Q: Networking: why am I not using all available bandwidth?
Submitted By: michaeljh, 233 days, 8 hours, 27 minutes ago
I have a home network running in my house and I'm concerned about something. Here are two computers both running Windows XP Pro SP2. There is a reliable Belkin router connecting these two on the network. One of them is wired and one is a laptop so it's wirelessly connected. Say I'm transferring a large 5 GB or so file from the wired computer to the laptop through the 54 mbps connection. The laptop is no more than three feet away from the router. The transfer progresses taking several minutes.
Anytime throughout the transmission, the networking tab on the Task Manager shows the network active. I see the active 54 mbps connection yet the Task Manger reveals that only 40-45% of network capacity is being used! Instead of getting the full 54 mbps, it's telling me I'm getting about 23ish. I've googled this for awhile and am coming up empty.
The transfer eventually completes with no problems. However, I feel bummed out about not getting more bandwidth than what I am. Anybody have such results as well and can offer a solution to get more bandwidth?
Anytime throughout the transmission, the networking tab on the Task Manager shows the network active. I see the active 54 mbps connection yet the Task Manger reveals that only 40-45% of network capacity is being used! Instead of getting the full 54 mbps, it's telling me I'm getting about 23ish. I've googled this for awhile and am coming up empty.
The transfer eventually completes with no problems. However, I feel bummed out about not getting more bandwidth than what I am. Anybody have such results as well and can offer a solution to get more bandwidth?
Please try not to post duplicate answers... if you see an answer that you want to post, just add a vote to it and you can add a note as well. Thank You
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Get used to it...
Submitted By: z_aksis ( 233 days, , 58 minutes ago )
If you're getting 23ish on a 54mbps connect you're doing good. Might even tell me that your are not running a network secured by WEP, WPA, etc... You are getting an excellent throughput. Keep in mind, especially with a wireless network, that there is much more data transfer going on than just your file. There is a lot of network "overhead" consisting of packet encryption (if applied), signal strengths, channel numbers, data rates, IP and MAC addresses, NetBIOS resolutions and more! Plus the router must analyze all the data internally to determine its destination whether NAT based or internal traffic. One more factor is noise..there is a good level of noise at various frequencies throughout our homes. Changing channels sometimes helps. Don't use the microwave, 2.4 ghz phones or 2.4ghz security cams/equipment during peak netowrk times. If you are only using "G" speed on your connect, disable G/B or A/B/G compatibility to save some more overhead. Change things on "auto" to the manual alternatives if you fully understand your routers settings. I test thses things for a living....never seen higher than 40mbps on an industrial 4.9ghz 108mbps dedicated wireless backbone link that cost $5000...you're doing good. I get 16-20mbps at my house :|
Submitted By: RandomSkratch
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Submitted By: michaeljh