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Ferrari 4k5 w/ Broadcom WiFi. Slow. :(

post #1 of 20
5/21/06 at 10:42pm
Thread Starter 
I'm having performance issues with my Ferrari's WiFi card.

It works good and has no connection issues, it's just slow.

I've been using the download speed tests over at Testmy.net and at best getting 1.5Mb's over a cable internet connection.

When I connect to the LAN through the Ferrari's ethernet, I'm getting what every other computer on the LAN gets, 4.5 to 6 Mb's.

Can you fellow Ferrari 4k owners do some checking for me at the Testmy.net or Speakeasy.net speed test's and assure me that it's not a hardware issue and that I still need to look for the software that's goofed up?

I've looked at about every setting I can think of, and the only one I've found that makes a noticable difference is the Power Saving mode. When set to on, will cut 1 Mb off of my download speed. Off and Fast have the same 1.5 Mb's result.
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post #2 of 20
5/21/06 at 11:03pm
Most likely, the slow point isn't your laptop - it is your wireless router / access point (particularly if it has WEP or WPA enabled). Wireless routers often run on very low-spec processors, have flaky and inefficient firmware, and take HUGE speed hits as soon as security features are enabled.
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post #3 of 20
5/22/06 at 12:00am
my results:

Your connection is: 1998 Kbps or 2 Mbps
You Downloaded at: 244 kB/s
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post #4 of 20
5/22/06 at 12:43am
For a control test, I just downloaded the largest test file with my Gateway 7405GX laptop, using 802.11g to a Linksys WRT54GX version 2.0 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX. I got "4001 Kbps or 4 Mbps (488 kB/s)" on Comcast.net.

Quote:
:::.. Download Stats ..:::
Connection is:: 4001 Kbps about 4 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)
Download Speed is:: 488 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net (Server 1)
Test Time:: 2006/05/21 - 8:34pm
Bottom Line:: 70X faster than 56K 1MB Download in 2.1 sec
Tested from a 2992 kB file and took 6.125 seconds to complete
Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.3) Gecko/20060426 Firefox/1.5.0.3
Diagnosis: May need help : running at only 79.64 % of your hosts average (comcast.net)
Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-JML47BGPH
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post #5 of 20
5/22/06 at 7:22am
If you can, I would highly recommend purchasing a Linksys router, I can vouch for the WRT54G, the linksys routers are usually if not always better quality than their competition and they're a subcompany of Cisco Networking, so you know they're good.
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post #6 of 20
5/23/06 at 4:20am
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the replies.

I have tried turning off WEP, but it has made no difference.

Also, I guess in a bit of irony, I actually am using a Linksys WRT54G.

Here's were things get interesting.
The WRT54G is obviously connected directly to the cable modem (through Comcast) and a desktop connected via ethernet gets about 5.5 to 6 Mb's of throughput.
For better reception throughout the house, we've added a Linksys WAP54G (just an access point) as a repeater for the router.
My desktop is connected to this access point through ethernet and gets about 4.5 Mb's. And so does my Ferrari when connected via ethernet, but not via the built in Broadcom WiFi.

I've tried resetting the TCP/IP stack in XP, and re-installing the WiFi drivers, but no.

I'm thinking for other issues, that my Ferrari needs a full re-install. So unless there is a way of verifying the settings within WinXP, I'll probably deal till a full re-install.
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post #7 of 20
5/23/06 at 5:00am
Hmmm.... that is ironic, hahaha. My only guesses are that theres something wrong with the WiFi card and needs to be replaced or, as you said, your computer needs to be formatted. I would use Partition Magic and make a separate partition, install XP onto that partition, and see if the WiFi is still bad. If it is send it to Acer for replacement, if not then transfer the files you need from your old partition and delete it. Good Luck.
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post #8 of 20
5/23/06 at 1:12pm
Personally, I strongly doubt your WiFi card is bad, or that the problem is caused by the laptop.

As I noted previously, the Ethernet speed through the router is meaningless - the Ethernet doesn't pass through the router's wireless circuitry. Have you got any other wireless LAN devices, and if so have you done the speed test from them (and at the same place / time as you're doing the Ferrari's test?)

My next guess would be you're running bad firmware in the WRT54G, or that you're running your WLAN on a channel that has excessive interference from cordless phones, microwaves, your neighbors' WLANs, etc. If so, you'll likely find that other wireless devices are also running slow...
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post #9 of 20
5/29/06 at 4:34am
Thread Starter 
Well, it's not the Broadcom card in my Ferrari.

Finally was able to use another computer. A Toshiba w/ a Atheros a/b/g card and it reported the same speeds.

So the hunt goes on.

Oh, and I have recently updated the firmware on the WRT54G to the latest version from Linksys' web site, and also tried changing the channel's as well.
Neither have made a difference.
It's just strange to me that with 54Mbps of theoretical bandwidth, I can only get 1.5Mb which is about 4.5Mb slower than my internet connection. :lame:
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post #10 of 20
5/29/06 at 4:49am
Where can you update the Firmeware? Do you have an Link?
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post #11 of 20
5/29/06 at 5:18am
is there a tweak guide for routers by any chance? i was wondering if can tweak settings on my netgear and linksys routers.

i have netgear at home and its blazing fast even w/ wep enabled. i can go anywhere in my house and still get good signal.

i got linksys (g router w/ speed boost(?) ) at college house and i get low signals like 1-2bars w/ wep enabled and im only like 50-100ft away from where its located. i dont know why... we had an older model linksys wireless b router and it was still faster than what we got now.
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post #12 of 20
5/29/06 at 10:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stronzo
Where can you update the Firmeware? Do you have an Link?

Linksys' web site @ linksys.com
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post #13 of 20
5/29/06 at 10:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarc
Well, it's not the Broadcom card in my Ferrari.

Finally was able to use another computer. A Toshiba w/ a Atheros a/b/g card and it reported the same speeds.

So the hunt goes on.

Not to say I told you so, but I called that one.

Next suggestion: confirm whether the speed issue is specific to the WAN or not. Transfer a good quantity of large, uncompressible files (ZIP files, MP3 files, that kind of thing) from one machine on your wireless LAN to another machine on the same wireless LAN. What's the speed?

Now try transferring data from your wireless LAN machine to a machine that's physically connected to the LAN ports on your router.

Finally, try transferring LAN to LAN on the router.

The above should give you an idea where the problem lies. Oh, and I assume that when you're saying your internet connection is much faster over LAN, that you're talking about going through the wireless router's LAN ports, not plugging your PC directly into the cable / DSL modem, right?
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post #14 of 20
5/29/06 at 10:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by corrado85
is there a tweak guide for routers by any chance? i was wondering if can tweak settings on my netgear and linksys routers.

i have netgear at home and its blazing fast even w/ wep enabled. i can go anywhere in my house and still get good signal.

i got linksys (g router w/ speed boost(?) ) at college house and i get low signals like 1-2bars w/ wep enabled and im only like 50-100ft away from where its located. i dont know why... we had an older model linksys wireless b router and it was still faster than what we got now.

That wouldn't necessarily suggest a problem with Linksys, or even the specific Linksys router. For a fair comparison, you'd have to place the Netgear in the same location as the Linksys and see how it performs.

I've got the Linksys WRT54GX V2.0 which is closely based on the WRT54G that Sarc is using, and with 128-bit WEP enabled I'm getting a solid 4Mbps connection. (I'd probably get better if Comcast didn't cap my upstream at 384Kbps - bastards.)
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post #15 of 20
5/30/06 at 2:16am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gweilo8888
Not to say I told you so, but I called that one.

Next suggestion: confirm whether the speed issue is specific to the WAN or not. Transfer a good quantity of large, uncompressible files (ZIP files, MP3 files, that kind of thing) from one machine on your wireless LAN to another machine on the same wireless LAN. What's the speed?

Now try transferring data from your wireless LAN machine to a machine that's physically connected to the LAN ports on your router.

Finally, try transferring LAN to LAN on the router.

The above should give you an idea where the problem lies. Oh, and I assume that when you're saying your internet connection is much faster over LAN, that you're talking about going through the wireless router's LAN ports, not plugging your PC directly into the cable / DSL modem, right?

Ok, you were right, showoff.

I'll see if I can do these tests.
I'd like to find a program that would actually conduct a speed test over my W/LAN. Will have to do some looking.

And for you last question. Given' that there are multiple users at this location, it is not feasable to plug directly into the cable modem, and never have.
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post #16 of 20
5/30/06 at 2:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarc
Ok, you were right, showoff.

Yeah, and I should slap myself for bragging about it, but I just... couldn't... stop ... myself.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarc
I'll see if I can do these tests.
I'd like to find a program that would actually conduct a speed test over my W/LAN. Will have to do some looking.

Not specifically for WLANs, but there are quite a few programs around for speed- and error-testing of networks. You should be able to find something decent.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarc
And for you last question. Given' that there are multiple users at this location, it is not feasable to plug directly into the cable modem, and never have.

OK, just occurred to me to check. Next thing that occurs to me, given the above statement. Are these multiple users all wifi? (Doesn't really matter if they're connecting to the same device, just whether there's lots of wifi in your location). If so, it may be you're all fighting out with each other. You might want to monitor noise levels on each wifi channel at the location(s) you use your laptop most for a good while, then decide on which channel is best, rather than just choosing a random channel or letting the WiFi hop around by itself.
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post #17 of 20
5/30/06 at 3:40am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by gweilo8888
OK, just occurred to me to check. Next thing that occurs to me, given the above statement. Are these multiple users all wifi? (Doesn't really matter if they're connecting to the same device, just whether there's lots of wifi in your location). If so, it may be you're all fighting out with each other. You might want to monitor noise levels on each wifi channel at the location(s) you use your laptop most for a good while, then decide on which channel is best, rather than just choosing a random channel or letting the WiFi hop around by itself.

I am the only one that uses the WiFi hardware on a regular basis, and these recent tests have been done with no other devices connected to the same SSID.

Hmmm... I wasn't under the impression that the WiFi router could dynamically change the channel it is broadcasting on. Given that it is hand selected in the web interface. ???
I have a specific number selected right now and have not seen any switches for turning on or off a dynamic mode.

Also, it just accurded to me. You had mentioned earlier that the bandwidth through the ethernet doesn't matter since the data doesn't travel through the router's wireless circuitry. All things being common, I would understand your point. But, I'm not sure if this explains why my desktop pulls just about as much bandwidth as the other desktop on the LAN.
My point... my desktop is connected to a access point that is wirelessly connected to the wireless router, so it in turn has to go through the wireless circuitry to get out to the internet.
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post #18 of 20
5/30/06 at 8:10am
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post #19 of 20
5/31/06 at 3:41am
Thread Starter 
Well, my laptop has been the only WiFi device on the WLAN when doing these tests.

And a quick search through Linksys' "Easy Answers" didn't bring anything up on the "Multi-Channel Roaming" either. ... Easy, hah!
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post #20 of 20
5/31/06 at 5:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarc
Well, my laptop has been the only WiFi device on the WLAN when doing these tests.

And a quick search through Linksys' "Easy Answers" didn't bring anything up on the "Multi-Channel Roaming" either. ... Easy, hah!

Doesn't matter if it is the only one on the WLAN, if there are a bunch of other wireless devices connected to other WLANs / each other in the vicinity, then you've got a lot of background noise to shout over.
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