Windows 7: Laptop, N Adapter, N Router - Only 54 Mbps

Connects wireless to MSI VR420 laptop OK but only at 54 Mbps.
Should I expect >54 ?



Adapter is RealTeK N (supposed to be 300 Mbps) - router is SMC WBR14S-N4 Barricade N (supposed to be 150Mbps).

Wired to desktop - at 100 Mbps (card is 802.11g)

No, I think 54 is the max in some areas (Bandwidth given to your house). The other numbers are what they could potentially do but aren't even getting that high of bandwidth. But 54 straight still should be pretty fast, is it not?

I know this may sound silly and only pertain to my equipment because I always have the best of luck on picking the crappiest items off the shelf. Even though they are high end, something always has to be defective with it.

When I changed my Security WPA2 to WEP it actually changed the speeds.

I think I found it faster at WEP or No security at all but if you are going to do that then make sure you activate your MAC Filtering.

yes, 54 is fast enough for laptop (wife's laptop - doesn't use much) ... but don't understand ...
desktop connects at 100, so bandwidth to house supports that ... doesn't that mean the laptop (with an N adapter) should get that speed ?

Is your PC plugged in and your laptop wireless? Because signal can be a factor

I'll consider WEP ... router is at home and well out of range of neighbors and road - it's something to consider ... though I'm not real concerned about laptop speed - it's just that I don't need an N router/adapter if there's no gain.

The desktop is plugged to router while laptop is wireless.

My theory is only a theory... just to test it.

Well regardless if you don't get the full gain or speeds of a wireless N... the Wireless N adapters are better at handling connections than older B and G routers.

My guess is its the wireless signal. Try plugging in the computer just like your pc just to test if its Mbps goes up. N should be good in sending and receiving signals, but wireless can be jittery sometimes.

What is displayed by windows is the Link Speed, its not your true real time speed. Its the maximum possible speed for that connection that was negotiated when the connection was made. First since your router is a only 150 Mbps thats the best you can hope for. Having 300 Mbps network cards won't matter if the router only does 150 max. Also I've heard it said that if you have one G device on you N network all devices will fall back to G speeds. I have a DIR-655 set to N+G, bandwidth set to 20/40 auto. My PC with a DWA-552 shows 300 Mbps, even when my daughters G netbook is connected. I have noticed though that file transfer speeds are a lot lower when the netbook is on line. I would think if you have everything setup correctly in the router that you should be seeing a 150 Mbps link speed. Setting up encryption will affect the speed of your network, but it won't affect the indicated speed/link speed. I'm using WPA2 and my DWA-552 still reports 300 Mbps.