Netgear DG834gt wireless problems

i have three computers on a home network, my router is a netgear DG834gt. My main desktop uses a WG311t wireless PCI card, second desktop uses a usb connected WG111t and the laptop a WG511t card. i had all sorts of problems getting the home network up and running but got there in the end, all have internet access and i can share files between all, i used network magic software to help me out. All hardware are 108mbps but here comes the question all the netgear software on all computers show the connection speed as only 54mbps even though XP shows them as 108 and also network magic says they are running at 108, which one is correct, how can i establish for definite what speed they are running at. I have tried all sorts of things so far such as turning off WEP etc but nothing seems to help. Netgear website is as about as helpful as a chocolate teapot!! any help would be much appreciated

 

They are all correct.

The 108 rate is achieved by using two channels of 54mbs each. So if you follow 802.11g standards and sample one channel, you will read a rate of 54mbs.

Note this is an ideal rate. Rarely in fact would you see it. A review from Wi-Fi Planet:

 

Many thanks

Thanks for the answer, so why dont Netgear tell you that. I even got a reply from them about it and all they replied was that i should make sure all the devices are set to run at 108 only. When you have all netgear products and they are advertised as 108mbps youd expect to get it

 

seve,

You have no future career in marketing!

 

Lots of possibilites here:

1) Is there a setting in the router for speed that is set at 54 by default or accident ?
2) Is there new software or firmware ?
3) The 108 will be propietary . Are all of the units set up for 108 or are they all compatible with the 108 system. Remember if only one of the adapters is not it can reduce the speed of the whole network.
4) Next are the standard wi fi questions

- how far away are the adapters from the router ? All of these speed ratings are hocus pocus as the rate of transmission drops rapidly with any distance. Ditto factors that affect transmission and reception such as thick or heavy walls or floors with lots of metal or foil insulation in the walls. Basically transmission is considered line of sight even though a lot of the signal is what bounces around ( whatever they call it now). As well is the area clear around the router or is there clutter around it ?

- other interference ? Microwave ovens , cordless phones on 2.4 Ghz
- lastly the simplest and most important question perhaps. Have you tried changing the channel. The biggest problem by far is neighbours with wireless routers. Almost all of the routers have their default channel set to channel 6 in the middle resulting in interference and reduced rates of speed.
Try changing the channel. Two next choices are at the two ends - channel 1 and channel 11 . But basically it is trial and error over the 12 channels.
Remember though that your neighbours router may be sporadic coming on on demand.

hope that this gives you some ideas and options to play around with .

 

This used to be common when 802.11g was first introduced. It really is of little consequence anymore. It most certainly would not explain the stated rate of 54mbs by the Netgear software. XP shows 108 on all, and one other utility shows 108 on all.

The issue is software and not microwave ovens in this instance.