Question:
I have been on AOL (wired) 1MB broadband for a while now, and was very happy with it, consistently getting download speeds of +900 Kbps.
However, I have recently "upgraded" to AOL's wireless offer, and so am using the Netgear DG834G Router they supplied me. But with this I am now getting download speeds of about 640 Kbps.
Is this normal? Or should I still be getting greater then 900 Kbps?
Or is there anything I can do to tweak it?!
Any help/advice would be much appreciated, however please bear in mind that I'm not a computer expert at all!
Thanks in advance
Answers:
Basically if the router is set up correctly it should easily cope with a 1MB connection. Have one hard wired connection and two wireless here and the download speeds are the same. Your wireless channel may be getting interference from another wireless network nearby, so try changing it to a channel several channels away.
Answers:
Your wireless channel may be getting interference from another wireless network nearby, so try changing it to a channel several channels away.
Erm, how do I do that?! Sorry be for being thick, but I'd need step by step instructions.
PS - My wireless Network Connection signal strength is "Excellent"
Answers:
tweaking your mtu to 1400 might help..
Downloads speeds vary all the time, 640MB/s is reasonable on a 1MB link, but not perfect.
Answers:
Downloads speeds vary all the time, 640MB/s is reasonable on a 1MB link, but not perfect.
But surely if I'm getting 900 Kbps on a wired connection, I should get the same download speed on a wireless connection??
Answers:
what do you mean by wired, ethernet via router, or old usb modem. How are you testing the speed.
try this wired to the router, then wireless.
The 1Mb/s is the max speed, not the norm, it varies during the day, from site to site.
have you setup encryption. anyone else using your router?
Answers:
what do you mean by wired, ethernet via router, or old usb modem. How are you testing the speed.
try this wired to the router, then wireless.
The 1Mb/s is the max speed, not the norm, it varies during the day, from site to site.
have you setup encryption. anyone else using your router?
By wired, I mean USB modem.
Yep, I've been using the adslguide speed test. In the past when I've checked the speed of the USB modem at different times of the day, it was always greater then 900 Kbps. Now I've got the wireless router, I'm doing the same, and it's always about 640 Kbps.
And yes, the router is security-enabled so there should only be one computer using it!
Can anyone help please?!
Answers:
By wired, I mean USB modem.
Yep, I've been using the adslguide speed test. In the past when I've checked the speed of the USB modem at different times of the day, it was always greater then 900 Kbps. Now I've got the wireless router, I'm doing the same, and it's always about 640 Kbps.
And yes, the router is security-enabled so there should only be one computer using it!
Can anyone help please?!
I don't understand why you are not comparing the wired with the wireless connections on your router! Forget the USB modem and check the wired speed on your router to see if you have configured it correctly.
HTH
Answers:
I don't understand why you are not comparing the wired with the wireless connections on your router! Forget the USB modem and check the wired speed on your router to see if you have configured it correctly.
HTH
Good point, silly me!
Ok..... here are the aprox. speeds I'm getting:
USB Modem: 940 Kbps
Router with Ethernet cable: 940 Kbps
Router using wireless connection: 630 Kbps!
So, any ideas anyone?!
Answers:
Does it do this if you are sat next to the router?
Does you wireless still work if you switch off the router (i.e. are you connecting to yours or someone elses router)
if yes, and no, try changing channels.
Are you using wpa-psk encryption, have you made it secure, turned of the ssid broadcast, changed the default router password?
Answers:
Does it do this if you are sat next to the router?
Does you wireless still work if you switch off the router (i.e. are you connecting to yours or someone elses router)
if yes, and no, try changing channels.
Are you using wpa-psk encryption, have you made it secure, turned of the ssid broadcast, changed the default router password?
How do I change channels?
Sorry, all this stuff is very new to me! Yes, my wireless download speed is still slower even when I'm next to the router, and no, it doesn't work when I switch the router off (definitely connecting to my own router).
I think I'm using WEP encription (26 character).
Answers:
How do I change channels?
Sorry, all this stuff is very new to me! Yes, my wireless download speed is still slower even when I'm next to the router, and no, it doesn't work when I switch the router off (definitely connecting to my own router).
I think I'm using WEP encription (26 character).
Chapter 4 of the user manual covers wireless. The wireless channel is the third setting down on the Wireless Settings configuration page.
SSID
Region
Channel
Mode
If your equipment is all 802.11G you should set the mode to g only.
You should be using WPA-PSK encryptions as this is much more secure.
Go to and get yourself a 64 Char HEX string (top box) for your encryption key.
HTH
Answers:
I was going to start a new thread, so hope you will excuse Crabby's butting in here, but could you/someone tell me what is in the Easy Install pack from AOL? Obviously a router but do they include a USB wireless dongle at all as I have an older PC without an ethernet socket so only option is really a wireless card/USB wireless. Help appreciated
Answers:
hey you dont get the wireless usb adaptor. you get the router , a few filters and an ethernet cable.
I poated on here a week or so ago that my aol wireless was a lot slower than my old usb modem and after doing all the tests above here are the results.
wireless router
downstream = 571.7kbps
upstream = 234.2kbps
wireless router with ethernet
downstream = 631.9kbps
upstream = 234.1kbps
adsl modem
downstream = 935.4kbps
upstream = 236.4kbps
i've hunted about and its not just me thats had the same effect after upgrading to aol wireless so is there anyway to ,ake the connection faster or is it just something you have to live with if you want aol wireless? cheers in advance
Answers:
or change channels
Answers:
I've changed channels using the netgear setting site, but it doesn't seem to make a difference.... do I need to change the channel on the router itself? If so, how do I do this?!
Answers:
I've changed channels using the netgear setting site, but it doesn't seem to make a difference.... do I need to change the channel on the router itself? If so, how do I do this?!
Post #12 tells you where the wireless channel settings is located on the Wireless Settings configuration page!
Go to and select the correct version of your DG834G and download and READ section 4 of the manual. If you can't be bothered to do that, how do expect to sort out this problem?