Korean Job Discussion Forums

camaroclow · Joined: 10 Apr 2008

Hi techies. I have a Linksys wireless-G 2.4 ghz router. Our internet speeds have been quite slow lately so we called our provider and they sent a rep over to check it out. We have the highest tier net (100 Mb/s). On speedtest.net on both machines it is about 16 Mb/s down and 1 Mb/s up. I use a new macbook pro and I have a hackintosh desktop, both using snow leopard. The macbook is running wireless and the hackintosh is direct into the motherboard. I have read on some forums where people are complaining that snow leopard is slowing down their internet speeds so this might be part of the culprit. The rep said that because I am using a wireless router, it is cutting my speeds in half! Is there any truth to this. If so, can anyone recommend a better router that will offer better speeds because I don't want to connect direct from the cable modem as I want wireless access as well. Thanks for the help!

Juregen · Joined: 30 May 2006

The wireless itself does cut the actually download speed.

I think it's even 1/10th of the total capabilty

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Wifi will cut download speed. If you plug directly into the back of the router, you'll get a higher data rate -- I think it could be full speed, but not sure. Your router will say.

The further you are away from the wifi router, the lower the speed will be. Another router close to yours on the same channel can make a difference, too. You can hover your mouse over the windows wifi signal icon in the lower right of your screen and it'll tell you what speed you're connecting at. For example, I connect at 54Mbps. In the other bedroom, it's about half that. As far as internet speed goes, however, the download/upload rate is what matters. Do a test here with and without the wifi:

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

One way to test the guy's theory is to not use the router at all and run some speed tests. Also, there are some wifi routers that, when interacting with two different computers of different signals (for example, G and N), will dumb-down to the slowest speed of the two and transmit like that. I believe ours does that.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

Also, consumer level routers are not meant to route a large amount of data. Even with the WRTDD firmware on my dlink router, I still get about 80% of the thoroughout of my bandwidth with I'm jacked into the router, as opposed to being connected directly into the modem.

So, the convenience of using a router means you are going to take a small hit to the speeds. If you add wireless to that, then the speeds will be lower.

See how fast the internet is when you plug it directly into your computer, as opposed to using the router. You'll probably notice a big difference.

The only way to solve that problem is to buy an expensive router with better hardware to handle the thoroughput. With routers, you get what you pay for.

camaroclow · Joined: 10 Apr 2008

Thanks a lot for the input. Greatly appreciated.

I have come to the conclusion that I need to upgrade to a wireless N router. Can anyone recommend a decent router that they currently use and purchased here in Korea. I have checked Danawa and GMarket and there are a few around the 50 000 won range then the price seems to jump really high to the mid 100s and around 200. Is the price jump justified in performance for some like myself who basically just downloads constantly. Thanks!