Wireless N won't go above 72Mbps

[xwb]

I've got a TEW-648UBM/EU, a 150Mbps Wireless N USB adapter. On some machines, it can go up to about 120Mbps. I've never managed to hit 150 but on my Samsung V20, the highest it will go is 72Mbps. I'm just wondering whether it is a limitation on USB1.1. It is a pretty ancient machine: the wired LAN is only 10Mbps: not even 100!

 

[wolluf]

If I remember rightly, usb 1.1 operates at 12 mbps - so even 72 would be impossible if its using a 1.1 port. Is this speed (72) as reported by the device (as opposed to actually running a speed test on the connection?) I've found such reported speeds are often spurious!

 

[xwb]

It is the one reported by windows in task manager. It goes 72, 54, 42, ... 14.5 depending on where I am in the house. Just had a look at the spec. It does say USB2.0.

 

[goombawaho]

I think you are A) being too optimistic about the speed you are expecting and B) too trusting of these speed measurements. Claimed wireless speeds are absolute maximums that are possible. Real world, your mileage may vary as a result of interference, distance, obstructions, etc. And, as I've found, Wireless N is not all that great for working fast at a distance. G penetrates walls better. For measuring speed, you should copy or download a large file and actually time it and calculate performance. A 2GB file would give a better reading of SUSTAINED speed vs. a folder with miscellaneous contents.

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Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[cdogg]

If the built-in (integrated) LAN adapter is only 10 Mbps, then I doubt you're on USB 2.0 unless you're using an add-in PCI card. 100 Mbps was the standard for ethernet long before USB 2.0 was released.

Also keep in mind that there is overhead associated with wireless packet transmission. When the connection shows 100 Mbps, for example, you're max speed might only be 80-90 Mbps. Like Goom mentioned, interference can also slow it down. Make sure the router (or access point) is not sitting close to a glob of power cords, your TV/PC, or pretty much any electrical device. Give it a good 2 feet of clearance.

-Carl
"The glass is neither half-full nor half-empty: it's twice as big as it needs to be."

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[xwb]

It is the built in USB. Could try the cardbus slot: see if I can get something faster. I don't think there is any interference. It is probably just the speed of the USB on the machine. If I plug it into a newer machine, I can get 120 to 140 on it.

 

[cdogg]

USB 1.1 is only capable of 12 Mbps, as wolluf said. That's the equivalent of 1.5 MB/s. You should be able to tell by transferring a large file if you're being capped at that speed.

-Carl
"The glass is neither half-full nor half-empty: it's twice as big as it needs to be."

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[xwb]

I'll try it when I get the machine back. One of the in-laws has borrowed it to watch videos on when she's on holiday. Guess it is a good use for a 10 year old machine: portable video player.