Download speed

Linksys WRT54G WiFi router/access point.

Just upgraded my DSL bandwidth from 1.5Mbps to 3.0Mbps (down) and
512Kbps (up). I did a speed test on my notebook PC (Dell Inspiron -
Centrino Solo 1.8GHz with Intel 2200BG card). It shows downstream speed
of about 2.4Mbps and upstream of 412Kbps which are normal. However, when
I download a file from Microsoft site (XP SP2 for example), the transfer
rate can not go faster than 195Kbps/sec. When I use my desktop PC with
Linksys WUSB54G USB WiFi card, I can get 320Kbps/sec download rate. Any
idea why? Thanks.

Ron <(E-Mail Removed) m> hath wroth:

>Linksys WRT54G WiFi router/access point.
>
>Just upgraded my DSL bandwidth from 1.5Mbps to 3.0Mbps (down) and
>512Kbps (up). I did a speed test on my notebook PC (Dell Inspiron -
>Centrino Solo 1.8GHz with Intel 2200BG card). It shows downstream speed
>of about 2.4Mbps and upstream of 412Kbps which are normal. However, when
>I download a file from Microsoft site (XP SP2 for example), the transfer
>rate can not go faster than 195Kbps/sec. When I use my desktop PC with
>Linksys WUSB54G USB WiFi card, I can get 320Kbps/sec download rate. Any
>idea why? Thanks.

Sure. First, you're mixing bits and bytes. If you absolutely must
abrev. please use "b = bits" and "B= Bytes". Your test speeds are
probably 195KBytes/sec and 320KBytes/sec respectively. That's equal
to 1.56Mbits/sec and 2.56Mbits/sec.

Looking at your NNTP, I notice you're using Thunderbird. That implies
that you're also using Firefox for downloads. Firefox has a nasty bad
habit. It starts downloading immediately when you click on a file to
download. However, the indicated Bytes/sec starts when you click on
where to save the file. This results in unusually high indicated
download speeds, depending on how quickly you decide where to save the
file.

Also, I would not expect downloads from the MS site to run at the full
speed of your broadband connection. If you're going to use
downloading as a benchmark, use a file located on your ISP's servers,
with the fewest number of hops and delays between the server and your
computah.

If this is not what's happening, kindly disclose how you're measuring
these speeds. Also, try one of the benchmarking sites to see if there
are any problems:
http://nitro.ucsc.edu
Other NDT/Web100 sites are listed in the above web page.

Also, verify that you have the latest Proset drivers and utilities for
your Intel 2200BG card.
| http://www.intel.com/network/connect...t_software.htm
I find the Proset 10.x software to be MUCH better and more useful than
Windoze Wireless Zero Config. This probably has nothing to do with
the "problem" but might be useful.



--
Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed)
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

Jeff Liebermann wrote:

> Sure. First, you're mixing bits and bytes. If you absolutely must
> abrev. please use "b = bits" and "B= Bytes". Your test speeds are
> probably 195KBytes/sec and 320KBytes/sec respectively. That's equal
> to 1.56Mbits/sec and 2.56Mbits/sec.
>

Thanks for your reply, Jeff. Sorry for the (bits and bytes) mix-up. Yes,
you're correct, the downstream speed is equal to 1.56Mbps and 2.56Mbps
which is right about my broadband advertised speed (I know I would never
get 3Mbps downstream speed - 2.5 is about right).

> Looking at your NNTP, I notice you're using Thunderbird. That implies
> that you're also using Firefox for downloads. Firefox has a nasty bad
> habit. It starts downloading immediately when you click on a file to
> download. However, the indicated Bytes/sec starts when you click on
> where to save the file. This results in unusually high indicated
> download speeds, depending on how quickly you decide where to save the
> file.
>

Thanks again for that explanation. I do notice difference between IE and
firefox transfer rate. Yes, firefox does indicate higher transfer rate
than IE. I use both Firefox and IE (more firefox than IE). The download
speed posted earlier is taken from IE "Transfer Rate" (IIRC) statistics,
not from Firefox.

> Also, I would not expect downloads from the MS site to run at the full
> speed of your broadband connection. If you're going to use
> downloading as a benchmark, use a file located on your ISP's servers,
> with the fewest number of hops and delays between the server and your
> computah.
>

I do get greater than 300Kbps transfer rate with IE on my desktop PC
downloading WinXP SP2. My notebook PC, however, maxes out to somewhere
in the 190Kbps neighborhood. No, I don't download on both (desktop and
laptop) at the same time. I test each one at different time, a few
minutes apart. Tested it multiple times, I still get the same result...
fast DL on desktop and slow DL on laptop.

> If this is not what's happening, kindly disclose how you're measuring
> these speeds. Also, try one of the benchmarking sites to see if there
> are any problems:
> http://nitro.ucsc.edu
> Other NDT/Web100 sites are listed in the above web page.
>
> Also, verify that you have the latest Proset drivers and utilities for
> your Intel 2200BG card.
> | http://www.intel.com/network/connect...t_software.htm
> I find the Proset 10.x software to be MUCH better and more useful than
> Windoze Wireless Zero Config. This probably has nothing to do with
> the "problem" but might be useful.
>

I use http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/
Here's what is weird. On my laptop, speed test result shows 2,450Kbps
(down) which is right. But when downloading a file, I don't get
2450Kbps. Odd, isn't it? I will try the updated driver later.

On Mon, 11 Sep 2006 10:50:12 -0700, Ron
<(E-Mail Removed) m> wrote:

>(I know I would never
>get 3Mbps downstream speed - 2.5 is about right).

Some of my customers have have 3000/384 Kbit/sec DSL lines. I
typically see speeds of about 2500 Kbit/sec using the ISP's speed test
programs. I vaguely recall seeing 2700 once, but I don't recall what
I was doing to get it.

>I do notice difference between IE and
>firefox transfer rate. Yes, firefox does indicate higher transfer rate
>than IE.

If you need some entertainment, start a download with Firefox 1.5.0.6
and wait a while before hitting the "save" button. You'll get some
really impressive (and impossible) initial download speeds.
Eventually, if the file is large enough, it will produce realistic
download speeds.

>I do get greater than 300Kbps transfer rate with IE on my desktop PC
>downloading WinXP SP2. My notebook PC, however, maxes out to somewhere
>in the 190Kbps neighborhood. No, I don't download on both (desktop and
>laptop) at the same time.

Is there anyone else using your wireless? (i.e neighbors,
freeloaders, hackers, etc).

>I test each one at different time, a few
>minutes apart. Tested it multiple times, I still get the same result...
>fast DL on desktop and slow DL on laptop.

Dunno. I assume you have a nice strong signal to the laptop and that
you're not rediculously close to the wireless router.

Try downloading a file from the desktop, through the wireless, and to
the laptop. Do it in both directions. That will take the internet
out of the picture and perhaps offer a few clues. Also, try dragging
the laptop to another wireless router and see if the problem persists.

>I use http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/
>Here's what is weird. On my laptop, speed test result shows 2,450Kbps
>(down) which is right. But when downloading a file, I don't get
>2450Kbps. Odd, isn't it? I will try the updated driver later.

Is Speakeasy your DSL ISP? If yes, then it's probably the best test.
If not, you might be going through too many hops. Try running
traceroute to whatever machine is running their speedtest.

Well, if you were downloading the file from the same server as the
speed test server, I would expect the download speeds to be identical.
However, if your downloading is being done from a random server on the
internet, there are many opertunities for either the server or the
intermediate routers to slow you down. Most download sites limit the
download speeds to some maximum. Same with the number of download
connections per user IP address. With such a server, you would never
even approach your maximum possible speed.

Try IPerf between your desktop and laptop:
http://www.noc.ucf.edu/Tools/Iperf/
That will reduce the problem to just the wireless system. Make sure
the desktop is running with a 100baseTX connection to the wireless
router. With a 54Mbit/sec wireless connection to the laptop, you
should get something like 20-25Mbits/sec TCP speed to/from the desktop
to/from the laptop (with 802.11b compatibility turned off). If you
get that, then whatever is happening has nothing to do with the
wireless.

--
# Jeff Liebermann 150 Felker St #D Santa Cruz CA 95060
# 831-336-2558 (E-Mail Removed)
# http://802.11junk.com (E-Mail Removed)
# http://www.LearnByDestroying.com AE6KS