I'll preface by saying I have read the stickies. Googled all I can about wireless networks and speeds, etc. I understand there are limitations but I truly think there must be a problem with my set up. I'm sorry this is so long.
I have a new laptop. It is Wireless N capable. It has a Broadcom wireless adapter. The mfg claims it is a new adapter (not draft N) and is capable of obtaining Wireless N speeds (i.e. up to 300 Mbps).
I purchased a Netgear WNR2000v3 router. When the laptop is connected wirelessly the Link Rate as seen in Wireless Connection Status never exceeds 65Mbps. Never. And as the signal degrades as I move farther from the router the Link Rate drops. So even when it is at 65Mbps I am maybe really geting 35Mbps. From a wireless N laptop and router? Now to why I know there has to be something wrong.
The wired connection to the same router gets the expected Link Rate of 100Mbps so it is not the modem limiting speed. When I connect to a public Wi-Fi network the best I have seen is 72Mbps. So that tells me the card is not limited to 65Mbps as was suggested due to there being a flood of old Broadcom adapters with that limit.
It also tells me that there has to be something in the laptop itself limiting the Link Rate or else I would surely see higher than 72Mbps (although I know that still wouldn't mean that high of a number in reality).
The signal I get on the laptop is weak. When I first log on it shows 4 bars even when right next to the router. After a minute or so it moves to 5 bars. But as soon as I move the laptop more than 20 feet or so away (same floor) it starts losing signal. Going upstairs even though I am right over the router brings me to 2 or 3 bars. There is nothing in my house to interfere with the signal.
When I look to see other networks I see only two or three even though the neighborhood is saturated with them. The laptop's sensitivity is too weak to pick them up. I had a different laptop for a few days and it easily saw many more networks and it's signal was much more strong and stable.
So my conclusion is there is something wrong with the laptop. Whether it is the adapter or the antenna or both.
Does this seems reasonable or is there really something related to my router? I have spent hours on the phone with Netgear and no tweaks to settings changed a thing. Not changing channels, not anything.
Someone said it sounds like a classic case of the router not being Wireless N only but I have been assured it is not in mixed mode and I would think the public spot I was in was also only Wireless N.
This has really got me upset. Even forgetting about not being able to exceed a 65Mbps Link Rate, a laptop that I can't even take upstairs without having the signal degrade, or go out in my yard is useless to me. And I know that is not how a wireless laptop should function.
I have a new laptop. It is Wireless N capable. It has a Broadcom wireless adapter. The mfg claims it is a new adapter (not draft N) and is capable of obtaining Wireless N speeds (i.e. up to 300 Mbps).
I purchased a Netgear WNR2000v3 router. When the laptop is connected wirelessly the Link Rate as seen in Wireless Connection Status never exceeds 65Mbps. Never. And as the signal degrades as I move farther from the router the Link Rate drops. So even when it is at 65Mbps I am maybe really geting 35Mbps. From a wireless N laptop and router? Now to why I know there has to be something wrong.
The wired connection to the same router gets the expected Link Rate of 100Mbps so it is not the modem limiting speed. When I connect to a public Wi-Fi network the best I have seen is 72Mbps. So that tells me the card is not limited to 65Mbps as was suggested due to there being a flood of old Broadcom adapters with that limit.
It also tells me that there has to be something in the laptop itself limiting the Link Rate or else I would surely see higher than 72Mbps (although I know that still wouldn't mean that high of a number in reality).
The signal I get on the laptop is weak. When I first log on it shows 4 bars even when right next to the router. After a minute or so it moves to 5 bars. But as soon as I move the laptop more than 20 feet or so away (same floor) it starts losing signal. Going upstairs even though I am right over the router brings me to 2 or 3 bars. There is nothing in my house to interfere with the signal.
When I look to see other networks I see only two or three even though the neighborhood is saturated with them. The laptop's sensitivity is too weak to pick them up. I had a different laptop for a few days and it easily saw many more networks and it's signal was much more strong and stable.
So my conclusion is there is something wrong with the laptop. Whether it is the adapter or the antenna or both.
Does this seems reasonable or is there really something related to my router? I have spent hours on the phone with Netgear and no tweaks to settings changed a thing. Not changing channels, not anything.
Someone said it sounds like a classic case of the router not being Wireless N only but I have been assured it is not in mixed mode and I would think the public spot I was in was also only Wireless N.
This has really got me upset. Even forgetting about not being able to exceed a 65Mbps Link Rate, a laptop that I can't even take upstairs without having the signal degrade, or go out in my yard is useless to me. And I know that is not how a wireless laptop should function.