Internet and networking

[SubzeroDiabolos]

So I got a new internet deal today. My last one was an outdated 7mb/s
that they didn't even sell anymore. My new deal is 30mb/s

Using a speed test from my ISP = Earlier today with old deal = 7mb/s
Same test with new modem and deal = 18 mb/s.

I'm lacking a whooping 12mb/s somewhere in there, but i'm on wireless, so I know I have to lower the number from 30 to idk I was expecting something in the 23-25 range...

Is it a possibility that my linksys WRT54GS isn't strong enough to transfert all that to my network card? Or is the fact that i'm pretty far from router (20 feetish, and a wall) enough to make such a huge difference?

If your recommendation is a new router, please give a link to a model and to an desktop adapter to go with it.

[SephYuyX]

Connect via ethernet and see how that works firstly.

[sruon]

Depending on your signal the speed will "throttle" down, and personally, I have shit transfer speeds even with full bars using the same wireless norm.

Ethernet > j00

[Cephius]

This is where the megabyte/megabit conversion that's needed can be a bit confusing. I am going to guess that you are talking in megabits because a 30 megabyte pipe is business class internet and not something you're likely to get without paying up the ass.

Anyway, 30 megabits is approx. 3.75 megabytes per second transfer rate. The WRT54GS is more than capable of handling that. If we're talking 30 megabytes per second? Then it's outclassed and you're going to need a gigabit-class router and adapter to take advantage of it.

[SubzeroDiabolos]

This is the deal I have.

Since the distance between the router and my computer and the lay out of the house, ethernet is not something fesible unless I get a 50' cable and just lay it on the floor.

On a side note, I browse tech quite a bit and I see alot of the same faces helping ppl out. Just thought i'd say thanks to all of you.

EDIT: Wired test gave it 27.83 download and 937 upload wich is pretty much what I should have. Fuck wireless

[Cephius]

Yeah, that's 30 megabits.. should be just fine. You could upgrade to a N-class router if you really want the max transfer speeds over wireless, but personally I don't think it's worth the investment.

[sruon]

Can try PLC if you can't pull a wire, it's not quite as good as ethernet from my limited tests (only have PLC connecting my ISP Internet box to my ISP TV Box) but it definitly is more reliable than wireless.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_line_communication

[SephYuyX]

A simple drill hole does wonders. But yeah, just avoid wireless if you can if it's your main PC you use all the time. 50ft isnt bad, a hole can make that shorter, and if youre skillful enough you can hide it along the carpet, etc.

[SubzeroDiabolos]

I did a quick paint of the lay out of the house, I just don't see how to do it. I'm a noob at wiring.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/b...ter2/house.jpg

[Cephius]

Any chance you could move the modem? If you have a cable connection in the room with the computer, you should be able to hook it up to that, and then just adjust any equipment they installed in the house so it goes to that connection.

[SephYuyX]

Depending on how your place is furnished you could always run it under baseboards/carpet and hide it, it is possible. If it's a multifloored house can run it btwn floors, take the long way and follow vets, etc.

Another way to do it is just use another jack? I assume youve thought of that, and/or the place doesnt have another cable/phone outlet closer, however again, even if it's farther out of the way, it may be more accessible via another duct or something.

Another another way is to take it outside of the house. Not the actual ethernet, but run a new cable/phone line from the terminal box to that room, or a central hub like area.

Just a few ways I tend to get around those problems. If you cant do any of those, well, there is that ethernet through electrical outlets, but never looked in to them. Really though, with a 100ft long ethernet cable, and a will, theres always a clean way to do it, just have to be inventive.

[Yabby]

If you can not move it because of other computers in that room/whatever reason you could always just setup another access point closer to your room.

[bungiefan]

I usually staple cables to the walls and ceiling when I move into a new place and wire it up. If you do it right, the staples will barely leave a mark when you remove them, using the round ones.

Wireless G carries 54 megabits per second maximum, but that's including overhead to keep the network established. Realistically, data transfer is going to be only about half that at a distance, so about 27 megabits/s. If you have other wireless devices on the network then you are splitting that capability between them, and increasing your overhead costs. Remember that devices have to chime in now and then to say they are on the network, and verify that no other device intends to send data on the channel when they need to send data. Wireless isn't collission-free like a wired, switched network, so you lose data capacity to collissions and collission prevention/detection, aka overhead.

Wireless N is pretty cheap now, D-Link is selling routers for it at about $40, and I'm finding it hard to find any G routers anymore in local stores except the basic LinkSys one. I much prefer to run wires whenever possible though.

[fishstix]

If you can't move anything or don't want wires visible, like they said, I'd try running a cable outside of your house and bring it around to where you can plug it into your computer.

My house seems to have lead walls or something, I get horrible reception for everything. What I did was use a second router as a repeater or network bridge, basically a second access point on the same network.

[Wizrow]

This is the deal I have.

Since the distance between the router and my computer and the lay out of the house, ethernet is not something fesible unless I get a 50' cable and just lay it on the floor.

On a side note, I browse tech quite a bit and I see alot of the same faces helping ppl out. Just thought i'd say thanks to all of you.

EDIT: Wired test gave it 27.83 download and 937 upload wich is pretty much what I should have. Fuck wireless

100 GB / month cap makes me cry. If you torrent a lot make sure you have a network usage monitor on all your computers so you can have a good idea about how far you are from the cap.

[Ratatapa]

100 GB / month cap makes me cry. If you torrent a lot make sure you have a network usage monitor on all your computers so you can have a good idea about how far you are from the cap.

Unlimited doesn't exist in QC anymore 100 is the max afaik

[Yabby]

Unlimited doesn't exist in QC anymore 100 is the max afaik

O man fuck that, but i do pay more than the normal for my internet because i want speed Up and down. Last month i hit 400gigs so i'm glad i don't have a cap or i would be fucked lol. Also to the OP does your wireless have a G/N and if so are you using both at the same time? Most wireless routers tend to throttle when mult computers are using different signals.

[SubzeroDiabolos]

120 is the max if you have what they call TGV 50, the one just above what I have, but i'm perfectly fine with 100. My history shows that my highest usage was 70ish gigabyte. In the evening we have my computer on MW2 + 2 laptops running FFXI most of the time lol. We needed this internet xD

Sorry, no idea wtf is G/N. .

As for the ethernet... I don't get how you can do it from the outside of the house? Wouldn't drilling holes in your outside walls be... dangerous?
Like I said i'm kind of a big noob when it comes to wiring I have no fucking idea how to do most of the options. (lol, i'm such a handyman)

[fishstix]

G and N are different ratings of wireless speeds, sorta like 3G and 4G for cellphones. N wireless gear is faster, but more expensive to get. The WRT54GS is wireless G I think. Drilling can be dangerous, just make the hole away from electrical outlets and light switches and you should be ok. What I do actually is just string it out a window and smash the cable a little. The window isn't 100% closed, but meh.

If you want a full wired solution, the simplest way is to just run a giant cable from your modem or router to your computer while inside your house. Tuck/tape/staple it where the wall meets the floor/carpet. Might need to cut across the hall unless you go around your house clockwise.

[SubzeroDiabolos]

Tuck/tape/staple it where the wall meets the floor/carpet. Might need to cut across the hall unless you go around your house clockwise.

I was considering this at this moment. Ratatapa helped me a lil' but I think in the end the best option really is to just get a kilometer long CAT-5 wire and plug my computer that way. If I do that from the ceiling I think with just stapples I could do a decent job.

This raises another question though, why are 100 feet cables 15$ from newegg and 40 from local store? Shit sucks.