Wi-fi not so hi-fi
March 27, 2009 12:33 PM Subscribe
Help a network-illiterate brother with a home wi-fi issue?
I've got two computers on my home wireless (DSL) network. One is a Mac Mini, and it gets a great wireless connection. The other is a dual-boot Linux/Vista laptop and it gets --at best-- 15Kbps speeds over the wireless network, even if it's only a few feet from the router. But if I take it to a library or some other hotspot, it gets full speed connections. So apparently there's some sort of enmity between my router and this laptop. Any ideas how I might fix it?
I've got two computers on my home wireless (DSL) network. One is a Mac Mini, and it gets a great wireless connection. The other is a dual-boot Linux/Vista laptop and it gets --at best-- 15Kbps speeds over the wireless network, even if it's only a few feet from the router. But if I take it to a library or some other hotspot, it gets full speed connections. So apparently there's some sort of enmity between my router and this laptop. Any ideas how I might fix it?
Response by poster: Definitely the same speeds in Linux and Windows, and the Mac Mini is pretty fast no matter where I put it.
I'll try those suggestions.
posted by yalestar at 12:57 PM on March 27, 2009
I'll try those suggestions.
posted by yalestar at 12:57 PM on March 27, 2009
What wireless router are you running? What network card do you have in your laptop? Does the problem persist if you shut off the mac mini and only use the laptop?
Could also try changing the channel your wireless network operates on, forcing it into G only mode.
posted by zentrification at 1:05 PM on March 27, 2009
Could also try changing the channel your wireless network operates on, forcing it into G only mode.
posted by zentrification at 1:05 PM on March 27, 2009
Is there a firmware update for your router? If so, you might want to install it. Perhaps the manufacturer knows about this issue and has fixed it in newer firmware.
Seconding changing channel while youre in there.
posted by damn dirty ape at 2:05 PM on March 27, 2009
Seconding changing channel while youre in there.
posted by damn dirty ape at 2:05 PM on March 27, 2009
Response by poster: Woo-hoo! Changing the channel did the trick!
Thanks, peeps!
posted by yalestar at 2:13 PM on March 27, 2009
Thanks, peeps!
posted by yalestar at 2:13 PM on March 27, 2009
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Does the Mac Mini maintain the same speed if you move it to the same physical location as the laptop?
Also, try using each computer to contact the router's web interface and see if there's a speed difference. And if it's within your abilities, copy a file from one computer to the other. If copying the file runs at a speed far greater than 15Kbps, the issue you're experiencing probably isn't related to a wireless network problem.
posted by XMLicious at 12:41 PM on March 27, 2009