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This is pertaining to a office network I have setup simply using a Linksys router and Speedstream modem with a broadband connection. (no server) The office is complaining of slow internet on every machine connected. (they are not infected) All 4 Lan ports have a PC connected and at least 4 wireless PC’s are connected also.
They want me to get a new Router to resolve the problem. I am quite experienced with PC’s but know little about networking, about enough to get a good home network set up w/o a server.
So, I am wondering if this (new router) would really be the solution to the problem, or if they are just overtaxing the routers capacity. I do not want to run right out and buy a up to date router and not have that solve the problem. Any opinions or suggestions?
Thanks in advance

Well, if you have 8 PCs using the same internet connection, that's the issue.. What's the bandwidth? Even at 3mb that's only about 46KB per second worth of speed. I don't imagine there is anything wrong with the hardware, it's probably a bandwidth limitation.. If they have a T1 they're only getting about 23KB per second worth of speed per PC if they're all being used at the same time. Also, is the wireless secure? If it's not, it's possible somebody else is leeching the bandwidth..

eGo

eGoCeNTRoNiX wrote:Well, if you have 8 PCs using the same internet connection, that's the issue.. What's the bandwidth? Even at 3mb that's only about 46KB per second worth of speed. I don't imagine there is anything wrong with the hardware, it's probably a bandwidth limitation.. If they have a T1 they're only getting about 23KB per second worth of speed per PC if they're all being used at the same time. Also, is the wireless secure? If it's not, it's possible somebody else is leeching the bandwidth..

eGo

aid:

The network is wep locked with a encryption key, so no leeching should be going on. No one at the office seems to even know which plan they had signed on for with this company, but these are the choices of current plans...
http://www.windstream.com/residential/broadband.aspx

Well, until you find out, it's really unfair to blame the hardware. I would try to log into the windstream modem and see if it has the connection info on it. Some modems will some won't. Let us know how you come out.

eGo

with no one else on the network try a speed test

http://www.speedtest.net

sounds like it might be a bandwidth issue as the others have said, but it might be a user issue. at my office we support ~20 pcs on a 6mb down 1 mb up connection without any issues. it's kind of a rube goldberg with two switches daisy chained in. works fine EXCEPT when people start streaming video or audio...3 people streaming video slows the system way down. you might want to check how people are using it. you also need to look up your router and make sure it has true switching capability. if it does not, inserting a $100 switch between the router and the pcs may make a big difference

good luck!

Lack of bandwidth is one possible issue as mentioned. If they're all sharing a 512Kbit DSL connection for instance then under heavy use it'll bog down.

Many ISPs also have upgraded their speeds but failed to implement it for some customers. For instance around here Embarq DSL has long since upgraded their slowest service from 512Kbit to 1Mbit but many business customers are still on 512KBit because no one upgraded the DSL switch. I always test a new client's bandwidth.

I would recommend this speed test because it isn't fooled by accelerators some ISPs use: http://www.wugnet.com/myspeed/speedtest.asp

I would run this test first on a PC directly connected to the modem without the router, and then test it through the router. You want ALL the other computers TURNED OFF (see below as to why).

Some other possibilities:

- Someone in the office may have an infected computer that's sending out tons of SPAM or sharing pirated files and sucking up all the bandwidth, so when you run that speed test TURN OFF all the other computers while you're performing the test. It would also help to use a known good uninfected PC to perform the test, like your own laptop if you have one.

- You may have a bad router or switch (if you have any switches).

- You may be having an issue with the DSL modem or your ISP may be having an issue. You need to contact them and have them check their end.

- Have you rebooted the modem and the router? 99% of the time this cures connection issues.

You may need to bring in a professional to look at things. Something like this can be very hard to diagnose.
Hope this helps.

Well first of all, WEP? really? apparently you have Googled the information on it being cracked in less than 3 minutes...

Why do I get the feeling they went with the cheapest 512K internet package... If they did... no wonder it slow, that would be slow just for one person. Odd part is this ISP seems to have same price packages with different speeds. what the hell is that?

Tell them to step it up to the 12mbps package already, there would be vast improvement. Unless they are techs who know what they are doing, how did they come to the determination that the router was their problem? If they called their ISP, and they said so, wouldn't be surprised, they do like shifting the blame.

I found the best way to test true download speed is to download a full XP service pack from Microsoft. They seem to have the necessary bandwidth to handle my connection. None of the speed test sites ever do.

I tell you what, we share 8 computers on a 3mb connection at my work & if anyone is watching a video on the internet or downloading something (no, there is no administrator to keep people in line) my web surfing crawls.

my bet is it is one or two users sucking up the connection speed with streaming media or large downloads now and then. without QoS or bandwidth throttling in place, any one of the eight clients can take over the pipe and ruin it for anyone else.

Looked over the office contract briefly..they have Tier 1 DSL 128k/768k

jay3cks wrote:Looked over the office contract briefly..they have Tier 1 DSL 128k/768k

And there's the problem. Tell them they need to upgrade their bandwidth and a lot of their slowness with the internet should be resolved. With 8 people that's barely dial-up speeds.

eGo

Jeez, I can't even stand that at my home. No wonder you guys are hurting. Not to say that my work is any better.

I am obviously going to have to call India and see if that is still their current contract information. If so, they are paying more money per month then the fastest package they currently provide would cost...