Computer Techies...I need your help with my wireless connection!!

[VDW]

Here's my problem...I have absolutely crappy wireless service at my house. I bought a new Cisco Linksys E3000 Gigabit Wireless N Router w/Dual Band 2.4/5.0 ghz, thinking my old D-Link Wireless N router took a dump. I was getting 13.0 Mbps connection speeds with the old one, after we moved the TV and Cable router location. I know the router took a short fall, and figured something got messed up inside.

When I first hooked it up, my wife's computer was getting connection at 270 Mbps (the 5.0 ghz channel), and mine was connnecting at the 130 Mbs (the 2.4 ghz channel). My computer is older than hers, but both have N cards, and mine usually connects a bit slower. This all seemed great...However, after dinner, we sat down, and both computers were getting 13.0 to 6.5 Mbps connections, which is even worse than the old router!

Let me know what I need to tell you all, but I don't know wtf is going on here. We have basic Comcast "hi-speed" internet, we have a TV and XBox 360 hardwired to ethernet cables, and we also get our phone service through the same Comast line.

If this helps, my computer shows somewhere between -45 and -80 for signal, and -95 for noise on the 2.4ghz channel, and a consistent -55, and -95 for the 5.0ghz channel (which my computer can't seem to connect to). For some reason, my signal strength isn't quite full even though I'm about 20 feet in a straight line from the router with no obstructions. The 2.4ghz shows about 90%, and the 5.0ghz shows about 80% signal strength.

As i just fired up my wife's computer, it is now showing it is connected at 270 (of course, now that I ask for help), but just this morning wouldn't get above about 26.0 Mbps.

Someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong!

[Bang]

[theGinsue]

Lots of variables here. Keep in mind that while you are paying for the high end high speed internet the speeds are "up to" which means they won't guarantee the speed. the reason they won't guarantee it is because they put lots of other folks on the same bandwidth so when they start powering up for the night your speed will drop.

Lot of other factors could be in play too, but this is my best guess at the problem.

[ChunkyMonkey]

I would hook up one of the computer directly to the router and do some comparison. It might just peak and off peak hours.

[VDW]

I don't know if this will help, but my wife's computer was just consistently getting the 270 Mbps connection. I put her computer on standby, then when I turned it back on, it originally connected on the 130 Mbps channel, then the speed kept dropping until it reached 13.0 again.

Someone please help me, because I'm about to make the router and or computers into targets...

[M2]

[VDW]

You guys seem to be thinking along the same lines, but I also tried this at 2 in the morning, and again all day today.

I understand the speeds are "up to", but 13 Mbps?? I was getting much higher before we moved the location of the router. This shouldn't make a difference, though, because all we did was move it across the room, and take out one of the links of cable outside and punched a hole through the wall 20' over.

[VDW]

OK, another update...I tried hibernating my wife's computer instead of putting it on standby, and when it powered back up, it connected on the 270 Mbps channel, and so far has stayed at 270 Mbps.

I tried restarting mine, and placing it in hibernation with my wife's computer off, and still couldn't connect to the 270 Mbps channel. The 130 channel still drops to 13.0 Mbps within about 30 seconds.

[Bang]

[Byte Stryke]

I don't know if this will help, but my wife's computer was just consistently getting the 270 Mbps connection. I put her computer on standby, then when I turned it back on, it originally connected on the 130 Mbps channel, then the speed kept dropping until it reached 13.0 again.

Someone please help me, because I'm about to make the router and or computers into targets...

[M2]

If you start shooting at your Computers and stuff KellyTTE will call you a faggot and start saying what a bad person you are. [ROFL1]


As far as your connection, one of your neighbors may have just gotten service and connected to every malware and bit-torrent site in the interwebs. YOU may be unknowingly connecting to the same sites (infection), you have have an interference issue on your line. there are so many variables that it's practically impossible to diagnose over the internet.

things you can do, pings to various sites at different times of the day.
connect directly to the router via CAT5/6. make sure your Malware/AV Scanners are up to date and recently scanned.

If none of that gives any clues I would suggest you contact comcast and ask them to send someone out to check the lines.


I had a customer one time move her router right next to her microwave.
yes, really.

[Byte Stryke]

before we moved the location of the router. This shouldn't make a difference, though, because all we did was move it across the room, and take out one of the links of cable outside and punched a hole through the wall 20' over.


re-read this and I believe you have inadvertently come into proximity of an electrical line or some other source of EMI. check all wiring schematics for your house and see if there is a line next to your "new Path".

Also try moving it back and give us another report.

yes I am serious.

[VDW]

The modem to router, and router to Xbox & TV are all with Cat 6 cables (or Cat 5 "high speed"), I don't remember which they were. I don't have any issues connecting via ethernet cable, but that doesn't really tell me anything, since I can't tell what the speed is, right? I am online at 13.0 Mbps, it's just a ridiculous connection, and not worth spending $150 on a router for. I just thought something was wrong with the old one.

Is there some reason whenever we are connected to the 130 Mbps channel, it drops to 13.0 or less? I can't seem to connect at all to the 270 Mbps (5.0 ghz) channel. The old router was 130 Mbps and not Gigabit.

As far as connecting to the wrong service, I am connecting to my router only, and all of the routers in my area are all security locked, so I can only connect to mine.

[ChunkyMonkey]

If you start shooting at your Computers and stuff KellyTTE will call you a faggot and start saying what a bad person you are. [ROFL1]


Boy you are on the roll

[Byte Stryke]

Boy you are on the roll
I had to

[VDW]

re-read this and I believe you have inadvertently come into proximity of an electrical line or some other source of EMI. check all wiring schematics for your house and see if there is a line next to your "new Path".

Also try moving it back and give us another report.

yes I am serious.

Interesting...It is closer (less than 15 ft or so) to the main breaker box. My house is 25 years old, and I don't have the wiring schematics.

I'll try moving it back...

[VDW]

Any reason why when my wife's computer can connect to the 270 Mbps channel, there are no issues?

[Byte Stryke]

The modem to router, and router to Xbox & TV are all with Cat 6 cables (or Cat 5 "high speed"), I don't remember which they were. I don't have any issues connecting via ethernet cable, but that doesn't really tell me anything, since I can't tell what the speed is, right? I am online at 13.0 Mbps, it's just a ridiculous connection, and not worth spending $150 on a router for. I just thought something was wrong with the old one.

Is there some reason whenever we are connected to the 130 Mbps channel, it drops to 13.0 or less? I can't seem to connect at all to the 270 Mbps (5.0 ghz) channel. The old router was 130 Mbps and not Gigabit.

As far as connecting to the wrong service, I am connecting to my router only, and all of the routers in my area are all security locked, so I can only connect to mine.


it tells me allot

For some reason, my signal strength isn't quite full even though I'm about 20 feet in a straight line from the router with no obstructions. The 2.4ghz shows about 90%, and the 5.0ghz shows about 80% signal strength.

is there a wireless phone (house type) or another wireless device that may be interfering with your wireless transmission in the room?

[VDW]

ARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

Seriously???

Yes, in order to move the cable modem, we had to switch to wireless phones, and the first one has to be plugged in to the modem, which is also inches from the wireless router.....

I'll try moving it...

[Byte Stryke]

the primary "trick" in diagnosing issues like this is to remove variables.

put it back to "Control": Old Router Old Location. Test.
try a Single modification (ie: 1 variable) put NEW Router in OLD location and Test.
if it fails you know its the router.
if not, then try OLD Router in NEW Location.
if it passes then place New router in New location, which you already know doesn't work.

[Byte Stryke]

ARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

Seriously???

Yes, in order to move the cable modem, we had to switch to wireless phones, and the first one has to be plugged in to the modem, which is also inches from the wireless router.....

I'll try moving it...

I think we have a Bingo

[VDW]

OK, I unplugged both the phone line and the power line to the first wireless phone. It didn't help at all. The other 2 are on different floors.

Damn....thought that might be an easy fix.

[Byte Stryke]

begin removing your variables
sounds like you guys moved allot of stuff around today.
also, did you move the phone with the BATTERY away from the router?

[VDW]

The other electrical items near the router are:

1 table lamp (5 feet)
Wii console (wireless)
Xbox 360 (hard wired)
TV (hard wired)
and the wireless phone (which I unplugged)

It's going to be a while before I can try moving the location...my daughter is watching a movie on Netflix.

Thanks for you quick help...I'll keep you posted.

[VDW]

begin removing your variables
sounds like you guys moved allot of stuff around today

It's actually been a month or so, we've just been putting up with it thinking the router was on its last legs. It was only when I bought a new router I found out we had the same problem.

[VDW]

Any reason why when my wife's computer can connect to the 270 Mbps channel, there are no issues?

Can anyone tell me about this? And why can't I connect on that channel? We both have Dells with the Dell Draft N wireless cards (I think they are both mini cards).

Thanks again.

[Byte Stryke]

Just as an FYI, if your 2.4Ghz wireless phones will always cause issues with your wireless routers and receivers.

this includes the handsets, which allot of people overlook as transmitters

[VDW]

Byte Stryke...you're a genius!

Thanks for your help. I moved the location back to the old spot, and I get 65.0 Mbps (consistent), and the wife's gets the 104.0 of the possible 130.0 Mbps consistently. I have both set up about 3' from the router (you would think I could get the full 130.0). I also unplugged all of the wireless phones and removed the batteries from the handsets.

Figure this one out, though. I plugged the new router in, and had the same issues where both were getting 13.0 Mbps. I guess the new "top of the line" (for Wal Mart), optimized for high speed wireless gaming and HD video streaming router sucks. That part doesn't make any sense, though. In the old spot the wife could connect to the 270 Mbps channel, but the 130 Mbps would keep connecting at the old location, and then drop to 13.0 Mbps. Hmmm...Something is still wrong there, but I will stick with the old router and save $150.

Now I have to figure out the phones.....

...And how to hook up the TV and XBox 360...

[Byte Stryke]

Byte Stryke...you're a genius!

Thanks for your help. I moved the location back to the old spot, and I get 65.0 Mbps (consistent), and the wife's gets the 104.0 of the possible 130.0 Mbps consistently. I have both set up about 3' from the router (you would think I could get the full 130.0). I also unplugged all of the wireless phones and removed the batteries from the handsets.

Figure this one out, though. I plugged the new router in, and had the same issues where both were getting 13.0 Mbps. I guess the new "top of the line" (for Wal Mart), optimized for high speed wireless gaming and HD video streaming router sucks. That part doesn't make any sense, though. In the old spot the wife could connect to the 270 Mbps channel, but the 130 Mbps would keep connecting at the old location, and then drop to 13.0 Mbps. Hmmm...Something is still wrong there, but I will stick with the old router and save $150.

Now I have to figure out the phones.....

...And how to hook up the TV and XBox 360...

If you are interested I can come out and look over your "Network Environment" and offer you some expansion solutions that wont break the bank or your network.
Things are always clearer in person.

My References (http://www.co-ar15.com/forums/search.php?searchid=263958)

Shoot me a PM if Interested.