Wireless router question?

Question

I hooked up a Linksys 2.4 GHz (802.11g) broadband router up to an X-box 360 and a Wii. Ever since my computer seems to be running at a snails pace. Is it the router and is there a way to speed it up? Do they make more powerful routers. I'm barely computer literate, so I don't know a whole lot about this stuff.

Thanks

Answer 1

Let me start by explaining how a router and internet-sharing works...your modem connects to the router and then the router "splits" the connection to all your computers (or computer, wii, and xbox).  Think of it like splitting a garden hose - there's only so much water whether it's used by one thing or many.  It is not really slower, it just *feels* slower because you're sharing the same amount of speed to many things.

If you only have one of those turned on (say only the computer) it'll get the full speed.  If you have everything running at once (playing online games, surfing the web, etc) it'll have to share the same amount of internet connection to more things making it feel slower.

To check your internet connection speed, go to http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest

Don't fall for the trick of getting a "faster" or "better" router to make the internet faster - the slowest link is usually your modem (the contract you have with your ISP usually specifies a certain maximum speed for what you pay) and there's nothing you can plug in to make that faster.  The only way to get a faster connection is contacting your ISP and requesting a higher/faster plan or getting a different provider that offers a faster connection.

Most residential connections run at 1-5Mbps and the cheapest older wireless routers run at 11Mbps - twice what the internet is...newer 'cheap' ones (wireless G) run at 54Mbps - nearly 10 times faster than they need to for internet.  Getting a wireless N router (108Mbps) is just a waste of money unless you plan to run your own home-network and share files.

Answer 2

Q.: Ever since my computer seems to be running at a snails pace.

A.: it maybe that your Xbox and Wii or both are eating up your bandwidth, so you'll understand imagine a freeway with 3 lanes capability, once you fill all of them you can't expect to run as fast and freely all over the freeway, that's bandwidth, and Xbox and Wiii will use a LOT of it so you can play your games, add that to your computer and you got a bottle neck.

Is it the router and is there a way to speed it up?

there is no way to speed it up just, if you want to use your computer avoid playing games at the same time, it will be a good idea to turn off your game devices, try it you will see it will speed up your internet.

Do they make more powerful routers.

it is not the router, but you can add more bandwidth to your DSL, check with your provider and see if you can go to the next level, Verizon has FIOS, or Cable, that's really fast, but the more bandwidth you have the more expensive will be.

Answer 3

what kind of internet conection dou you have dsl or cable if dsl than of corse your computer will run slow. you have to remember your router divides the internet. if your wii and 360 are running everything will go slower

Answer 4

try hooking to just one:either the x-box or the wii. C if that helps

Answer 5

Do you mean your running your computer at the same time others are playing on xbox.

Routers are designed to run one thing at a time not the whole house full unless you attach a booster to it

Answer 6

connect it to your computer instead.