Wireless router speed?

Question

often times I will be on the internet and my internet speed will drop to 11 Mpbs or lower for no reason, and i am in good range of the router with my laptop. Why does this happen?

Answer 1

Interference from any of the zillions of things that can mess up a wireless signal - movement, walls, microwave ovens, cordless phones, other wireless access points.................

The weak point in your Internet connection is from the router to the service provider, not the wireless connection from laptop to router.  Odds are your Internet connection isn't any faster than 3Mbps at the most.

Answer 2

possible interference from other sources like microwave, wireless handsets etc.

Answer 3

Speed drops on Wifi are often caused by interference by cordless phones, or somebody else's WiFi network operating on the same channel as yours.

Answer 4

Maybe because of the router quality

or it could be that other wireless customers are interfering with your network

Answer 5

It's due to range, interference, or even power-saver on some computers.

<rant>

This isn't really the internet speed, just the speed your computer is talking to the router.  You won't really loose any speed unless you have some sort of super-high speed internet connection, the average home is only 1-5Mbps.  I get very frusterated when I see stores try to sell a 100+Mbps wireless router to someone who wants to hook it up to their DSL or residential Cable modem for internet.  It's a complete waste of money if they aren't setting up file-sharing...

</rant>

To check the internet speed, go to http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest and it will tell you.

To make sure you aren't loosing speed go to that site when you're right next to the router and it's reading it's highest (probably 54 if you say it's dropping to 11).  As long as your wireless connection is faster than what your internet connection is it won't matter.  To proove this, just check that site again when it says the connection is only 11Mbps.

If it still bothers you (yeah, I'd do this too) try changing the wireless channel on your router or relocating it higher up, away from computers, TVs, and metal/electrical stuff.  Make sure it's in a central location too.  Channels 1, 6, and 11 are the best.

Answer 6

-Frequency interference

-Poor quality router

-ISP