Wireless lag on laptop

hen23 · 07-15-2007, 08:24 PM

Hi, I have a little wireless lag problem. I have what I believe is the basic D-link router, with 4 internet connections possible on it. Anyway, I have a Desktop, Xbox 360, and 2 laptops connecting to it. They all used to work fine, but all of a sudden, the two laptops seem to lag a lot on gaming and with browsing. So, I tried turning off the Xbox and the desktop, but it still lags. So finally, I connected the laptop up to the router with a Ethernet cable, and the lag went away. Also, sometimes the internet works fine with the Xbox and desktop turned off. Any ideas?

*SRTDodge05* · 07-15-2007, 08:26 PM

I would check to see if there is a updated firmware to see if that helps. Does your router have Qos?

hen23 · 07-15-2007, 08:56 PM

Alright, uhm, Im not sure what firmware is or what "Qos" is, im sorta new to this.

*SRTDodge05* · 07-15-2007, 09:00 PM

Firmware is the OS of your router, its updated now and then to fix bugs and help performance.

QOS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality_of_service

hen23 · 07-16-2007, 12:53 AM

Well, I updated the firmware, and my internet sped up. Im not sure whether its random or its really fixed, we'll find out tomorrow.

shaihulud · 07-16-2007, 08:01 AM

Quality of Service does not remedy lag in any situation. The only way to remedy lag is to have capable hardware, and high bandwidth. QoS can actually introduce a bit of minor lag due to the packet queue processing and the rearrangement of the order of packets. Also to note, QoS is not the same as Wi-Fi’s WMM.

The major issue of consumer provisioned bandwidth is the fact that it is mainly asymmetrical. The bandwidth for receiving is much higher than for transmitting. Since this is the case a download can easily saturate the transmitting ability of the WAN due to downloading and sending ACK’s.

Some will do bandwidth management and limit the hosts to a particular amount of allocated bandwidth to prevent saturation for all other hosts using the Internet connection. This differs from QoS because the networking device responsible for QoS will be analyzing the packets and applying a rule that has been set to which packets will leave the WAN interface before others that do not fit the rule. This is why the latency can be introduced. Not just to the packet being withheld from transmission, but also due to the processing that is introduced and the reorder in memory.

There is a rule that is very important about Wi-Fi. The rule is: Wireless is only convenient. Beyond this wireless can be unsecure, problematic, and annoying. It can work fine is a many a cases, but does require some network understanding. Mainly that being about the RF and MAC interfaces in use. That includes not only you but surrounding you.

Your lag issue could be due to many reasons. One can easily be the introduction of more Wi-Fi connection in your neighborhood. Therefore, you may need change channels. Also, most SOHO routers do not decode encryption in hardware. Therefore using WAP and WAP2 can introduce a little latency too when the router is experiencing more packet processing. Really, there can be a multitude but I cannot analyze your network.

07-15-2007, 08:24 PM	#1
hen23 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3	Wireless lag on laptop Hi, I have a little wireless lag problem. I have what I believe is the basic D-link router, with 4 internet connections possible on it. Anyway, I have a Desktop, Xbox 360, and 2 laptops connecting to it. They all used to work fine, but all of a sudden, the two laptops seem to lag a lot on gaming and with browsing. So, I tried turning off the Xbox and the desktop, but it still lags. So finally, I connected the laptop up to the router with a Ethernet cable, and the lag went away. Also, sometimes the internet works fine with the Xbox and desktop turned off. Any ideas?
(Offline)

07-15-2007, 08:26 PM	#2
SRTDodge05 Grab Life By The Balls Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,830	I would check to see if there is a updated firmware to see if that helps. Does your router have Qos?
(Offline)

07-15-2007, 08:56 PM	#3
hen23 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3	Alright, uhm, Im not sure what firmware is or what "Qos" is, im sorta new to this.
(Offline)

07-15-2007, 09:00 PM	#4
SRTDodge05 Grab Life By The Balls Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,830	Firmware is the OS of your router, its updated now and then to fix bugs and help performance. QOS. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality_of_service
(Offline)

07-16-2007, 12:53 AM	#5
hen23 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3	Well, I updated the firmware, and my internet sped up. Im not sure whether its random or its really fixed, we'll find out tomorrow.
(Offline)

07-16-2007, 08:01 AM	#6
shaihulud Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,239	Quality of Service does not remedy lag in any situation. The only way to remedy lag is to have capable hardware, and high bandwidth. QoS can actually introduce a bit of minor lag due to the packet queue processing and the rearrangement of the order of packets. Also to note, QoS is not the same as Wi-Fi’s WMM. The major issue of consumer provisioned bandwidth is the fact that it is mainly asymmetrical. The bandwidth for receiving is much higher than for transmitting. Since this is the case a download can easily saturate the transmitting ability of the WAN due to downloading and sending ACK’s. Some will do bandwidth management and limit the hosts to a particular amount of allocated bandwidth to prevent saturation for all other hosts using the Internet connection. This differs from QoS because the networking device responsible for QoS will be analyzing the packets and applying a rule that has been set to which packets will leave the WAN interface before others that do not fit the rule. This is why the latency can be introduced. Not just to the packet being withheld from transmission, but also due to the processing that is introduced and the reorder in memory. There is a rule that is very important about Wi-Fi. The rule is: Wireless is only convenient. Beyond this wireless can be unsecure, problematic, and annoying. It can work fine is a many a cases, but does require some network understanding. Mainly that being about the RF and MAC interfaces in use. That includes not only you but surrounding you. Your lag issue could be due to many reasons. One can easily be the introduction of more Wi-Fi connection in your neighborhood. Therefore, you may need change channels. Also, most SOHO routers do not decode encryption in hardware. Therefore using WAP and WAP2 can introduce a little latency too when the router is experiencing more packet processing. Really, there can be a multitude but I cannot analyze your network.
(Offline)

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