Wireless Connection Speed Degradation despite of Strong Signal Strength

I am using a D-Link Wireless Router DI-624 for connecting two Win XP Pro PCs to
internet via wireless. I am on RCN cable connection and the said arrangement
has been working well for two years.

Lately I have started noticing that the wireless Network connection speed (seen
by right clicking the wireless network icon in the task bar) randomly goes down
from a normal of 11Mbps to 1 or 2Mbs or somewhere around that and it becomes
impossible to surf or check the email. Even though the wireless signal strength
remains very good to excellent through out.

Then after a variable period of time (30 minutes to several hours), the speed
returns to 11Mbps and surfing becomes normal again. During this time when the
wireless network speed goes down, one PC (3rd PC) that is wired to the router
shows normal network speed of 100Mbps and surfing on it remains possible though
moderately slower than under normal conditions.

I have ruled out any problem with the wireless adapters in the affected PCs. The
only other possibility that comes to mind is erratic router functionality. I am
not sure if any problem on the ISP side cause this problem too.

Any help, explanation of the phenomenon and possible trouble shooting hints
would be greatly appreciated.

Matt

check for interference from things like cordless phones, microwaves, or
other wireless networks that are closer to the machine having trouble than
the other one that stays working.

"Netman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I am using a D-Link Wireless Router DI-624 for connecting two Win XP Pro
>PCs to
> internet via wireless. I am on RCN cable connection and the said
> arrangement
> has been working well for two years.
>
> Lately I have started noticing that the wireless Network connection speed
> (seen
> by right clicking the wireless network icon in the task bar) randomly goes
> down
> from a normal of 11Mbps to 1 or 2Mbs or somewhere around that and it
> becomes
> impossible to surf or check the email. Even though the wireless signal
> strength
> remains very good to excellent through out.
>
> Then after a variable period of time (30 minutes to several hours), the
> speed
> returns to 11Mbps and surfing becomes normal again. During this time when
> the
> wireless network speed goes down, one PC (3rd PC) that is wired to the
> router
> shows normal network speed of 100Mbps and surfing on it remains possible
> though
> moderately slower than under normal conditions.
>
> I have ruled out any problem with the wireless adapters in the affected
> PCs. The
> only other possibility that comes to mind is erratic router functionality.
> I am
> not sure if any problem on the ISP side cause this problem too.
>
> Any help, explanation of the phenomenon and possible trouble shooting
> hints
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Matt

I concur re. checking for interference. Also, do you leave the router on
all the time? I've seen this problem specifically with the DI-624 (and some
other home grade w/routers) where an occasional power off/on reset resolves
it.
--

"Netman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I am using a D-Link Wireless Router DI-624 for connecting two Win XP Pro
>PCs to
> internet via wireless. I am on RCN cable connection and the said
> arrangement
> has been working well for two years.
>
> Lately I have started noticing that the wireless Network connection speed
> (seen
> by right clicking the wireless network icon in the task bar) randomly goes
> down
> from a normal of 11Mbps to 1 or 2Mbs or somewhere around that and it
> becomes
> impossible to surf or check the email. Even though the wireless signal
> strength
> remains very good to excellent through out.
>
> Then after a variable period of time (30 minutes to several hours), the
> speed
> returns to 11Mbps and surfing becomes normal again. During this time when
> the
> wireless network speed goes down, one PC (3rd PC) that is wired to the
> router
> shows normal network speed of 100Mbps and surfing on it remains possible
> though
> moderately slower than under normal conditions.
>
> I have ruled out any problem with the wireless adapters in the affected
> PCs. The
> only other possibility that comes to mind is erratic router functionality.
> I am
> not sure if any problem on the ISP side cause this problem too.
>
> Any help, explanation of the phenomenon and possible trouble shooting
> hints
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Matt

My router is on all the time, when this problem started occurring, I did power
cycle the router but it did not make any difference. As far as the sources of
interference, I do not have wireless keyboard or mouse. Cordless phones I do
have and I also have X10 wireless switches for my bracket fan and the ceiling
light fixture, but all these things co-existed for at least two years before the
problem started occurring. There is no other obvious source of wireless signal
other than electric company wireless network on the power line pole near me that
they are using for residential broadband service, I can see at least two of
their networks with the signal strength matching my own.

Will the cordless phones interfere with network only when in use or they would
do so even otherwise ?

Will changing the channel on the router or using WEP make any difference?

Will switching D-Link DI-624 with a Belkin Wireless Router WGB-511 likely to
make any difference?

Thanks

Matt

================================================== ===========



On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:51:36 -0400, "GTS" <x> wrote:

|I concur re. checking for interference. Also, do you leave the router on
|all the time? I've seen this problem specifically with the DI-624 (and some
|other home grade w/routers) where an occasional power off/on reset resolves
|it.

Changing the channel is well worth a try if there are other strong WAPs in
range. Note that the only 3 completely separate channels are 1, 6, and 11.
--

"Netman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> My router is on all the time, when this problem started occurring, I did
> power
> cycle the router but it did not make any difference. As far as the
> sources of
> interference, I do not have wireless keyboard or mouse. Cordless phones I
> do
> have and I also have X10 wireless switches for my bracket fan and the
> ceiling
> light fixture, but all these things co-existed for at least two years
> before the
> problem started occurring. There is no other obvious source of wireless
> signal
> other than electric company wireless network on the power line pole near
> me that
> they are using for residential broadband service, I can see at least two
> of
> their networks with the signal strength matching my own.
>
> Will the cordless phones interfere with network only when in use or they
> would
> do so even otherwise ?
>
> Will changing the channel on the router or using WEP make any difference?
>
> Will switching D-Link DI-624 with a Belkin Wireless Router WGB-511 likely
> to
> make any difference?
>
> Thanks
>
> Matt
>
> ================================================== ===========
>
>
>
> On Fri, 28 Oct 2005 15:51:36 -0400, "GTS" <x> wrote:
>
> |I concur re. checking for interference. Also, do you leave the router on
> |all the time? I've seen this problem specifically with the DI-624 (and
> some
> |other home grade w/routers) where an occasional power off/on reset
> resolves
> |it.