Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[MartinO]

Hi guys,

So I just got a DGL-4500 that I ordered from Amazon in replacement of our Linksys WRT320N, that used to do a good job also thanks to dd-wrt firmware. The Linksys was great for anything except gaming, and since my 2 step-sons kept complaining about poor xbox live connectivity and lag with both xbox and ps3 once in a while, I went online and hope I have found one of the best gaming routers there is with the 4500.

However, while I used to have little to no issue with the Linksys' wi-fi performance in our house depending on the locale of the indivdual devices, this seems to be a different story with the 4500, despite of it's 3 impressive antennas. On the paper we should have up to 15Mbps through "Powerboost" with our Comcast ISP, and the Linksys was able to deliver that with the usual exceptions of high traffic times in certain evening hours.
When I go on speedtest.net now with the computer that is wired directly to the 4500, I'm getting up to over 30Mbps down and 6Mbps up, if that is no fake (I think it wasn't that much with the Linksys). With any other of the 3 PCs in our house that are connected wirelessly however, the transfer rate varies big deal anything between 3 and 15Mbps. It's definitely not a pure matter of distance in the house, one computer is right in the room next to the router, and I tested this with the Laptop otherwise. But when I accidentally set the router on top of the cable modem instead of next to it, the performance appeared to be a little more even, but still not great and at a level that I would expect.

I have positioned the antennas the way the instructions suggested, and the router is not covered up or shielded whatsoever. Are there any other tipps how to put it up for a good performance? Like I said, that wasn't necessary with the Linksys, with which the wireless performance appeared to be a lot more robust.

I have already downloaded the latest firmware 1.23NA. Are there any known issues with that model and certain hardware stages? I haven't play around a lot with the router's settings, I didn't think this would be necessary just for internet. The only adjustment I did (besides setting up a secure network of course) was fixing the channel to 11, since all of our neighbors are on 1-6 only.

Oh and we haven't tested the gaming performance yet, but I will let you know.
Thanks for your time and any suggestions you may have!

[FurryNutz]

Try changing from Mixed mode on the WiFi to Single mode G or mixed G and N if you have N supported devices.

[MartinO]

Thanks, I am trying G and N mixed since we have both devices. Doesn't appear to make a difference though. Wireless performance is ok right now, still not quite as expected. No issues so far with gaming.

On another note, the vendor ID reads as Cameo Corporation and not D-link. Wth??

[MartinO]

Just checked again its actually Cameo Communications Inc.

[FurryNutz]

Let us know the results for Mixed G and N and single mode G to test.
Not sure why your seeing that mfr, didn't know they had any parts or mfr parts. It's possible.

How far away is the router from the wireless devices? Whats in between them?
Any other Wifi in the area?
Any cordless phones by chance? Just checkin.

[MartinO]

Still no difference with mixed G and N. Single mode is unfortunately useless since all devices use N except for an ipod and smart phone.
The best connectivity I found in the room on the main floor, right underneath the room upstairs where the router sits. But in the room right across from to the room with the router, even with both doors open, the connection is worse than from downstairs to upstairs. Doesn't make any sense to me!
No 2.4GHz phone nearby or any other devices I can think of that would affect the connectivity. I positioned the router and antennas in all kinds of ways, didn't really do anything either.

I was going to sell the Linksys, now I think I'm trying to use it as a repeater. I'll let you know how that works out.

[FurryNutz]

What FW version is currently loaded on the router?

I would test Single mode G and see if there is any different just to test the single. N devices can use G mode. I know thats not preferred though.

Its possible that building material could be effecting in some ways. It is preferred to have the router on the same floor has your main devices.

Any other WiFi routers in the area?

[MartinO]

Latest FW 1.23NA. Honestly, I'm not even willing to test a mode that is so not what I wanted and what I need. If that is what it boils down to, I'd dump that piece as fast as I made the decision to buy it, and go to the next one. Thanks tho!
There are no indications that building material is an issue, on the contrary.
No other wifi routers in our house, if that is what you mean by in the area.

Like I said, I'm even going to add one by trying the repeater. If that doesn't work, the 4500 will be kicked out. But before that, I'm going to check with D-link support and have them explain to me the Cameo thing, to see if I've caught a lemon possibly.

[FurryNutz]

Good luck.

This is a user configuration/environment issue and not HW related.