Introduction

We often face slow speed connections while using broadband services. This is more pronounced in wireless connections. The speed is measured in different ways and reported such as in kilobits, kilobytes, megabits or megabytes per second. The relation between bits and bites should not be mistaken with each other. There are 8 bits in 1 byte. So if the transfer speed is reported as 12 megabits per second it is actually equals to 1.5 megabytes per second.(12/8=1.5). Further we should be aware of the fact that we can never get the full advertised speed in any router. This is mainly due to the problems of interference and line loss which we can not avoid. It is advisable to use a program that will tell you what your current transfer speeds are such as Net Meter that can be downloaded from http://www.metal-machine.de/readerror/
It is advisable to make a test transfer (a large file) while measuring the speed.
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Trouble shooting
Initially measure the existing speed by transferring a standard large file. Use a net meter or other software and compare the same with speeds measured with the following exercises..

Make a note of this speed as the base. Now verify the router/AP’s web-configuration. Make sure it is set to “Auto Negotiate” connection speeds. In some routers this auto-negotiation feature is set automatically without user intervention - Check if there is any improvement in speed by measuring the speed again.

Now locate various devices that are interfering with your network. The neighbour’s wireless network, microwaves and cordless phones are some examples. (You can install a software to detect if any other wireless networks are near to your net work. One such program is Netstumbler .This can be downloaded and run that will report back any other wireless networks in your range.)

Find out the channel in which such networks are operating and verify the network channel of your connection. If both are same, there is a possibility of reduction in speed. This will result in reduction in speed and frequent disconnections from the network. Generally wireless phones operating in the locality (at frequencies very close to 2.4 Ghz) may cause such problems. You can try to change the frequency of such a wireless phone. If the phone is not having such option, better to go for a new phone working in a different frequency. This action can be taken after ensuring that the main cause of interference is the wireless phone.

Microwave equipments such as heaters or ovens that operate at frequencies very close to 2.4 GHz and can also cause interference. Make sure you don’t put your router/AP near a microwave.

If the above does not help you can verify by using a different wireless card and /or router/AP. This may be done in a friend’s house or go to a service centre. If you have decided that the wireless card and /or router is the cause buy a new chord or router/AP.

It is also possible that the computer may also be responsible for slow speed. Some older computers are not computable with faster transfer rates. Try to try connect your computer directly into the router and check the difference in the speed. If there is an improvement, then better to go for a new computer.

Another aspect to be kept in mind is kind of encryption being used. WEP takes away ~5-10% of speeds due to the encryption method used as compared to WPA.

Make sure that you are actually connected to you designated net work and not with that of your neighbour’s. You can change the SSID to something unique to avoid any confusion.