Wireless internet so slow

[mrc300]

Currently i have a Fujitsu laptop its about 4 years old so not exactly modern tech, i've got Virgin 20mb cable and im using wireless with a Belkin G+ ADAPTOR as it has no built in wireless, it's linked to a Linksys router. Everything is working fine connection wise signal strength full bars and speed an indicated 54Mb/sec which is fine. To my disbelief when doing several speed checks im only getting 2mb download speeds max. wtf why is it soooo slow? i feel like i'm getting robbed at the moment.

I know there are some great guys on here that know what they are talking about in this area so if you could help it would be much appreciated

Mat

 

[Kev_md]

you are being robbed,there was a feature about this on last weeks gadget show and most companies are offering about 8mb when in fact you are getting 2mb.just the usual rip off britain.check channel 5/gagdet show or something like that.

 

[Rob_]

Its virgin they are s**t.

Move to bethere broadband if you can get it in your area.

P.S Ring virgin asap and escalate the issue dont let them fob you off with oh it must be your equipment blah de blah.

 

[Noodle999]

Before you start complaining to Virgin, have you done a speed test with the laptop wired to the router? And also a speed test with the modem connected directly to the laptop? While it may be likely it's Virgin they're going to ask you the exact same thing when you tell them how it's connected.

If not you can't rule out it being the router or wireless. In general wireless is s**t compared to wired, and the 54Mbit/sec is basically the maximum you could achieve by connecting the aerial sockets of two very high quality cards together with a very highly shielded coax cable, you'll never get anywhere near that in the real world.

 

[mrc300]

right we have just tried it on my friends laptop now at 17:30 and he was getting a range between 17mb and 12Mb which is sooo much better, one of my friends is currently on an online game too. i've just done the same test again on mine and im only getting 5Mb max. Is this because my laptop is so shite and doesnt have wireless built in?

And yes we have tried being wired into the the router and there is a fluctuation of only about 0.5Mb.
What times are classed as peak?

 

[Noodle999]

Well if you only get 0.5Mb more by being wired, and your mate's laptop can achieve way faster speeds on your connection using wireless, I'd say there's definately something wrong with your laptop! :S

Is the wireless device PCMCIA/Cardbus, or USB?

 

[mrc300]

The wireless device is from USB.
lol i'm not being a dumbass here we have put our laptops side by side in the same room on the same test and i get 5Mb Max and he gets roughly 13-15Mb max.

I'm well confused.

 

[Rob_]

You may have loads of adware and spyware on your laptop?

Run adaware or spybot search and destroy

Both are free