of the PSU. 60HZ AC hum. The antenna is at the very very bottom of the case, the PSU is at the top. I think it may be the cause of the interference.

francosp

Sounds like a job for hot plugs !

Overheal

/chews cigar

Mmm yes, its good to be right.

If the antena is detachable (they usually are) you can buy a dekstop extenstion for it, so it will sit up on the table away from the Tower, via a shielded cable.

edit: oh hai

http://www.buy.com/prod/belkin-desktop-antenna-for-wireless-desktop-cards-f5d7000-f5d6001/q/loc/101/10334024.html

partyatmygaff

Overheal wrote: »

/chews cigar

Mmm yes, its good to be right.

If the antena is detachable (they usually are) you can buy a dekstop extenstion for it, so it will sit up on the table away from the Tower, via a shielded cable.

edit: oh hai

http://www.buy.com/prod/belkin-desktop-antenna-for-wireless-desktop-cards-f5d7000-f5d6001/q/loc/101/10334024.html

All it is is a coaxial cable and I have a lot of that so I might aswell give it a shot now.

Overheal

pretty much. But it has a pretty stand! Well its actually quite ugly, and it will fall over a lot FINE use your closet cord you junkie :pac:

Pick one with good shielding on it though.

partyatmygaff

Ok I've just checked my ping

Its definitley went down a bit. It was mostly between 1-6 ms which isn't too shabby and there was no packet loss but once every minute or so I would get a ping of 1253ms which is odd seeing as the computer wasn't doing anything during the ping.

Does Vista search for networks every 1 minute like XP does?

Overheal

yep. Never did figure out why this spike happens on Desktops and not Laptops though. Mine do the same thing. Both Vista (well the laptop is 7 now)

Cuddlesworth

partyatmygaff wrote: »

Ok I've just checked my ping

Its definitley went down a bit. It was mostly between 1-6 ms which isn't too shabby and there was no packet loss but once every minute or so I would get a ping of 1253ms which is odd seeing as the computer wasn't doing anything during the ping.

Does Vista search for networks every 1 minute like XP does?

Is there any other device on at the same time? I have had some wireless cards in devices which actively spam all Wireless frequency's at intervals causing massive spikes for other devices. Might be worth running two cards in the same area(laptop for example) to see if the spike is showing on both devices. Could help you isolate the problem.

partyatmygaff

BF2 is showing a HUGE improvement.
Pings now range between 30-60 and no more disconnects!
Streaming video is working again! Thanks for all the help guys!