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Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

Mav
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Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

I'm currently getting just 1.5MBps transfer between laptop and desktop PCs via the Netgear DG834G V4.01.40 router. Both laptop and PC have Gigabyte Lan so I am wondering what could be causing it to be so slow.
The PC is wired BTW.
Would internet traffic to either the PC or laptop at the same time be a potyential cause (doubtful)?
Or could there be a setting I may have missed somewhere that would increase the throughput?
I'm going to see if I have a spare ethernet cable to test both with wired connections as well.

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Oldjim
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Re: Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

Transfer speed is limited by the slowest bit in the link which in this case is your wireless link.
The wireless link maximum theoretical speed is probably 54Mb/sec  but wireless signal strength and quality can kill that
Mav
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Re: Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

Thanks Jim.
I realise the bit about the wireless speed but I have excellent signal strength so would have hoped for much more than I'm getting.

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Oldjim
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Re: Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

Worth a read as it might explain it http://www.wirelessforums.org/alt-internet-wireless/data-transfer-rate-54mbps-3com-link-6441.html
Quote
Under ideal conditions, a 54Mbit/sec wireless connection will give a maximum of about 25Mbits/sec thruput. See the FAQ: http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi#Performance_and_Speed
for a table of speeds. If you have the 802.11b compatibility mode enabled, your maximum speed will be about 14Mbits/sec, which is apparently what you're getting.

Edit - link in quote fixed
Mav
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Re: Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

Thanks Jim. Interesting read.
As I have a couple of hundred GB to transfer it may be prudent to look for my spare ethernet cable. As the Netgear is only 10/100 compatible does any one know what sort of real-life speeds I am liable to get?
Thanks.

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jelv
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Re: Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

One point Jim didn't answer. Other internet traffic to the PC is unlikely to make any difference, but any simultaneous activity over the wireless (in either direction) will have some impact.
jelv (a.k.a Spoon Whittler)
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jelv
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Re: Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

At 100Mbps you can probably reckon around 2 minutes per GB.
jelv (a.k.a Spoon Whittler)
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Mav
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Re: Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

Thanks Jelv.
I never knew that internet traffic could have an impact on wireless but, thinking about it, it does make sense.

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KenA
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Re: Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

The network link speed is only half the story.  If you are copying a large quantity of data, Windows has a habit of gradually slowing down the transfer rate, way below what the link can support.
In general terms, I don't know what causes it, but it's annoying!
There's one cause which you can prevent, and that's having thousands of files in the same folder.  Although it works, this is guaranteed to slow down file access considerably.
Mav
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Re: Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

Thanks for that.
I never create folders with thousands of files - use subfolders and then transfer from bottom up.
I find it keeps things simpler although slightly more long-winded when transferring Wink

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jelv
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Re: Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

Quote from: KenA
If you are copying a large quantity of data, Windows has a habit of gradually slowing down the transfer rate, way below what the link can support.

Good point. I sometimes open a CMD box and use XCOPY which seems much better.
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zubel
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Re: Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

For two individual computers, I use a 60% network utilisation figure as a good rule of thumb when transferring data.
So, on a 100MBit line, I would suggest around ( 100 / 8 ) * 0.6 = 7.5MB/s
Certainly in network tests that I've done, it's very rare that any utilisation more than 60% occurs for any sustainable amount of time.
When you start talking gigabit ethernet, the slowest point in the link starts to be writing the data to the receiving hard drive.
Cheers
B.
jelv
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Re: Slow Speed when transferring files (wireless)

Thanks Barry that's 2min 13secs per GB. My guestimate wasn't that far out.
Quote from: jelv
At 100Mbps you can probably reckon around 2 minutes per GB.

Have you got a feel for the maximum speed you can see on wireless?
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