WIFI adapter very slow

[zconner33]

Hello,

I am having issues with my wifi adapter (Atheros AR9485WB-EG). I am getting significantly slower speeds on my pc (Asus G55VW) compared to my iPad and Android phone. The iPad and phone are getting download speeds around 6Mbps, while the pc is getting around 1.5 Mbps. I have already updated my wifi adapter driver to the latest version, and I have done a system restore. Also, I have made sure to check resource monitor, and there are no programs taking up significant potions of my network connection. Some more details:

1. I believe it is a weak connection, because moving the pc right next to the router yields higher download rates (6-7mbps), but I am testing the iPad and phone in the same area as the pc.
2. The pc isn't very far from the router in the first place either.
2. I am running Windows 7 Home Premuim
3. I have tried different wifi channels with no results.
4. The pc will sometimes automatically disconnect from the network too.

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

 

[RealBeast]

Check the wireless channels in your area to see if you have an interference that the laptop may have a bigger problem with. Download and run the free wifi analyzer -- the home version of inSSIDer from HERE. You want to be on channel 1, 6, or 11 hopefully with no other signals above like -85dB. Even though you changed the channels, you need to know what you are dealing with for interference.

What model router, is it dual band?

Also insure that your router is using 2.4GHz N only (not mixed or legacy mode, aka 54Mbps mode) and that you are using WPA2 with personal AES security.

 

[Confusedscoob]

@RealBeast I actually wanted to ask- apart from channels 1,6 and 11, do I have any luck of finding good speeds on the other channels?

 

[RealBeast]

@RealBeast I actually wanted to ask- apart from channels 1,6 and 11, do I have any luck of finding good speeds on the other channels?

Best to post your own thread, but those are usually the best channels for 2.4GHz since they are non-overlapping (look at the first page HERE to see why), and use the inSSIDer tool to examine the local wireless networks to determine the best.

 

[zconner33]

I am using a Netgear N600 dual-band router, and I have tried both mixed and N only modes. I am using WPA2 with AES.

I did analyze my wifi networks, and their about 8 other networks above -85dB. 2 of them are on channel 6 with me. I live in an apartment building, so this makes sense. But if interference i the issue, then why is only my PC affected and why would it just start now? My other devices are working just fine like they always have.

 

[RealBeast]

I am using a Netgear N600 dual-band router, and I have tried both mixed and N only modes. I am using WPA2 with AES.

I did analyze my wifi networks, and their about 8 other networks above -85dB. 2 of them are on channel 6 with me. I live in an apartment building, so this makes sense. But if interference i the issue, then why is only my PC affected and why would it just start now? My other devices are working just fine like they always have.

Your PC may not have as good of an adapter, may be running on a different frequency than the other devices, or the PC antenna may be blocked from the wireless signal by its case, where the smaller devices are not.

Have you tried 5GHz for the PC connection? It doesn't have the distance or penetration of matter (like walls) as the lower frequencies, but it is not yet as heavily used and has more channels available than 3.

Another thing to try is to reorient the PC so that the antenna is not blocked from line of sight from the router to the extent possible, many people that have USB wireless adapters find that adding a 15 foot USB extension cable and moving the adapter around to be helpful.

 

[zconner33]

I am using a Netgear N600 dual-band router, and I have tried both mixed and N only modes. I am using WPA2 with AES.

I did analyze my wifi networks, and their about 8 other networks above -85dB. 2 of them are on channel 6 with me. I live in an apartment building, so this makes sense. But if interference i the issue, then why is only my PC affected and why would it just start now? My other devices are working just fine like they always have.

Your PC may not have as good of an adapter, may be running on a different frequency than the other devices, or the PC antenna may be blocked from the wireless signal by its case, where the smaller devices are not.

Have you tried 5GHz for the PC connection? It doesn't have the distance or penetration of matter (like walls) as the lower frequencies, but it is not yet as heavily used and has more channels available than 3.

Another thing to try is to reorient the PC so that the antenna is not blocked from line of sight from the router to the extent possible, many people that have USB wireless adapters find that adding a 15 foot USB extension cable and moving the adapter around to be helpful.

It appears that my router automatically puts out 2.4 Ghz and 5Ghz signals; at least I can't find a setting to choose one or the other. Would you happen to know how to make my adapter pick up 5Ghz instead of 2.4 or if most adapters have that capability? Sorry if that is a dumb question; wireless is definitely not my specialty. Thanks!

 

[RealBeast]

Not a dumb question at all -- you need to name the two wireless networks (the SSID) differently, like ZConner and ZConner5 (indicating the 5GHz). Then go into your PC network control panel, manage wireless networks, and delete the current network. Restart, let the wireless detect available networks and then choose the one you want, which you can do since they have different names now.

 

[zconner33]

So I believe I found the root cause of the problem. I got a new speaker for Christmas, and it has a wireless connection to it's subwoofer. It was sitting right behind the laptop, so the connection between the speaker and the subwoofer was causing interference. Unfortunately, now I can't use the the speaker my computer speaker like I hoped, but at least I got internet working. I am going to try using the 5GHz frequency, and see if that helps (maybe the speaker broadcasts at 2.4 GHz). But either way, I'm happy I got it working. Thank you very much for your help!

 

[RealBeast]

The wireless speaker does operate in the 2.4GHz frequency, as do many things like wireless phones, baby monitors, headphones, etc.

5GHz will work fine if you are not too far from the wireless radio -- 5GHz does not travel through material (walls included) as well as 2.4GHz does.