Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Performance Issue

Hello,

I have a new Dell E1505 with a Intel Core Duoprocessor T2500
(2MB/2GHz/667MHz), 2GB RAM, a 100 GB 7200 rpm drive. It has a Intel
PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Wireless Network adapter and I have installed the
proper Intel drivers and accompanying Intel Management utility. It
funtions: I am able to connect to my wireless access point (D-Link
802.11G) and there are no visible conflicts present in the Device
Manager. I can surf the Internet and connect to other machines on my
network.

Issue:
===================
If I run a bandwidth test, the download speed averages 1.7 Mbps with an
upload speed of 350 kbps. This approximately 1/3 the download
performance that my similarly equipped Dell D810 with 2.26 GHz, 2GB
RAM, 80GB 7200 rpm drive that has an Intel 2200 wireless adapter.

The test that I am using as a benchmark is located at:

http://www.internetfrog.com/myinternet/voip/

(Not sure if this is a good/valid benchmark test, if you can recommend
a better benchmark test or utility, please let me know)

I have tried using the Intel app/management utility to control the
wireless adapter vs. Windows on both machines and the performance is
the same on both machines regardless of the config.

I have enabled the "Enhanced Throughput" setting on both adapters.

Any advice or recommendations are much appreciated.

Thanks,

Josh Blair
Evergreen, CO

[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <(E-Mail Removed). com> on 4 May 2006
18:51:46 -0700, "josh" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Issue:
>===================
>If I run a bandwidth test, the download speed averages 1.7 Mbps with an
>upload speed of 350 kbps. This approximately 1/3 the download
>performance that my similarly equipped Dell D810 with 2.26 GHz, 2GB
>RAM, 80GB 7200 rpm drive that has an Intel 2200 wireless adapter.

Just out of curiosity, why would this concern you? Even 1.7 Mbps is faster
than most of the things you'll encounter on the Internet.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR ALT.INTERNET.WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FAQ_for_alt.internet.wireless>

"John Navas" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:YEy6g.27112$(E-Mail Removed)...
> [POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]
>
> In <(E-Mail Removed). com> on 4 May 2006
> 18:51:46 -0700, "josh" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Issue:
>>===================
>>If I run a bandwidth test, the download speed averages 1.7 Mbps with an
>>upload speed of 350 kbps. This approximately 1/3 the download
>>performance that my similarly equipped Dell D810 with 2.26 GHz, 2GB
>>RAM, 80GB 7200 rpm drive that has an Intel 2200 wireless adapter.
>
> Just out of curiosity, why would this concern you? Even 1.7 Mbps is
> faster
> than most of the things you'll encounter on the Internet.
>
> --
> Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR ALT.INTERNET.WIRELESS AT
> John Navas
> <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FAQ_for_alt.internet.wireless>


Not sure what Internet you're using, but I frequently blow through 1.7mpbs.
My connection is a solid 8mbps and I max it out on downloads all the time!

Tom

I do want the speed...but it doesn't sit well with me to spend a bundle
on a fast box and have it noticeably slower than my other, older box.
Both sitting side-by-side, similar specs and the new one is way
slower...

[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <GQy6g.13308$%(E-Mail Removed)> on Fri, 05 May 2006 02:34:14
GMT, "Tom Scales" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>"John Navas" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>news:YEy6g.27112$(E-Mail Removed)...

>> Just out of curiosity, why would this concern you? Even 1.7 Mbps is
>> faster
>> than most of the things you'll encounter on the Internet.

>Not sure what Internet you're using, but I frequently blow through 1.7mpbs.
>My connection is a solid 8mbps and I max it out on downloads all the time!

I'm guessing BitTorrent? What content would that be?

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR ALT.INTERNET.WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FAQ_for_alt.internet.wireless>

I work over a VPN and connect to my company's network all day long.
They have a few Internet connections, not sure what they are but they
are fast. Also, for other Internet downloads, OS patches, software
installation packages, ISO images from MSDN, etc.

I tried updating the firmware on my D-LINK router and changing the
channel but still no improvement.

One thing that might be causing the slowness is the compatibility (or
lack there of) with the wireless access point (or its configuration).

I tried disabling the Turbo G option incase the Intel 3945 wireless
adapter isn't compatible but still no improvement. Any ideas?

It is a D-Link DI-624 rev c that has a Turbo G:

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=6&sec=1

I also updated the firmware to:

Firmware 2.53
================
- For DI-624_revC3 only.
- The Static-Turbo mode option has been removed to conform with Wi-Fi
Alliance certification requirements. All future firmware releases for
this product will no longer feature this mode of operation.
- 7/22/2005

I can't tell if the newer version is compatible with my router:

Firmware 2.70
===============
- Support for JumpStart.
- Support for WMM.
- Improves performance.
- Xbox Live compatible
- 8/31/2005

Does anyone know?

Thanks,

Josh

Josh,

Have you tried the 10.1.1.1 Intel Proset update for your 3945ABG?
http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scri...ProductID=2259

If not, do please post back with your findings.

Regards,

Aaron

---

~ Hello,
~
~ I have a new Dell E1505 with a Intel Core Duoprocessor T2500
~ (2MB/2GHz/667MHz), 2GB RAM, a 100 GB 7200 rpm drive. It has a Intel
~ PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Wireless Network adapter and I have installed the
~ proper Intel drivers and accompanying Intel Management utility. It
~ funtions: I am able to connect to my wireless access point (D-Link
~ 802.11G) and there are no visible conflicts present in the Device
~ Manager. I can surf the Internet and connect to other machines on my
~ network.
~
~ Issue:
~ ===================
~ If I run a bandwidth test, the download speed averages 1.7 Mbps with an
~ upload speed of 350 kbps. This approximately 1/3 the download
~ performance that my similarly equipped Dell D810 with 2.26 GHz, 2GB
~ RAM, 80GB 7200 rpm drive that has an Intel 2200 wireless adapter.
~
~ The test that I am using as a benchmark is located at:
~
~ http://www.internetfrog.com/myinternet/voip/
~
~ (Not sure if this is a good/valid benchmark test, if you can recommend
~ a better benchmark test or utility, please let me know)
~
~ I have tried using the Intel app/management utility to control the
~ wireless adapter vs. Windows on both machines and the performance is
~ the same on both machines regardless of the config.
~
~ I have enabled the "Enhanced Throughput" setting on both adapters.
~
~ Any advice or recommendations are much appreciated.
~
~ Thanks,
~
~ Josh Blair
~ Evergreen, CO

josh wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have a new Dell E1505 with a Intel Core Duoprocessor T2500
> (2MB/2GHz/667MHz), 2GB RAM, a 100 GB 7200 rpm drive. It has a Intel
> PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Wireless Network adapter and I have installed the
> proper Intel drivers and accompanying Intel Management utility. It
> funtions: I am able to connect to my wireless access point (D-Link
> 802.11G) and there are no visible conflicts present in the Device
> Manager. I can surf the Internet and connect to other machines on my
> network.
>
> Issue:
> ===================
> If I run a bandwidth test, the download speed averages 1.7 Mbps with an
> upload speed of 350 kbps. This approximately 1/3 the download
> performance that my similarly equipped Dell D810 with 2.26 GHz, 2GB
> RAM, 80GB 7200 rpm drive that has an Intel 2200 wireless adapter.
>
> The test that I am using as a benchmark is located at:
>
> http://www.internetfrog.com/myinternet/voip/
>
> (Not sure if this is a good/valid benchmark test, if you can recommend
> a better benchmark test or utility, please let me know)
>
> I have tried using the Intel app/management utility to control the
> wireless adapter vs. Windows on both machines and the performance is
> the same on both machines regardless of the config.
>
> I have enabled the "Enhanced Throughput" setting on both adapters.
>
> Any advice or recommendations are much appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Josh Blair
> Evergreen, CO
>

Go to www.dslreports.com, select the Tools menu, and run the Tweak test.
The problem with a new computer, fresh OS, is that the TCP recieve
window RWIN is set far too small for your connection. You can use DrTCP
from that site to make the change.

Q

Aaron,

I missed your message and just noticed it. Thanks for the tip. I did
just install the ProSet update 10.1.1.1. It didn't seem to matter much
in my initial testing. I did go into the properties of that adapter
and noiticed that by updating the ProSet driver, some of the settings
revert back to the default. What I was intersted in is the Enhanced
THroughput setting, and it was defaulted back to diabled. I enabled
it. No real noticable difference. Then on a whim, I changed another
setting: Wireless Mode, from the default of A, B, & G to "G only".
This seemed to make a huge difference in the reliability/connectivity
but didn't seem to help with increasing the throughput (internet
thoughput tests).

One issue I was fighting with tonight is when I mapped a drive to
another machine using a NET USE command, I could eventually get it to
map but not always the first time. Also, if I did a continuous ping
"ping -t" to with the wireless router or another machine on the
network, I would see significant loss, maybe 15% for 100 pings. Once I
changed the "Wireless Mode" setting to "G Only", this seemed to be
resolved completely.

Any insight as to what that might mean? Are the defaults in the ProSet
that bad/off?

What other tests can I run to verify that things are setup optimally?

Thanks agian for your info and time,

Josh Blair
Evergreen, CO