Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Performance Issue

Just out of curiosity, why would this concern you? Even 1.7 Mbps is faster than most of the things you'll encounter on the Internet.

Not sure what Internet you're using, but I frequently blow through 1.7mpbs. My connection is a solid 8mbps and I max it out on downloads all the time!

Tom

I do want the speed...but it doesn't sit well with me to spend a bundle on a fast box and have it noticeably slower than my other, older box. Both sitting side-by-side, similar specs and the new one is way slower...

I'm guessing BitTorrent? What content would that be? ;)

I work over a VPN and connect to my company's network all day long. They have a few Internet connections, not sure what they are but they are fast. Also, for other Internet downloads, OS patches, software installation packages, ISO images from MSDN, etc.

I tried updating the firmware on my D-LINK router and changing the channel but still no improvement.

One thing that might be causing the slowness is the compatibility (or lack there of) with the wireless access point (or its configuration).

I tried disabling the Turbo G option incase the Intel 3945 wireless adapter isn't compatible but still no improvement. Any ideas?

It is a D-Link DI-624 rev c that has a Turbo G:

Firmware 2.53 ================

- For DI-624_revC3 only.

- The Static-Turbo mode option has been removed to conform with Wi-Fi Alliance certification requirements. All future firmware releases for this product will no longer feature this mode of operation.

- 7/22/2005

I can't tell if the newer version is compatible with my router:

Firmware 2.70 ===============

- Support for JumpStart.

- Support for WMM.

- Improves performance.

- Xbox Live compatible

- 8/31/2005

Does anyone know?

Thanks,

Josh

Josh,

Have you tried the 10.1.1.1 Intel Proset update for your 3945ABG?

Regards,

Aaron

Go to

Aaron,

I missed your message and just noticed it. Thanks for the tip. I did just install the ProSet update 10.1.1.1. It didn't seem to matter much in my initial testing. I did go into the properties of that adapter and noiticed that by updating the ProSet driver, some of the settings revert back to the default. What I was intersted in is the Enhanced THroughput setting, and it was defaulted back to diabled. I enabled it. No real noticable difference. Then on a whim, I changed another setting: Wireless Mode, from the default of A, B, & G to "G only". This seemed to make a huge difference in the reliability/connectivity but didn't seem to help with increasing the throughput (internet thoughput tests).

One issue I was fighting with tonight is when I mapped a drive to another machine using a NET USE command, I could eventually get it to map but not always the first time. Also, if I did a continuous ping "ping -t" to with the wireless router or another machine on the network, I would see significant loss, maybe 15% for 100 pings. Once I changed the "Wireless Mode" setting to "G Only", this seemed to be resolved completely.

Any insight as to what that might mean? Are the defaults in the ProSet that bad/off?

What other tests can I run to verify that things are setup optimally?

Thanks agian for your info and time,

Josh Blair Evergreen, CO

I did confirm with DLINK that the newest version offered on the website was compatible with my router. I updated it and DLINK had me change a few default settings. This didn't seem to help much if any..

Josh BLair Evergreen, CO

Make sure you go into your Router settings and change IT to G only too. That makes a big difference. I'm stuck with one B device (X51) and it slows the entire network down. I'm thinking of picking up a cheap B access point just for the X51.

On 21 May 2006 22:06:39 -0700, "josh" wrote:

~ Aaron, ~ ~ I missed your message and just noticed it. Thanks for the tip. I did ~ just install the ProSet update 10.1.1.1. It didn't seem to matter much ~ in my initial testing. I did go into the properties of that adapter ~ and noiticed that by updating the ProSet driver, some of the settings ~ revert back to the default. What I was intersted in is the Enhanced ~ THroughput setting, and it was defaulted back to diabled. I enabled ~ it. No real noticable difference. Then on a whim, I changed another ~ setting: Wireless Mode, from the default of A, B, & G to "G only". ~ This seemed to make a huge difference in the reliability/connectivity ~ but didn't seem to help with increasing the throughput (internet ~ thoughput tests). ~ ~ One issue I was fighting with tonight is when I mapped a drive to ~ another machine using a NET USE command, I could eventually get it to ~ map but not always the first time. Also, if I did a continuous ping ~ "ping -t" to with the wireless router or another machine on the ~ network, I would see significant loss, maybe 15% for 100 pings. Once I ~ changed the "Wireless Mode" setting to "G Only", this seemed to be ~ resolved completely. ~ ~ Any insight as to what that might mean? Are the defaults in the ProSet ~ that bad/off? ~ ~ What other tests can I run to verify that things are setup optimally? ~ ~ Thanks agian for your info and time, ~ ~ Josh Blair ~ Evergreen, CO

Thanks for the update Josh - these results are very interesting.

It is good practice, if you have a dual band (2.4/5GHz) client card, but if you are only using one band, to disable the other band. This will prevent the client from having to scan the band that you're not using (5GHz in your case), and so you can reduce the amount of time spent offchannel and therefore increase throughput and (marginally) improve reliability.

However, it seems odd that you should see 15% loss with A/B/G enabled

- this does seem like an extreme result.

Regards,

Aaron

Many thanks for the link. Using a NYC server (I'm in NE NJ) I got the following for my Optimum Online connection:

Download Speed: 11416 kbps (1427 KB/sec transfer rate) Upload Speed: 1391 kbps (173.9 KB/sec transfer rate)