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[toicy4ya]

Hi All,

I previously owned a Linksys WRT54G V.8 wireless router, I upgraded my router to a DLink DIR-655 N Router in hopes to improve my internet download speeds. As a comparison I ran several online speed test for both routers. However, All test yielded similar results with minimal improvements. I also downloaded large files utilizing rapidshare's download manager, again with no improvement in download speed. I thought moving from a G to an N router would improve my download speeds. The drivers on the DLink router are current.

Are there any tweaks or tricks i can do to increase my download speeds?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Dell Dimension 1545 Laptop
Windows XP
Intel WiFi Link 5100 Mini Wireless Card

[FurryNutz]

What Hardware version is your router? Look at sticker under router.
What Firmware version is currently loaded? Found on routers web page under status.

What ISP Service do you have? Cable or DSL?
What ISP Modem do you have? Stand Alone or built in router?
What ISP Modem make and model do you have?
If this modem has a built in router, it's best to bridge the modem. Having 2 routers on the same line can cause connection problems.

What wireless modes are you using?
Try single mode G or mixed G and N?
What security mode are you using? WEP, WPA or WPA2? Preferred is WPA-Personal. WPA2/Auto TPIK and AES.
What wireless devices do you have connected?
Any cordless house phones?
Any other WiFi routers in the area?
Turn off Short GI and Extra Wireless Proctection if you have it. Under Advanced/Advanced Wireless.
Turn off all anti virus and firewall programs on PC while testing.
Turn off all devices accept for one wired PC while testing.
Is your Intel WiFi Link 5100 Mini Wireless Card support N modes?

Some things to try:
Ensure DNS IP addresses are being filled in under Setup/Internet/Manual? You can find these under Status/Device Info/Wan section.
Turn off ALL QoS (DIR only) GameFuel (DGL only and if ON.) options. Advanced/QoS or Gamefuel.
Turn off Advanced DNS Services if you have this option under Setup/Internet/Manual.
Turn on DNS Relay under Setup/Networking.
Setup DHCP reserved IP addresses for all devices on the router. Setup/Networking
Ensure devices are set to auto obtain an IP address.
Set Firewall settings to Endpoint Independent for TCP and UDP.

[davevt31]

All Internet download speeds are at the mercy of your ISP, what speeds have they promised you?

[gggplaya]

You're only as fast as your weakest link.  In this case, your modem.  Assuming you had good signal strength on your WRT54g, you have 54Mbps of available bandwidth.  Your modem depending on what company and package you have can be anywhere from 1Mbps-20Mpbs or higher depending on your package.  Quite simply the WRT54g was more than capable of transferring that amount of data from your modem to your PC.  

Why buy an expensive router???  Aside from features that people want, like port forwarding, better network management, more range, usb hard drive and printer hosting etc...... Most people need the Quality of Service(QOS) engine. This engine prioritizes who and what programs get more bandwidth.  So if your surfing the internet on your computer, and your sister watching netflix on hers, it'll give your sister more bandwidth so her movie will be smooth and stutter free.  Surfing the internet can have a little lag.  Same for prioritizing gameplay giving it the most bandwidth it wants, and giving whatever's left to bit torrent downloads.  

A more expensive router also gives you better intranetwork speeds(traffic between computers in your home).  This can be especially useful when doing PC backups on the network, or just sharing large files between computers.

Also with more users connected, and more data going through the router.  A router with more processing power and ram can be helpful in maintaing network speed.  But if you only have 2-3 computers in the house, and only using the router for the internet.  You could have installed DD-WRT firmware( for a good QOS engine) on your WRT54g and you wouldn't see any gains for buying a more expensive router.

[vadeltachi]

So which router(s) have the best QoS engines and support?

I haven't fiddled much with the stuff on the DIR-655, but it doesn't seem to do much?

[FurryNutz]

I messed with the DGL-4500, DIR-825 and not have a DIR-655, all have good QoS engines if they are set up well for what you are doing with them.

[Hard Harry]

I think the QoS changed from the 4300 to  the 4500, but after that, most other higher end router by Dlink use the same "automated" QoS. What I mean by that is if you have it on automatic how it classifies different traffic types and gives them more or less priority. However, part of QoS is UPnP and NAT, but I am not sure how that has changed. All that stuff is pretty deep behind the curtains if you know what I mean.

Another thing to remember, QoS only works when you use it, and when you need it. What I mean is alot of people are going hardwired into the router, forwarding the ports, and not using any other consoles/PC when playing. Which is good..but it means QoS isn't doing anything. Its like having a traffic light on a road when there is only 1 car. Whats the point? That's probably why some people don't see a difference with it on or off. Just a thought.

[slpip]

Disable the QoS will increase the speed.