Windows 7 and Wi-Fi router report different speeds: whom to believe?

[Anixx]

With older wi-fi driver

Win7 reports 90 Mbps

Router reports 72.2 Mbps

With newer driver

Win7 reports 72.2 Mbps

Router reports 150 Mbps

Whom to believe?

 

[maxie]

Internet Speeds tend to fluxilate ... What speed are you suppose to be getting from your ISP ?


In the Windows reading did you get that from the Task Manager ...


If so that seems to be on the Connection Speed ...


Do a Test online ... All tests are only a guide ....

 

[Anixx]

It is about the speed between the computer and router.

 

[maxie]

Try the Link below ...

Speedtest.net by Ookla - The Global Broadband Speed Test

 

[Anixx]

Try the Link below ...

Speedtest.net by Ookla - The Global Broadband Speed Test

How this test can show the speed between ROUTER and the COMPUTER?

 

[maxie]

Open Network & Sharing click on the WiFi connection

 

[Anixx]

Open Network & Sharing click on the WiFi connection

And this sheet shows speed different from what router shows. About which fact I started this topic.

 

[oneeyed]

Simple. Download some file from the net, note what size the files has and time how long it takes.
1 Mbps = 125 Kilobytes per second.
Should be easy enough to calculate.

Some browsers/download managers do that automatically for you. For example the old Opera (presto) indicates the rate after a file stopped downloading. But the modern, dumbed down browsers might not do that, so lauch windows calculator and do it yourself if you have to

But I would trust Windows more than the router.

And this Data Rate WILL be the speed between router/wifi adapter. Your global speed is limited by the slowest, which I'm pretty sure is the wifi connection.

 

[maxie]

And the explanation was in the first Post

 

[Anixx]

And this Data Rate WILL be the speed between router/wifi adapter. Your global speed is limited by the slowest, which I'm pretty sure is the wifi connection.

I am not so sure. My internet connection speed is just 15 Mbps. How can I measure difference between 72 Mbps, 90 Mbps and 150 Mbps?

 

[oneeyed]

And this Data Rate WILL be the speed between router/wifi adapter. Your global speed is limited by the slowest, which I'm pretty sure is the wifi connection.

I am not so sure. My internet connection speed is just 15 Mbps. How can I measure difference between 72 Mbps, 90 Mbps and 150 Mbps?

What do you mean your internet connection is 15 Mbps ? Is that the number obtained on the Speedtest ?

OK here is a simplified explanation of how your internet connection works :

Your PC's Wifi Adapter >> Router >> Internet Provider >> Internet

Barring any Internet slowdown when you do your tests, the slowest will probably be the wifi connection (PC>>Router). It will be the main limiting factor of your global speed. If your Internet plan with your provider is below that (say 15 Mbps like you said), then what is the point of knowing the speed of your wifi connection ? Even with a Wi-Fi at 70 Mbps, it won't matter much since it's higher than what your Internet Provider gives. If you play games for example, what matters most is the latency which is typically worst on wifi than on wired, not the speed rate.

In theory 802.11a and 802.11g offer up to 54 Mbps, and 802.11n offers up to 300 Mbps. In practice, even on 802.11n you rarely approach these rates, and you'll get at best 130-150 Mbps in most cases. 802.11ac promises even more, but even with channel bonding wifi still remains the weak link.

How can I measure difference between 72 Mbps, 90 Mbps and 150 Mbps?

Here is an online calculator : Download Time Calculator
Enter the filesize, then the rate and it will calculate the time it would take to download it.

 

[maxie]

Do you still have the IPv6 issue ? ...

 

[Anixx]

What do you mean your internet connection is 15 Mbps ? Is that the number obtained on the Speedtest ?

It is the number for what I pay and of course, the same is indicated by SpeedTest.

Barring any Internet slowdown when you do your tests, the slowest will probably be the wifi connection

How it can be slowest if my Internet connection is 15 Mbps while the connection with router is from 72 to 150 Mbps?

 

[Anixx]

Here is an online calculator : Download Time Calculator

How the speed of connection with router can affect the download time from the Internet if the connection with router is either 72 or 90 or 170 Mbps while internet connection is 15 Mbps?
http://www.gaijin.at/en/olsdltc.php

 

[oneeyed]

Barring any Internet slowdown when you do your tests, the slowest will probably be the wifi connection

How it can be slowest if my Internet connection is 15 Mbps while the connection with router is from 72 to 150 Mbps?

You seem to have missed the "probably" in the quote.

Usually when people start to worry about their wifi connection speed, like you are, it's because it slow downs their global internet speed. And in most cases with the development of broadband, it does.

As I said in the rest of my post which you seem to have missed too, if you have 15 Mbps, then it is obvious a difference between 70/90/150 Mbps on Wifi won't matter. If you had 1 Gbps on Wifi it wouldn't matter either.

So once again, if you want someting to optimize on your wifi, it isn't the speed rate but the latency, and the reduction of interferences that can cause jitter in interactive applications like games.

More info :
Latency in Networking (Speed and High)
Check Your Latency

 

[Anixx]

if you have 15 Mbps, then it is obvious a difference between 70/90/150 Mbps on Wifi won't matter.

It matters because I want to decide whether to pay for better Internet link (up to 100 Mbps).

 

[Sergeant Steve]

Post some screenshots of what you're referring to and then we can determine if your computer's connection to the router can handle a faster internet speed.