What are some things that would affect internet speed while using a wireless router?

[Quadtrix]

I'm still a bit of a newb when it comes to my Netgear Wireless Router. It took a long period of trial and error just to get a working signal, but I've got that worked out. I also found that if I clear the logs every once in awhile, it'll help in terms of internet speed. Is there anything else I should know when using a wireless router?

 

[Quadtrix]

Bump.

 

[GothmogII]

Wrap some tinfoil around the antennae or receiver (actually the link below is a teeny bit more involved than just that, but it's real easy), and that actually works as I found recently to my delight.

Here's a link to a how-to site: http://lifehacker.com/software/how-...gnal-with-a-homemade-wifi-extender-296367.php

 

[Gruthar]

Other traffic on your wireless network. Unless you have some fancy pants internet connection, though, the transfer bandwidth on your wireless network is going to be substantially higher than that of your internet connection. So signal quality won't really affect your internet connection much (unless it's really poor.)

There are some things that do interfere with the signal enough to break a connection, though. Some cordless phones will, I've seen a microwave oven kill wireless signals too. Also if you have a lot of neighbors nearby using the same wireless channel, that can cause problems.

 

[Quadtrix]

Wrap some tinfoil around the antennae or receiver (actually the link below is a teeny bit more involved than just that, but it's real easy), and that actually works as I found recently to my delight.

Here's a link to a how-to site: http://lifehacker.com/software/how-...gnal-with-a-homemade-wifi-extender-296367.php

Well, I really don't have an antennae on any of my wireless stuff. My router (which has no antennae), laptop, DS and Wii are all my wireless stuff, none of which I believe I could wrap tinfoil on.

Other traffic on your wireless network. Unless you have some fancy pants internet connection, though, the transfer bandwidth on your wireless network is going to be substantially higher than that of your internet connection. So signal quality won't really affect your internet connection much (unless it's really poor.)

There are some things that do interfere with the signal enough to break a connection, though. Some cordless phones will, I've seen a microwave oven kill wireless signals too. Also if you have a lot of neighbors nearby using the same wireless channel, that can cause problems.

Other people connecting to my network shouldn't be a problem, since access control with MAC addresses is one of the things I managed to figured out how to use. And rarely do I ever lose my connection. There are just some days where it's slower and days when it's faster. Not sure if its a problem on my end or my ISP's end.

While I'm asking, what is ping exactly? Speedtest.net tests ping, but I have no clue what that is.

 

[Frizzle]

Wrap some tinfoil around the antennae or receiver (actually the link below is a teeny bit more involved than just that, but it's real easy), and that actually works as I found recently to my delight.

Here's a link to a how-to site: http://lifehacker.com/software/how-...gnal-with-a-homemade-wifi-extender-296367.php

Well, I really don't have an antennae on any of my wireless stuff. My router (which has no antennae), laptop, DS and Wii are all my wireless stuff, none of which I believe I could wrap tinfoil on.

Other traffic on your wireless network. Unless you have some fancy pants internet connection, though, the transfer bandwidth on your wireless network is going to be substantially higher than that of your internet connection. So signal quality won't really affect your internet connection much (unless it's really poor.)

There are some things that do interfere with the signal enough to break a connection, though. Some cordless phones will, I've seen a microwave oven kill wireless signals too. Also if you have a lot of neighbors nearby using the same wireless channel, that can cause problems.

Other people connecting to my network shouldn't be a problem, since access control with MAC addresses is one of the things I managed to figured out how to use. And rarely do I ever lose my connection. There are just some days where it's slower and days when it's faster. Not sure if its a problem on my end or my ISP's end.

While I'm asking, what is ping exactly? Speedtest.net tests ping, but I have no clue what that is.

Ping is the time it takes for a packet of data to go from your computer, hit the server you're pinging, and come back. Basically how fast the data travels from A to B and back to A. Lower is always better.

 

[Quadtrix]

Thanks. I clocked in at 50 milliseconds, so I guess I'm OK in that area.

 

[ssgt splatter]

Dude, that's sick. DIY all the way.

 

[Monocle Man]

A 15 inch reinforced concrete wall filled with wiring between your router and receiver can be rather bothersome. I had to move my "game room" for that exact reason.

I'm pretty sure any wall will lower the quality, just not as much as the painfully thick walls.

 

[Quadtrix]

oh god, i hate netgear wireless! its intermittent, poor speed and a major hassle! i spent two weeks on a new build trying to get it working, but nothing happened till i pinged google and yelled "would you kindly work?"

one note of good news is that the tinfoil dishes really do work, it look a touch absurd but i'd reccomend that everyone used them...

except, if there's one thing i've learnt, its that people don't pay nice attention to shouting men covered in tinfoil!

Really? It seems to be the most popular wireless router. Everyone I know who's gone wireless uses netgear.

 

[tk1989]

Meh, im happy with my Speedtouch I have always heard bad things about netgear, and my friends who used their routers always had problems.

Just dont use your laptop next to ur microwave and you should be fine !

 

[Quadtrix]

Damn...and Netgear was crazy expensive, too...