Slow download speed and nearly impossible video streaming

[Alphabetter]

I recently bought a wireless card for my desktop. Previously I was using a fob-type usb adapter. When I used the usb adapter I was able to achieve download speeds of around 1 MB/s and stream 1080p video, but with the card my download speed maxes out at about 250 kB/s and it takes a few minutes for the same video quality to load, if it does at all. I'd ordinarily blame the card entirely for this problem, but when I test my connection speed with it, I get far higher results. Additionally, my upload speeds with the card can often rise to 500+ kB/s and are generally higher than my download speeds at all times. Just wondering if anyone could tell me what exactly is going on here.

 

[RayFinkle]

Hi Alphabetter. There's more than one approach to troublshoot this. First thing that pops into my head is, since we ar edealing with wireless, maybe you are dropping packets. Do you know how to open a command prompt and use the ping command? I would try pinging something on the internet:
ping google.com -t
and let that run while you test some of those things you are trying to do. If you are getting a few timeouts, that would cause "slowness". Also, look at what the ping times are (latency). This is a good first step to troubleshoot such an issue.

Can you tell us a little more about your wireless service? Are we talking about a wireless ISP? And has your service contract or service level changed at all when you switched devices?


One question: Where are you getting 1080p content from the internet??? (if I may ask)

 

[Alphabetter]

When I ping google, I get a timeout about 1/3 of the time. When it doesn't time out, it averages a latency of 51ms.

My internet provider is AT&T. I have a wireless router approximately 25 feet from my computer, and the signal strength hovers around 70-80%, but I never lose it. The service has not changed.

The 1080p content is mostly streaming videos from youtube, gametrailers.com, and the like. They continue to load just fine if I use the usb fob adapter, but I hate that thing.

Thanks for helping me out.

 

[RayFinkle]

OK. That ping time of 51ms is fine for wireless. Maybe even pretty good. But, if 1/3 of your pings are timing out, that is VERY BAD, even for wireless Internet. Is it possible for you to put your old USB dongle back in and see how that compares?

There are at least 3 possibilities:
1) your new wireless card is defective
2) your new wireless card simply is a piece of junk compared to that USB dongle
3) maybe your ISP is having some problems and the fact that it is happening right now when you just changed hardware is just a coincidence

 

[Alphabetter]

If I use the dongle, it doesn't time out and my latency is about the same. This leads me to believe that my card is either defective or just a piece of junk. While this is upsetting, I can get another one.

Just for the sake of curiosity and willingness to tinker though, is there any way to possibly fix the timeouts? I have uninstalled and reinstalled the card itself and the drivers a few times already, but that obviously doesn't help. If you have any ideas, please tell me. If not, then I'll get a new card. Either way, thanks again.

 

[RayFinkle]

Hmm. Well, since this is a new purchase, the easiest next step is to procure a replacement for that new card. If the retailer is reputable, they will work with you to get you a replacement quickly. If your card is defective, this should fix that issue.

Another approach is to research that specific manufacturer and model number to find out if that really is simply a real piece of crap that never should have been sold. If so, don't feel too bad....we have all taken a chance on that one "too good to be true" deal that turned out to be crap! Tell us the make/model# and I will do whatever research I can to help reveal the truth.

You shouldn't have to fix a brand new piece of equipment. Get it replaced, or if was a "twilight deal, in some abandoned parking lot"..... This makes me think you did find one of those "too good to be true" deals. If so, just suck it up, be an adult, and admit you got taken. Like I said, this happens to EVERYONE at some point in their lives...including me. .....in which case, you have my sympathy, and I still want to help you resolve the issue!

 

[Alphabetter]

Well I don't know if my card's crap or not. 600+ reviews on newegg with 4/5, and everywhere else I look gives me a similar opinion. $15 is kinda cheap, I suppose, but it's certainly not the deal of the century. I think for whatever reason this card just hates my computer. Unfortunate, but not the end of the world.

I'm going to buy a replacement and send it back. I've exhausted my options I think. If you want to do some searching though, go right ahead. It'll take me a couple days for me to get everything ready to ship back, and I'll still be tinkering with it right until I have to yank it out and put it in the box to send it off.

 

[RayFinkle]

Cool. No problem...... Please don't be offended. I was sincere in my offer to research further. Sooooooo....once again, what is the make/model number???

 

[Alphabetter]

I just realized that I never actually put that down. My bad.

Rosewill RNX-G300LX

 

[RayFinkle]

OK. Companies like that, quality control is pretty much nonexistant. The next one you get could likely run perfectly. GOOD LUCK! And PLEASE let us know how it goes! I will do some research and post anything significant that I find.

 

[RayFinkle]

Those "ratings averages" are very misleading. If you actually read the reviews on Newegg, you'll see there is a bad (1 star) review on almost every page of 10, and the complaints are pretty much all the same problem you are having. At the very least, they have serious quality control issues, which means you could end up with another lemon. I would advise to skip that card and get something better, unless you just have the time to fiddle around with it.

 

[Alphabetter]

That's exactly what I ended up doing. I shelled out a few more bucks for a (hopefully) better card. Installed it, and everything's as it should be. If you're curious, it's a Zonet ZEW1642D, and it works like a charm. Thanks for all your help.