Slow wireless speed with XPS8100

I did some searching, but did not find the exact problem with the same equipment.
I am using a Dell XPS 8100 with a Atheros DW1525 wireless adapter. I have gone through 3 windows reinstalls at the recommendation of Dell Tech support. I have had an on site tech bring a new adapter to correct the problem. My router is a Netgear Wireless N and have no difficulty in getting 5 to 6 mb/sec on my small laptop located next to my 8100, but I usually only get a max of 3 mb/sec on the 8100 and much of the time I only get 1mb/sec or less. I use Speedtest.net to evaluate. Upload speed is normal at each test. When the tech was here, he had me boot in safe mode with networking and got almost 10 mb, but now even safe mode produces no more than 2 to 3 mb. I have the latest driver installed. I did take a snapshot of my system with Black Box if anyone wants to look at it and comment.

rwolfe03 said:

I did some searching, but did not find the exact problem with the same equipment.
I am using a Dell XPS 8100 with a Atheros DW1525 wireless adapter. I have gone through 3 windows reinstalls at the recommendation of Dell Tech support. I have had an on site tech bring a new adapter to correct the problem. My router is a Netgear Wireless N and have no difficulty in getting 5 to 6 mb/sec on my small laptop located next to my 8100, but I usually only get a max of 3 mb/sec on the 8100 and much of the time I only get 1mb/sec or less. I use Speedtest.net to evaluate. Upload speed is normal at each test. When the tech was here, he had me boot in safe mode with networking and got almost 10 mb, but now even safe mode produces no more than 2 to 3 mb. I have the latest driver installed. I did take a snapshot of my system with Black Box if anyone wants to look at it and comment.

Are you using "homegroup" for networking?

Wirefirewall and av are you using?

What is the speed when you connect wired (if you can)


Ken

zigzag3143 said:

rwolfe03 said:

I did some searching, but did not find the exact problem with the same equipment.
I am using a Dell XPS 8100 with a Atheros DW1525 wireless adapter. I have gone through 3 windows reinstalls at the recommendation of Dell Tech support. I have had an on site tech bring a new adapter to correct the problem. My router is a Netgear Wireless N and have no difficulty in getting 5 to 6 mb/sec on my small laptop located next to my 8100, but I usually only get a max of 3 mb/sec on the 8100 and much of the time I only get 1mb/sec or less. I use Speedtest.net to evaluate. Upload speed is normal at each test. When the tech was here, he had me boot in safe mode with networking and got almost 10 mb, but now even safe mode produces no more than 2 to 3 mb. I have the latest driver installed. I did take a snapshot of my system with Black Box if anyone wants to look at it and comment.

Are you using "homegroup" for networking?

Wirefirewall and av are you using?

What is the speed when you connect wired (if you can)


Ken

Yes, I am using "homegroup". As far as I know, I'm just using Windows Firewall. I am also using Avast for anti virus.

OK...I just discovered something: If I disable my 2nd and 3rd monitors in display settings, much of my internet speed returns. I use a 3 monitor display for video editing. 2 monitors are from the dual dvi outputs on the hd 5770 card and the 3rd uses a mini display port to vga adapter. Why would this affect my wireless adapter?

I posted before with the issue of slow internet speed through my wireless adapter. I use a 3 monitor desktop display using the two dvi outputs for monitors 1 and 2 and the mini display port for monitor 3. I was getting very slow speed performance (about 1 mb dl)from my wireless adapter until I disabled the second and third monitor. Then my speed jumped to 10mb. I also disabled just the 3rd monitor and the speed dropped to about 7 mbs. This is repeatable. The issue so far has Dell Tech Support stumped. Can anyone shed some light on this and maybe provide a work around or solution? The adapter has already been replaced without success. I am using a Dell XPS 8100, an Atheros DW1525 wireless adapter and an ATI HD 5770 video card.

Good troubleshooting. I have a Dell XT and have recently been using it on the media base and using a second monitor. The wifi appears to be throttled to about .5Mb each way. When I popped it off the base (and therefore disabled the second monitor) my wifi went back up to 12/1.5Mb - Did you ever find a resolution?

The resolution was to dump the wireless and go hardwired. Dell tech support had no explanation or solution for this.