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Heres the setup.

We're getting broadband from Comcast. 8mb Down / 730 kbps UP. We have a Linksys Wireless router (Wireless G). My roommates PC is hardwired to the router (router & modem are in his room) and I'm connected to our network with a Linksys wireless USB adapter (also Wireless G).

We're in the midst of battling comcast about our service right now, but despite that my roommates speedtests come back around 6.8mb down. Mine however consistently show around 1.6mb down. My question is I was wondering if there is a default cap to the wireless on the router. Shouldn't I be getting the same results he is?

His laptop also gets around the same speeds as me, which leads me to believe it is the wireless.

Personally, I've always prefered to be hardwired. Just because I don't like the idea of floating data being interrupted by other signals (cellphones, etc...) It's just not an option to have a string of cat5 cable running through the apartment.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

distance, and whats in your walls that make the difference.

which model?

It's not surprising for wireless speed to be less than wired. But it depends on the speed of the router and the wireless card. If they're both 108Mbps then you should be doing better than you are. But if either one is 54Mbps then your speed isn't surprising (although not as good as it could be). Hopefully neither is 28Mbps...

And as fliptw said, try his laptop right next to the router and also wherever your PC sits to see if there's any multipath interference.

His laptop within the same room reports the same results as my PC. Which is almost directly on the other side of the wall from his room and the router.

Router Model is WRT54G. Yeah, looks like 54mbps

Is wireless that handicapped as compared to hardwired? and why?

Don't know what they used in this complex to insulate it. My guess is just standard fiberglass insulation if anything at all.

Tyranny wrote:His laptop within the same room reports the same results as my PC. Which is almost directly on the other side of the wall from his room and the router.

Router Model is WRT54G. Yeah, looks like 54mbps

its wireless. it has to push signal thru stuff.

by chance do you know what version that WRT54G is?

Version 6. I just got it like 3 months ago. Firmware is up to date.

unless you are both running G cards on the laptops the router will default to the lower speed of the 2 wireless devices

IE 1 B and 1 G,

Linksys does make routers with MIMO that work around that problem

His laptop isn't always on. Also I believe his laptop NIC is a Wireless G as well.