> The local web sites are coming fast because they're in your browser
> cache. Flush the cache and they'll be as slow as the rest.

Unfortunately, it's not that easy. This is actually the only thing that
doesn't make any sense, and the only piece of evidence that is stopping
me from throwing the router out of the window:

I use WGET to test speed, which has no cache (verified). Wired, "wget
http://www.apple.com/trailers" returns 100 kb/s, when wireless, it's
only 3kB/s, sometimes even 7kB/s. Then I download a large test file
from my ISP - wired, it's 500kB/s, wireless 500kB/s. (I live in
Europe.)

I know, it's alien-abduction-in-Bermuda-triangle-style weird stuff.

> The fact that configuration web pages are slow via wireless and fast
> via ethernet eliminates the router WAN connection as the culprit
> taking the internet out of the picture. It's definately a wireless
> problem. My guess(tm) is the router is sick sick sick.

I was already told that router is probably "faulty". I know I might be
a stubborn f*ck, but I somehow can't believe this router is "faulty" if
everything other than wireless _international_ downloads works
brilliantly.

> I don't think you'll see much there. Look for statistics that show
> MAC layer (not IP layer) packet loss. I forgot if Proset will show
> those. Incidentally, I suggest you use Intel Proset 10.x instead of
> WZC as it's much more informative, feature infested, and rationally
> designed.

I'll try that as well... Thank you.

The only reason I prefer Zero Config is the ugliness of Intel's PROSet
software. I guess I'll have to get used to it if it works better.
However, Zero Config works great with all other hotspots.

> You might want to drag in a friend with a known working laptop and try
> connecting to your router for a sanity check. It won't fix the
> problem, but it will help identify the culprit by eliminating the
> laptop as a probable cause. (Avoid alien laptops as they have
> incompatible protocols).

Thank you for your time, I'll see if I can do that too. I'll let you
know if I figure it out or break it into small pieces and feed it to
aliens.