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[gkamieneski]

I just installed a DIR-601 cascaded with a WiFi G Netgear router.  The D-Link is handling DHCP.  I am having varying degrees of success with the WiFi signal.  One XP laptop gets anything between 80Mbps and 150Mbps (can change while sitting in the same location), while another Win7 netbook does slightly worse.  My Son's MacBook Pro never seems to do any better than 72Mbps.

I dedicated the D-Link to 802.11N and only allow these 3 devices to connect to it as N devices.  All other WiFi devices are G and use the Netgear G router.  I am using WPA2-Personal/AES and Auto bandwidth (40 does not seem to be a choice).

Didn't experience such performance fluctuations with the Netgear G router.  Does this behavior make sense and is there anything that I can do?

[FurryNutz]

Are wifi adapter drivers updated for all supported n devices?

Some things to try:
Ensure DNS IP addresses are being filled in under Setup/Internet/Manual? You can find these under Status/Device Info/Wan section.
Turn off ALL QoS (DIR only) GameFuel (DGL only and if ON.) options. Advanced/QoS or Gamefuel.
Turn off Advanced DNS Services if you have this option under Setup/Internet/Manual.
Turn on DNS Relay under Setup/Networking.
Setup DHCP reserved IP addresses for all devices on the router. Setup/Networking
Ensure devices are set to auto obtain an IP address.
Set Firewall settings to Endpoint Independent for TCP and UDP.

What wireless modes are you using?
Try single mode N?
What security mode are you using? Preferred security is WPA-Personal. WPA2/ AES only however some devices don't support AES.
Any cordless house phones?
Any other WiFi routers in the area? Use InSSIDer to find out.
Turn off Short GI and Extra Wireless Protection if you have it. Under Advanced/Advanced Wireless.

Turn off all anti virus and firewall programs on PC while testing. 3rd party firewalls are not generally needed when using routers as they are effective on blocking malicious inbound traffic.
Turn off all devices accept for one wired PC while testing.

[gkamieneski]

I guess I am reluctant to accept that these changes can impact the large fluctuations in speed that I am seeing with this router.  I watch it go from 90Mbps to 54Mbps to 108Mbps to 60Mbps while sitting here.  I am rather thinking that the router could be defective.

There also is no choice to set the channel width to 40Mhz.  There is only the choice for 20Mhz or Auto 20/40Mhz.

[FurryNutz]

I highly doubt this router is defective.

Have you tired some of the suggestions for configuring wireless for testing? If you don't need B mode then theres no need to be broadcasting it if your not using it. Use onlly the modes that your devices highest mode supports.

Many factors can contribute to the performance and operation of Wireless, such as external interferences, cordless phones operating on the same frequencies be it yours or our neighbors, other near by wifi routers in the area, congestion of wifi routers near by is becoming more prevalent with more and more people buy them. Channels are being used up.

You can do speed tests over wireless however know that results of wireless testing is not accurate due to the affor mentioned statement. Speed testing should always be done via wired.

The suggestions are that, suggestions for troubleshooting and so we can gather a better idea if your system and so we can formulate a better idea of what you have so we can give better feedback and troubleshoot the problem. If you can't help us then I'll recommend you contact D-Link support. We're here to help you, so help us help you.

[gkamieneski]

Thanks, Furry.

I am running N only, but I am surprised as there is no choice to run 40Mhz channel width only.  I have a nearby G router servicing my G devices but that runs channel 11 while this router channel 6.  I have Dect 6.0 phones, but they should be of no impact.  Running WPA2/AES and most IPs are reserved, but I don't want to reserve all.

Just don't understand the fluctuating speed.  Never had this issue with G.

[FurryNutz]

Some of these routers are low end routers and D-Link probably figured that most devices out there don't support 40Mhz channel width. Most 40Mhz devices are found in dedicated wireless adapters like PCI cards and some internal WIFI cards. Some higher grade routers do. Like the DGL-4500. The DIR-825 however doesn't, just Auto 20/40. I presume that with most devices not using 40Mhz has an option, so D-Link might have just use Auto 20/40 as an option.

Are your drivers up to date for the wireless adapters that your using?
if your really want 40Mhz as an option, might find a router that has that if you really need it.
I think you can also try to change the wifi adapter settings too, some have a 20 or 40Mhz setting.

Devices connecting to the router should be connecting at the prescribed speeds, i.e. connection speeds, the actual file xfer speeds or speed tests are not the same. N only should be getting 65, 130-170Mb connections, G only is 54Mb or less.  

Another consideration is who's all on our ISP network in your area too. Cable internet systems can be effected by this in neighborhoods with more people using the same network at the same time. Why I would run some wired speeds tests to see if your seeing any flucuations there too.

[gkamieneski]

My only reason for mentioning the 40Mhz is that it is discussed in the router's doc, but not available.  Also, I am not speaking of my overall internet speeds, solely connectivity speeds between WiFi devices and the N router.  Right now, my adapter reports 54Mbps and a few seconds ago it was 5.5Mbps.  Always at "Very Good" signal strength (now reporting 13Mbps).

Never seen such variance.

[FurryNutz]

How far are you away from the router?
Any other neighbors running routers?

[gkamieneski]

Router is on the 2nd floor, center of a 2-story colonial.  Certainly, there are many routers in the neighborhood.  I can go up to the desk just next to the router with a MacBook Pro and only get 72Mbps.

[FurryNutz]

Were seeing congestion problems with having other routers in the neighborhood.

Use that InSSIDer application to see what channels are being used and see if there maybe an open channel.

[gkamieneski]

InSSIDer shows me bridging channels, 2 + 6 while others nearby are bridging 1 + 5.  I see other "N" networks using a single channel.  How can I do so?  thx

[gkamieneski]

When using InSSIDer's Time Graph I cannot help but notice that my 150N signal is up and down +/- 5db over time.  It looks like a polygraph while the line for my other router (Netgear G) stays flat as does the other routers in the immediate neighborhood.  These others are mainly 450N and 144N routers.  The graph for my N150 router seems to represent well my experience of fluctuating speeds.

[FurryNutz]

What Hardware version is your router? Look at sticker under router.
What Firmware version is currently loaded? Found on routers web page under status.

[gkamieneski]

D-Link DIR-601.  Hardware version is A1 while the Firmware is at 102NA.  thx

[FurryNutz]

I would do this, reload the FW v1.02 using the process outlined in the FW update sticky and test and see if you seeing the fluctuation in connection speeds.

I would also take this router to a friend or families place with internet and see if the same thing is tracking.

I believe your problem either has to do with external interferences or the unit is possibly defective.