Network Question: I have a wireless network extender feeding a wireless signal to a computer. I know that a wireless signal is about half the speed of a wired connection, so I am...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I have a wireless network extender feeding a wireless signal to a computer. I know that a wireless signal is about half the speed of a wired connection, so I am assuming that there would no no gain in speed if I were to connect that wireless extender to the computer via cable.

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

jerryc41 wrote:

I have a wireless network extender feeding a wireless signal to a computer. I know that a wireless signal is about half the speed of a wired connection, so I am assuming that there would no no gain in speed if I were to connect that wireless extender to the computer via cable.

What speed is your Ethernet connection?

Wireless connection speeds are:
802.11b - 11 Mbps
802.11g - 54 Mbps
802.11n - 300 Mbps/450 Mbps

It would depend on the speed of the Wi-Fi between the base unit and the extender; and also on the Wi-Fi in the computer. If your Ethernet is 10/100Base -T and your router and computer support 802.11n, wireless could be quicker. If your Ethernet is 10/100/1000Base-T, then wireless would be slower.

Festina Lente Loc: Florida & Missouri

jerryc41 wrote:

I have a wireless network extender feeding a wireless signal to a computer. I know that a wireless signal is about half the speed of a wired connection, so I am assuming that there would no no gain in speed if I were to connect that wireless extender to the computer via cable.

Is the WiFi extender you have the Securifi Almond?
I've had several extenders, and this model is by far the most reliable and easiest to use. The touch screen is a blessing!
It can also serve as a wireless router (very handy for a printer in a closet).
http://www.securifi.com/almond

Is what you have IEEE 802.11n?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

haroldross wrote:

quote=jerryc41 I have a wireless network extender... (show quote)

The wired connection on this computer is 100.0 Mbps. The wireless Mac is running at a download speed of 2511 kbps, according to an online test.

EDIT: Running a cable from the wireless extender to the computer made no difference, so the wireless connection to the extender must be the bottleneck. Something was downloading at the time I did the test, and I don't know if that would influence the results.

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

Did you do the test with the wireless switched off on the Mac?

Sometimes the two network connections fight against each other. I have my set so if the Ethernet connection is there, the wireless is shut off and vice-versa.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

haroldross wrote:

Did you do the test with the wireless switched off on the Mac?

Sometimes the two network connections fight against each other. I have my set so if the Ethernet connection is there, the wireless is shut off and vice-versa.

It knew when it was connected to "Ethernet" or Wi-Fi," since the appropriate one was highlighted when I switched connections.

With my Windows machines on Wi-Fi, I've seen the speed listed right on the screen as 50Mbps. For the Mac, I went online to find a program to measure the connection speed. I don't where to look on the Mac to get the speed directly.

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

Go to the Applications folder then go to the Utilities and open the Network App. Select the network interface then Look under the Info tab. There will be your connection speed.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

haroldross wrote:

Go to the Applications folder then go to the Utilities and open the Network App. Select the network interface then Look under the Info tab. There will be your connection speed.

Thanks. Will do.

larrywilk Loc: Palm Harbor, FL

jerryc41 wrote:

I have a wireless network extender feeding a wireless signal to a computer. I know that a wireless signal is about half the speed of a wired connection, so I am assuming that there would no no gain in speed if I were to connect that wireless extender to the computer via cable.

I seem to have read somewhere that you can often get better reception if you change the channel your router broadcasts on. The concept is most use the default setting creating a logjam or you may be getting interference from other household appliances or even your neighbors router or other apparatus.

May be worth a look see.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

larrywilk wrote:

quote=jerryc41 I have a wireless network extender... (show quote)

The last thing I want to do is start messing with router settings.

TLCarney Loc: Englewood, Florida

When you deal with WiFi, you have to think radio. Anything that causes what we called 'static' on the radio will affect the speed. Distance between the router and the network cards, or obsticles like floors (if one is downstairs and the other upstairs), walls, noisy appliances and flourecent lights (ya, like the new CFL type) will all slam the network speed. And the number of computers sharing the network. If it is not secured, you could be sharing your bandwidth with another user in close proximity. The best way to use teh extender would be to locate it where you think it can get the best (strongest) signal from the router.

cobraryk Loc: Port Credit, Ontario, Canada

Jerry
you may have to relocate the extender everything will depend on the strength of the signal it is receiving from your router. I doubled my network speed by moving my extender about 2 feet

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

TLCarney wrote:

When you deal with WiFi, you have to think radio. ... (show quote)

My next house will be a gymnasium - line of sight for everything. Moving the extender into a different room gave me a much stronger signal upstairs, so I'm happy about that. As for the computer in the living room, it's functioning. I'll do what haroldross recommended and check the speed through Applications, etc. I might wind up running from the router to the computer.

I'm thinking that since the extender is receiving the signal wirelessly, running a cable from it to the computer is not going to give me an increase in speed.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

haroldross wrote:

Go to the Applications folder then go to the Utilities and open the Network App. Select the network interface then Look under the Info tab. There will be your connection speed.

Got it. It's 54Mbps on Wi-Fi, about what I expected. I don't think it's worth drilling holes in walls and running cable in here. It works fine as is. The other computers are hard-wired, so I can get a faster connection if I need it.

Thanks for the explanation.

CResQ Loc: Cobble Hill, BC

jerryc41 wrote:

EDIT: Running a cable from the wireless extender to the computer made no difference, so the wireless connection to the extender must be the bottleneck.

Correct Jerry, you answered your own question :thumbup: