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[jazzkeys]

Howdy, y'all,

I'm using an HP G60 laptop, running Win 7 Pro x64 SP1, fully patched. I'm usually in the home office, connected to a D-Link DIR-615 router (h/w: E3, f/w: 5.10, the latest). The internal Atheros AR9285 N150 wireless adapter has never been as reliable as I'd like, so decided to purchase a USB N300 adapter. I bought a TP-Link model for $10 and started using it. For some reason, it would only connect at 150, unless I ran the router's Web interface and saved the wireless settings, even without a change, at which point I'd see 300 Mbps. However, at the next restart after hibernation, the connection with the DIR-615 would fall back to 150.

I stepped on the TP-Link USB adapter and broke it. Oops. Decided to purchase a D-Link DWA-131 (h/w: A1, f/w: 1.21, the latest) 'cause it's compact and the box says that, "For Optimal Wireless Performance +Use With Wireless N 300 Router (DIR-615)."

Expected 300 Mbps, but it connected at 65. Argh. Did the trick again with the DIR-615's Web interface, and saw 150. But after restart from hibernation, back down to 65. Unable to achieve 300 Mbps, unlike the cheap-o TP-Link adapter. Router is configured according to Lycan's sticky note. Router's Wireless Status shows a signal of 39%, and the router is in the next room in a wood-framed building.

Is this as good as it can be? Looks like the DWA-131 is coupla years old with no new drivers for Win 7. Ran the DSL Reports Java speed test, and seeing 18+ Mbps d/l, and 1.8 Mbps u/l, which is about average from Cox here in The OC. If I can't get a faster connection, then D-Link's claim of "optimal performance" is misleading.

Any ideas? Thanks much.

Andy in SoCal.

[FurryNutz]

What wireless modes are you using?
Try single mode N.
WPA2/AES only for N only 300Mb connections.
Channel Scan and Band (20/40) set at Auto.

[jazzkeys]

Thanks, Mr. F. Nutz, for your prompt reply.

DIR-615 config parameters are as you recommend, except that mode is mixed G and N because a Wii console in the building doesn't support N.

Unfortunately, changing the "802.11 Mode" field to "802.11n only" doesn't improve the Win 7 reported speed of 150 Mbps. I tried the WUGNET Speed Test, and it reported 5.25 Mbps u/l, and 2.11 d/l. Signal strength is 27%. Maybe I'll retry a connection in the same room as the DIR-615.

Will report back. Adios for now.

[FurryNutz]

Remember that changing mode only changes the connection speed between the wifi device and the host router. Does nothing for actual file speed. Also speed testing over wireless is not recommended as it can't provide accurate data since many things effect how wireless works and performs.

[jazzkeys]

I tested the DWA-131 to DIR-615 connection speed again, this time sitting about 2 ft. from the router. No improvement: After restart from hibernation, 65 Mbps. After changing the mode to 802.11n only, Windows 7 Pro x64 reports 150 Mbps. The wireless status page shows a "Rate" of 108M, and a signal of 43%, despite sitting so closely to the router. After a second restart from hibernation, back to 65 Mbps.

I'm gonna exchange the DWA-131 at Staples. If there's no improvement, I'll contact D-Link support.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge Mr. F. Nutz.

[FurryNutz]

Let us know how it goes.

[jazzkeys]

Sad to report no improvement, even after exchanging the DWA-131. I determined that the Wi-Fi chip is the Realtek RTL819xSU after Windows Update offered an updated driver. I then installed the latest driver for Win 7 x64 from Realtek. Still no change. Even tried increasing the beacon to 193, but no improvement.

However, I think that Win 7's reported "Connection Speed" is the Tx frequency, which is half of the Rx for this device. I installed the D-Link Wi-Fi utility just for grins, and it showed Tx=65 and Rx=130.

I'm gonna contact D-Link Support, and the Marketing group as well. D-Link should not promote this device as N300 if it isn't.

Thanks again for your assistance, F.B.

[FurryNutz]

Let us know what they say. Good Luck.

[merkens11]

I have the same problem with the DWA-131. The connection is limited at 65 mbps.
I'm looking for a solution.

[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 region are you located?


Some things to try:
Turn off ALL QoS or Disable Traffic Shaping (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 under Advanced/Firewall.
Enable uPnP and Multi-cast Streaming under Advanced/Networking.

What wireless modes are you using? Under Setup/Wireless/Manual.
Try single mode N?

What security mode are you using? Preferred security is WPA-Personal. WPA2/AES Only. Some WiFi adapters don't support AES, so you might want to try TPIK only or Auto.

Any other WiFi routers in the area? Use InSSIDer to find out.
Turn off Short GI, WLAN Partition and Extra Wireless Protection if you have it. Under Advanced/Advanced Wireless.

Turn off all anti virus and firewall programs on PC while testing. 3rd party firewalls are not generally needed when using routers as they are effective on blocking malicious inbound traffic.
Turn off all devices accept for one wired PC while testing.

I have the same problem with the DWA-131. The connection is limited at 65 mbps.
I'm looking for a solution.