Two computers, one network, two speeds?
March 16, 2008 10:27 AM Subscribe
If two computers are connected to the same wireless router, what would make one faster?
My home laptop is a year old Toshiba Satellite. My work laptop is a year old HP. They are both connected to the home network by a Belkin Pre-N wireless router and their respective internal wireless cards. The HP gets great speeds, the Satellite crawls. What gives?
My home laptop is a year old Toshiba Satellite. My work laptop is a year old HP. They are both connected to the home network by a Belkin Pre-N wireless router and their respective internal wireless cards. The HP gets great speeds, the Satellite crawls. What gives?
Does the HP crawl when connected directly?
posted by Neiltupper at 10:36 AM on March 16, 2008
posted by Neiltupper at 10:36 AM on March 16, 2008
Response by poster: They're both fast when directly connected.
The HP has an Intel PRO/Wireless 2200B G card; I don't have the Toshiba to look up the exact card, but it is also a G. Drivers are updated. HP probably does have more memory, I will have to double check.
posted by dpx.mfx at 10:39 AM on March 16, 2008
The HP has an Intel PRO/Wireless 2200B G card; I don't have the Toshiba to look up the exact card, but it is also a G. Drivers are updated. HP probably does have more memory, I will have to double check.
posted by dpx.mfx at 10:39 AM on March 16, 2008
Is the Toshiba further away from the access point than the HP? That can make a big difference in speed.
posted by DanW at 10:50 AM on March 16, 2008
posted by DanW at 10:50 AM on March 16, 2008
It could just be small differences in the way the wireless card drivers are written/coded. It could also be each cards unique reaction to the "N" router. (not kidding). I had a situation about a week ago troubleshooting a laptop that would randomly BSOD. Turns out, the card freaks out whenever its near a wireless-N router. Move it away, and it works fine. Admittedly, its an older laptop, but I'm just using it for example here that compatibility issues do sometimes still arise with newer hardware(s).
Have you tried another wireless router? (specifically, something NOT wireless-N ) just to rule that out of the equation.
posted by jmnugent at 11:00 AM on March 16, 2008
Have you tried another wireless router? (specifically, something NOT wireless-N ) just to rule that out of the equation.
posted by jmnugent at 11:00 AM on March 16, 2008
Best answer:
I'd the following:
-Look for specific problems with the Intel 2200BG. With my girlfriend's laptop, I discovered people were having problems with the latest wireless card driver and recommended going back to an older version.
-Update the router firmware to the newest.
-Change the wireless channel in the router. Sometimes you can get interference from other wireless devices and a simple channel change clears it up.
-Is the router using wireless security? Test it without to see if the speed is sluggish. Eventually you should be using security but this may help triangulate problems.
-Run a full spectrum of antivirus, spyware searches.
-Download and run hijackthis and post the log to the hijackthis forums. They're good at finding resource hog software that may be sapping your CPU/ connection.
posted by sharkfu at 11:01 AM on March 16, 2008
I'd the following:
-Look for specific problems with the Intel 2200BG. With my girlfriend's laptop, I discovered people were having problems with the latest wireless card driver and recommended going back to an older version.
-Update the router firmware to the newest.
-Change the wireless channel in the router. Sometimes you can get interference from other wireless devices and a simple channel change clears it up.
-Is the router using wireless security? Test it without to see if the speed is sluggish. Eventually you should be using security but this may help triangulate problems.
-Run a full spectrum of antivirus, spyware searches.
-Download and run hijackthis and post the log to the hijackthis forums. They're good at finding resource hog software that may be sapping your CPU/ connection.
posted by sharkfu at 11:01 AM on March 16, 2008
Many N routers penalize the speed of many G cards. It's possible one of your two G cards could benefit from a different driver.
posted by rokusan at 11:10 AM on March 16, 2008
posted by rokusan at 11:10 AM on March 16, 2008
Remember your old tv's bunny ears? Antenna matters. Positioning, obstacles between it and the signal, etc. The manufacturer's decision about where to place the wifi antenna, what materials to surround it with, how to limit interference from other components, etc. all likely are playing a role.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 11:26 PM on March 16, 2008
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 11:26 PM on March 16, 2008
Also check whether each laptop can see any other networks. If one is picking up on a signal that's using the same or neighboring channel as your network, interference would be a problem.
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 3:09 PM on March 17, 2008
posted by nakedcodemonkey at 3:09 PM on March 17, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
Does one have an N card while another has a G?
Have you updated the drivers for the wireless cards?
Does one laptop have more memory than the other?
posted by sharkfu at 10:35 AM on March 16, 2008