Wireless card causing slow connection

MattD00 · 26 Sep 2011

I have a broadcom 802.11g PCI wireless card but recently it is giving me a slow connection when on a full bar signal. I then randomly goes back to running at normal speed but then cut out again and goes slow. There is nothing wrong with the connection as it works totally fine on my laptop. I tried a USB wifi adapter at that works fine giving me a fast connection. I been inside the router to make sure all the setting are fine and searched for driver updates etc. I don't think the card is damaged in anyway. I really have no idea why it is giving me such slow internet speeds but then occasionally work fine.

I have linux installed on my system as well and I am experiencing the same problems there also

Maguscreed · 26 Sep 2011

My first target for scrutiny would be a runaway security app (antivirus / firewall) has decided to grab the one device.

I have seen older wifi devices (built-in and usb) simply stop working right eventually leading to 4kb/s or so speeds before eventually getting to the point that they can not maintain a connection at all as well.

2xg · 27 Sep 2011

Hi MattD00,

Have you tried changing the Wireless Mode from Mixed to B/G or G? This can be done from your router setting. See if that helps or not, we'll try a diff tactic.

Maguscreed · 27 Sep 2011

You might try other channels as well if your router supports that.
Just because you are receiving a strong signal doesn't mean there can't be interference

MattD00 · 27 Sep 2011

I have not altered any firewall settings so that wouldn't be it and I am also getting the same problem with Linux. I have switched channel and it is still the same.

I changed the settings on the router from N to G & B but no luck still not getting a usable connection. Would it be worth me posting results from ipconfig /All

2xg · 27 Sep 2011

Can you boot in Safe Mode with Networking? Restart your computer, Tap F8 and select this option. Are you able to replicate the issue?

Also, install and run Xirrus Wi-Fi Inspector.
Click on the 'Show Networks' to display all wireless networks on the xirrus icon on your desktop if you have one running in a corner. Tap the Printscreen key on your keyboard, open up Paint then choose Edit from the Menu and select Paste, then SAVE it. Upload and attached it here.

Would it be worth me posting results from ipconfig /All
Yes please...

Would it be worth me posting results from ipconfig /All

Also, please list all AV, Firewall or Security Software you have installed.

MattD00 · 28 Sep 2011

I think I have discovered what the problem is but I have no idea how to fix it. My Wireless card works fine until my house mate goes on his computer than my connection is dead using the wireless card but the connection is fine when using the USB wifi Adapter. Could the wireless cards be conflicting somehow. This has never happened before when another person is on the network.

Code:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Matthew>ipconfig /ALL

Windows IP Configuration

   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : Matthew-PC
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . :
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-27-0E-12-4E-67
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Wireless LAN adapter Wireless Network Connection:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Broadcom 802.11g Network Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-24-8C-42-85-C2
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::dcf6:37be:7f50:74d5%10(Preferred)
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.35(Preferred)
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : 28 September 2011 05:00:35:PM
   Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : 28 September 2011 06:00:35:PM
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
   DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
   DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 184558732
   DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-15-9C-4F-E2-00-24-8C-42-85-C2

   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 194.168.4.100
                                       194.168.8.100
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter isatap.{E0503D18-8346-492B-8656-9B767F94E762}:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

Tunnel adapter Local Area Connection* 9:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
   Link-local IPv6 Address . . . . . : fe80::2c2d:12f0:3f57:ffdc%14(Preferred)
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
   DHCPv6 IAID . . . . . . . . . . . : 234881024
   DHCPv6 Client DUID. . . . . . . . : 00-01-00-01-15-9C-4F-E2-00-24-8C-42-85-C2

   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

Tunnel adapter isatap.{122B8915-35AE-4868-940B-4BAD83561AED}:

   Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Microsoft ISATAP Adapter #2
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-00-00-00-00-00-00-E0
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes

C:\Users\Matthew>

2xg · 28 Sep 2011

Thanks for the output, all looks good.

It might be worth updating your router's firmware.

MattD00 · 28 Sep 2011

I don't want to update the firmware for my router as their are no official updates. It is also a router provided by my ISP Virgin Media so they have their own software which is configured to work with the hardware. It has some pretty in-depth settings compared to other routers I have used in the past. So I really don't think updating firmware will help.

2xg · 29 Sep 2011

Restart your computer and tap F8 then select Safe Mode with Networking. Is it still slow browsing here?

If it's the same, then the issue might be the integrated wireless network adapter since you don't have an issue using a USB Wi-Fi device.

I tried a USB wifi adapter at that works fine giving me a fast connection.