why desktop wireless slower than laptop wireless?

delirium330 · 04-13-2009, 10:55 AM

so i have a laptop connected to my wireless network via a Microsoft MN-700 G router and the internet is pretty fast. i recently built a desktop and because of the placement, went with an internal wireless card instead of direct cat5 connection:

Newegg.com - Rosewill RNX-N300 IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wireless-N 2.0 PCI (1T2R) Up to 150Mbps Data Rates/ WPA/WPA2 (AES, 64,128-WEP with shared-key authentication) Cisco CCS V1.0, V2.0 and V3.0 compliant/ Vista Ready - W

however, the inet on the desktop is less than half the speed of the laptop. i havent test the speeds to be exact, but it is considerably slower just surfing around. the rosewill card came with some software via RaLink I think...is there a setting i am missing?

any thoughts/suggestions?

SparkMonkeyHellion · 04-13-2009, 12:14 PM

2 distinct possibilities -

1) signal strength and/or interference. Is there a microwave or something near your desktop? Does your laptop slow down as well if it is in the same location as the desktop? Also check the antennae on the desktop wlan card.

2) there is too much crap on your desktop and/or it needs to be "tuned up". I recommend running CCleaner to try and clean it up.

delirium330 · 04-13-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparkMonkeyHellion

2 distinct possibilities -

1) signal strength and/or interference. Is there a microwave or something near your desktop? Does your laptop slow down as well if it is in the same location as the desktop? Also check the antennae on the desktop wlan card.

2) there is too much crap on your desktop and/or it needs to be "tuned up". I recommend running CCleaner to try and clean it up.

hey, thanks.

1 - there is a microwave actually that sits about 5 feet away from the tower. we are getting about a 60% signal strength. the laptop in the same place still surfs a lot faster.

2 - there isnt any crap on it, we just built it about 2 weeks ago and its extremely fast within itself. stupid inet is just slow. i just dont understand why the laptop would be surfing at what looks like double the speed, triple maybe.

snowsurfer · 04-13-2009, 01:42 PM

There is also the (distinct) possibility that the wireless chipset on your laptop just works better with whatever your access point is fitted with, and that your desktop in the same position, but connected to a different AP would be faster. I've seen it happen on many of the wi-fi networks I've set up or used, especially in the early days of the a/b/g "standard".

Microwaves are not convenient, and 2.4GHz devices (DECT phones, some RC control items, etc.) are just about the worst kind of stuff you can have around your wireless equipment.

SparkMonkeyHellion · 04-13-2009, 01:58 PM

Oh yeah... how old is your WAP?

delirium330 · 04-13-2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparkMonkeyHellion

Oh yeah... how old is your WAP?

not sure what all is included in that. we did reset the router to spec and set it up all over again. we removed the desktop card software and the card and reinstalled.

SparkMonkeyHellion · 04-13-2009, 02:35 PM

I mean how old is the router.

delirium330 · 04-13-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparkMonkeyHellion

I mean how old is the router.

its old. MN-700 purchased in like 2002 or so.

SparkMonkeyHellion · 04-13-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delirium330

its old. MN-700 purchased in like 2002 or so.

That could definitely contribute to conflicts with newer hardware.

You could order a new router and see if that helps out (or an older wireless NIC) and if that doesn't help then just send it back...

delirium330 · 04-13-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SparkMonkeyHellion

That could definitely contribute to conflicts with newer hardware.

You could order a new router and see if that helps out (or an older wireless NIC) and if that doesn't help then just send it back...

yea, thought about going with a new linksys N router, since the card is N compatible. not sure if my inet speed can even hit that cuz we have a lower end package.

just so strange that the laptop is fine but desktop is slow...but sounds like everyone here has some good thoughts on it.

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