"Bytor" <xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.com> hath wroth:

>You sure do read a lot into a simple post.
>
>>" That's nice. Any particular reason you don't want to disclose the
>> makers and model numbers of your hardware? Perhaps you don't want me
>> to suggest that you purchased garbage, the wrong hardware, don't have
>> the latest firmware, or that the product might have a known problem?"

>Let me simplify.

Actually, I was hopeing you would supply some of the missing detail.
More simply:
1. What problem are you trying to solve?
2. What do you have to work with? (hardware, software, versions,
numbers).
3. What have you done so far and what happened?

>I have a 10 Mbps cable connection. The cable modem is plugged into the
>WRG614v6 router.

I'll be pedantic and point out that you also didn't bother to mention
the maker and model number of the cable modem. If you really have all
that MS and Novell wallpaper, you should know better.

>I turn off all computer equipment to avoid interference
>with the test and reset the router to factory defaults.

The defaults are not always the optimum configuration for wireless.
For example, some older routers slow down with the wireless
essentially scanning between 802.11b, 802.11g, Turbot-G, etc. However,
the difference is too drastic in your case, so this is unlikely to
cause the speed problem.

Resetting the WGR614v6 also eliminates having your router stuck in the
802.11b only mode, which was my best guess. However, you might want
to check the settings to make sure you have actually reset the router
and that it's NOT stuck in the 802.11b only mode.

>I have a brand new HP/ Compaq NC6400.

Runing what operating system? Updated with the latest MS or Linux
updates? Once again you're leaving out important information. What
wireless device? Drivers from HP or from the manufacturer? If XP,
are you using Wireless Zero Config or the manufacturers driver?

>If I plug it into a port on the router, I can "speed
>test" to any of several online sites at 9.6 Mbps. (I live in Dallas and use
>the "dfw.speakeasy.net" speed test"). No problem with internet/ethernet.

Agreed. You're getting the advertised cable modem speeds.

>Enable wireless connection on the laptop and unplug from the router and
>"speed test" drops to 4.4 Mbps, whether I am a few feet from the AP or in
>the next room. The signal quality is "Excellent" at all times.

I understood that in my last reply. I offered a way to reduce the
number of possible culprits by using IPerf. That would eliminate the
cable modem and the ethernet router part of the puzzle, leaving only
the access point section and the ethernet switch. The test will also
show error statistics as will your unspecified operating system
diagnostics.

Back to being pedantic. How many feet are a few feet? What signal
strength (in dbm) is "excellent"? At what SNR (signal to noise ratio)
or noise level? Numbers, not generalizations.

>This same test has the same results with my Dell Inspiron 600M w/internal
>wireless G, Compaq Evo with Wireless G card and Dell GX270 with Linksys
>compact USB Wireless G adapter.

Again, I note the partial lack of model numbers and operating system
versions. However, as 3 seperate computers and wireless devices
apparently exhibit the same behavior, it's mostly likely a problem
with either the wireless section or the RF environment.

>I either have a faulty AP in the WGR614v6 or that model cannot handle more
>than 4.5Mbps an the wireless side.

It's also possible that you live in an RF polluted environment.
<http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi#Interference>
However, the mostly likely problem is something wrong with the
wireless section of the router. I can't tell from here. If the
laptops all function normally through a different wireless router
(i.e. coffee shop hot spot), then by process of elimination, it's the
WGR614v6.

>This is the information I was seeking.
>I will likely only know by replacing the router/AP with one that is known to
>function at 10Mbps or more.

Well, the easiest way to troubleshoot anything is by replacement. If
you can borrow a different model router and try the same test, the
conclusions will be definative.

>Though I hold an MCSE:Security, CCNA. CCA, and
>COMPTia Security+ and am pretty familiar with general wireless networking, I
>have never witnessed this particular issue before.

Your unwillingness or inability to supply numbers and details is not
very impressive.

I have seen this problem before, but not with this particular model.
The problem turned out to be a nearby municipal wireless system that
was trashing the channel. Changing channels solved the problem. In
most cases, it is just plain bad firmware which was solved by an
update. If replacing the router with a different model does NOT solve
the problem, methinks you should consider doing a site survey with a
spectrum analyzer.

I can usually look at layer 2 (MAC layer) statistics for the wireless
device and determine what is causing problems. Same with sniffing the
traffic and analyzing the retries, retransmissions, collisions, and
corrupted packets using Ethereal.

>I was hoping to hear,
>"Oh yeah. that model of router blows over 4 Mbps" or something like that.

Well, why didn't you just ask that question? Unfortunately, the
router performance comparison at:
<http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/component/option,com_chart/Itemid,189/>
does not offer this specific model. That's why I wanted you to
actually measure the thruput, without using an online speed test.
There are also some router and client combinations that simply hate
each other. Eventually, these also get fixed with firmware updates.

I checked various reviews, but there's a problem. The different
hardware mutations of the WGR614 all have different chipsets and
therefore different performance levels. Here's one that might be a v6
running at 22Mbits/sec wireless throughput.
<http://reviews.cnet.com/NetGear_WGR614_54_Mbps_Wireless_Router/4505-3319_7-21218238.html>

>I do appreciate your efforts though, as well as further ideas.

No furthur ideas. Do the Iperf speed test and see if the wireless is
really the problem. If you think that your firmware update caused a
problem, try flashing the firmware again followed by a hard reset.

Incidentally, I do NOT have an MCSE, CCNA, CCNE, or other
certifications. So far, I haven't needed them and haven't had the
time to study for them.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@comix.santa-cruz.ca.us
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558