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!

[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...

[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.

[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...

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


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.

Boy you are on the roll