Internet speed problems.

[Phyrexial]

I don't know why, but in the past two days I noticed a huge drop in internet speed. I'm on a cable modem (via a wireless connection) and I average 3 or more mb/s but I recently did a check on my speed since I noticed significant lag during games and stuff and it turns out I'm clocking in at 170 kb/s. I checked on the computer upstairs that is connected via ethernet cable to the router and its still getting the usual 3 mb/s. I don't think the problem is my wireless connection either because the monitor tells me that my connection is at 90% strength and quality (read: excellent) and I know I've gotten much better performance even as low as 50%.

I've run Norton and Spybot so far. Norton picked up something called Adware.binet or something like that. I got rid of it to the best of my knowledge. I've also checked MS Config to see if I have any weird stuff starting up and I googled literally everything listed as running in the Task Manager. No luck, nothing malicious.

[death]

I don't know why, but in the past two days I noticed a huge drop in internet speed. I'm on a cable modem (via a wireless connection) and I average 3 or more mb/s but I recently did a check on my speed since I noticed significant lag during games and stuff and it turns out I'm clocking in at 170 kb/s. I checked on the computer upstairs that is connected via ethernet cable to the router and its still getting the usual 3 mb/s. I don't think the problem is my wireless connection either because the monitor tells me that my connection is at 90% strength and quality (read: excellent) and I know I've gotten much better performance even as low as 50%.


Is this B or G wireless? AFAIK there should only be about a 5-10ms lag increase when using wireless but your download bandwidth will take a big hit compared to using a wired connection (especially if it's B). From what you said it looks like a wireless problem if you're pinging fine with your desktop that isnt using wireless.

[Phyrexial]

Yeah, it is B. However, I'm sure that the speed was faster (much faster) before using the exact same setup.

So far I've run number of scans (Panda Activescan, Norton, Spybot, Adaware, Hijack This, etc) and I've actually discovered a couple little things here and there. Most were benign but I had them removed anyway. Speed is still clocking in around 130-170 kb/s as opposed to the 2 computers upstairs that are connected directly which clock in at 3 mb/s (desktop) and 1.5 mb/s (laptop). Now, maybe I'm missing something but shouldn't the laptop and desktop clock in at the same speed? Neither is connected via wireless and are connected in the same way via ethernet cable. I ran speed checks at various times and a couple times each check to make sure, but the laptop so far hasn't ever gotten over 1.5 or so and the desktop ranges from 1.5 - 3.

I'm thinking of bringing my desktop upstairs and plugging it in directly just to see if the problem lies in the wireless connection, but I doubt it unless somehow some settings on the router got changed that are messing with the speeds.

[denkin]

someone is stealing your bandwidth via blue tooth

[Alan]

i run off of G through one floor...and its very spotty. Some days its as if i have an ethernet cable running up to my room, others i have modem speed and several dropped connections.

[Phyrexial]

Just went through the router settings, 1 freaking setting was off and that was causing the problems apparently. Its been like that for weeks but had no effect until now. Switched something called "Basic Rate" back to default.

[VeryGnawty]

Make sure your network is secure, or you may get leeches. Hell, I've been leeching someone's wireless connection for months, and they still haven't noticed.

[Revenant]

Yeah, it's scary how many people just plug it in and have an "it works, leave it" attitude... :eek:

[Phyrexial]

I'm clearly not very knowledgeable about networking, wireless, etc stuff so could someone give me a brief explanation as to what the "Basic Rates" variable is?

I noticed a speed decrease similar to the last time, so I checked the router settings again. It was still on the default that I switched it back to the last time so I figured all should be well. By default it is set to 1-2 mbps. Anyway, I decided to switch it to the other option (1-2-5.5-11 mbps) and see what happens. Oddly enough, the speed is now back to normal. It seems like neither setting is the ideal setting, rather whenever the speed drops I just switch it.