So here’s my issue:
I’d like to get a NAS and connect it to my router and be able to access it from two laptop wireless N for backups and data access. I’d prefer decent speeds, but the goal is to not have to run CAT5E wires in the house, so I’m sure I’ll sacrifice some speed for that luxury.
Here’s my setup:
1) ATT Uverse 2-wire modem/router acting as gateway and running into Linksys WRT160N router
2) HP laptop with Windows 7 32bit (only has G network adapter; planning to upgrade to ASUS laptop with draft N or full N card)
3) ASUS laptop with Windows 64bit (has draft N 150Mbit adapter)
* note laptop only got 65Mbps connection until changing router to auto 20/40Mhz instead of locked at 20Mhz
ROUTER SETTINGS:
Mixed mode G/N, auto channel, auto 20/40Mhz, WPA2
Problems:
1) I cannot get the homegroup to work wired or wireless. It worked a few days ago and then stopped and it just says that “Windows cannot create a homegroup” on both computers when I try.
To get around this for testing speeds, I put both computers in a workgroup and mapped the network drives for each.
TRANSFER SPEEDS:
1) wireless on both laptops 2 feet from the router = around 1.2MBps
2) wireless on draft N laptop and wired on G laptop = around 8MBps
3) wireless from G laptop and wired on draft N = around 2MBps
4) netgear wireless N adapter in G laptop (130-250Mbps) to wireless draft N laptop = 1-2 MBps
5) wired to each = around 10MBps
I think that the 10Mbps is a good speed for the wired since the router is only 100Mbps so that’s my bottleneck….and the HP laptop is only 100Mbps too.
I think there must be something wrong with the G laptop since I can only get 2MBps wireless. Seems like I should be able to get around 4-6 from 2 feet away.
Also don’t understand why I can only get 1.2MBps with both wireless from 2 feet away. I’m hesitant to invest in a new laptop only to find that having N on both still gives me unacceptable speeds.
Not sure why I only got 8MBps with the wireless draft N card…thought with perfect signal level I should be able to get around 12-15 or something. Still wondering if I get two laptops with draft N 150Mbps if I’m going to have these speed issues…or if the 1.2MBps is a consequence of the G speed and bandwidth being cut in half with two wireless connections talking to eachother or something.
I’d like if a network expert could share their thoughts on my issues and what some realistic wireless speed expectations might be. If it’s realistic to have a Synology NAS connected to a gigabit router upgrade and accessed by wireless draft N. Seems like I should be able to get around 10-15 MBps if I’m close enough to the router which seems like a good enough speed for playing home media and making backups/sharing files between users.
All my experience is in programming, so I’d love some advice. I do plan to wire my house eventually ( have the knowledge for making cables) but I’m in the military, so I don’t typically stay in a house very long and I’m about to have a baby, so I’d rather not kill a Satuday.
Please don't respond in saying that I need to wire the house. I realize that this will give me a better network, but I'm not interested in doing it right now and there shouldn't be a reason why I can't get decent speeds for a NAS with two wireless in my opinion.
Thanks
Mike
I’d like to get a NAS and connect it to my router and be able to access it from two laptop wireless N for backups and data access. I’d prefer decent speeds, but the goal is to not have to run CAT5E wires in the house, so I’m sure I’ll sacrifice some speed for that luxury.
Here’s my setup:
1) ATT Uverse 2-wire modem/router acting as gateway and running into Linksys WRT160N router
2) HP laptop with Windows 7 32bit (only has G network adapter; planning to upgrade to ASUS laptop with draft N or full N card)
3) ASUS laptop with Windows 64bit (has draft N 150Mbit adapter)
* note laptop only got 65Mbps connection until changing router to auto 20/40Mhz instead of locked at 20Mhz
ROUTER SETTINGS:
Mixed mode G/N, auto channel, auto 20/40Mhz, WPA2
Problems:
1) I cannot get the homegroup to work wired or wireless. It worked a few days ago and then stopped and it just says that “Windows cannot create a homegroup” on both computers when I try.
To get around this for testing speeds, I put both computers in a workgroup and mapped the network drives for each.
TRANSFER SPEEDS:
1) wireless on both laptops 2 feet from the router = around 1.2MBps
2) wireless on draft N laptop and wired on G laptop = around 8MBps
3) wireless from G laptop and wired on draft N = around 2MBps
4) netgear wireless N adapter in G laptop (130-250Mbps) to wireless draft N laptop = 1-2 MBps
5) wired to each = around 10MBps
I think that the 10Mbps is a good speed for the wired since the router is only 100Mbps so that’s my bottleneck….and the HP laptop is only 100Mbps too.
I think there must be something wrong with the G laptop since I can only get 2MBps wireless. Seems like I should be able to get around 4-6 from 2 feet away.
Also don’t understand why I can only get 1.2MBps with both wireless from 2 feet away. I’m hesitant to invest in a new laptop only to find that having N on both still gives me unacceptable speeds.
Not sure why I only got 8MBps with the wireless draft N card…thought with perfect signal level I should be able to get around 12-15 or something. Still wondering if I get two laptops with draft N 150Mbps if I’m going to have these speed issues…or if the 1.2MBps is a consequence of the G speed and bandwidth being cut in half with two wireless connections talking to eachother or something.
I’d like if a network expert could share their thoughts on my issues and what some realistic wireless speed expectations might be. If it’s realistic to have a Synology NAS connected to a gigabit router upgrade and accessed by wireless draft N. Seems like I should be able to get around 10-15 MBps if I’m close enough to the router which seems like a good enough speed for playing home media and making backups/sharing files between users.
All my experience is in programming, so I’d love some advice. I do plan to wire my house eventually ( have the knowledge for making cables) but I’m in the military, so I don’t typically stay in a house very long and I’m about to have a baby, so I’d rather not kill a Satuday.
Please don't respond in saying that I need to wire the house. I realize that this will give me a better network, but I'm not interested in doing it right now and there shouldn't be a reason why I can't get decent speeds for a NAS with two wireless in my opinion.
Thanks
Mike