Wireless And Lan Connection Link Speed Question???

Ok i will admit some computer parts i don't fully understand.But i understand them enough to keep things working at peak performance.

The question i have for any one that can answer it.

Is this

???"Why in my last windows 7 install did my Link speed change to 52 Mbps when it's speed is 72Mbps."????

It's been over a year since i did a full windows 7 install.I noticed that my wireless Link speed was set at 52Mbps.But my local Lan connection stays at 100Mbps.

I can use both of the connections at the same time which is odd.So in total i would be using around 172Mbps.

My new windows 7 install is set at 72 not 52 like the old one.

Here is a picture to show you what i mean.

 

Wireless Link speed: the current speed negotiated between the wireless AP/router and your wireless NIC on the channel currently used. Since last time, channel/3rd party traffic may have changed, distance between antennae, or orientation might also be different to last time. Maybe some house plant in between was recently watered... Actual throughput and ping times (latency) are what really matter.

I've yet to see both LAN and WLAN in concurrent use on any of my W7 machines.

 

Are you connecting to the same modem via cable and Wi-Fi?

I have reproduced the above scenario by connecting to the same modem via USB and Wi-Fi.

 

They don't add. And while you can be connected to both connections at the same time, most systems don't use them simultaneously. But if yours did and had a 100Mbps connection and a 72Mbps connection and were able to get those speeds, the data would go at 100Mbps on one side, and 72Mbps on the other. Not 172Mbps. You cannot co faster than the fastest connection.

Remember too, you should expect different speeds between Ethernet (wired) and wireless. Ideally (and nothing is ever ideal in networking) you likely have 1Gbps (1000Mbps) Ethernet networking (unless your hardware is really old) between your computer's Ethernet adapter and the router's 4-port Ethernet switch.

As for your wireless connection, that will depend first on the wifi protocol your wifi network supports - and sadly, you didn't tell us that.

802.11g for example, only supports up to 54 Mbps - again, in an ideal scenario. Distance, barriers (walls, floors, ceilings, etc.), interference and other factors impact that.

802.11n can support (ideally) up to 600Mbps.

Between your wireless device and the WAP (wireless access point - typically integrated with a wireless router), you are limited first by the capability of the slowest wireless device. So if your wireless router supports 11n but your computer's wireless adapter is an 11g adapter, that connection will be limited to the 11g's capability. Then performance does nothing but go downhill from there.

Also, unlike Ethernet connections, all the wireless devices in your house connect to just one or two (two only if your WAP supports simultaneous dual [2.4 and 5GHz] band connections) points. This means your "smart" TVs, Blu-ray player, cell phones, coffee pot, door bell, thermostat, and refrigerator are all connecting to AND SHARING the bandwidth of that one (maybe two) wifi connections. And that will impact the performance of your computer too over that wifi connection. So always use Ethernet - if possible. And if your wireless device supports 5GHz (and your wireless router supports it too) it is typically best to use that band as well.

 

Yes i am

The modem is from my ISP.It has both wifi and lan compatibility's

My laptop is only a year old and my modem is new it's only 6 months old.

 

Here is a new picture of it being used at the same time.

 

That suggests they support the newer protocols, but without knowing model numbers, there's no way to verify one way or another.

What you call "the same time" may not really mean "the same time". By same time, I mean the exact same clock cycle of the CPU. And regardless, that does not suggest 100 and 72 is the same thing as 100 plus 72.

 

The Laptop is a HP 17 g121wm and the modem Arris -E31A (2.4ghz) and Arris - E31A (5ghz).I have my isp setup as 5ghz ban.I had to look up the info.

 

According to these specs, that notebook supports 802.11b/g/n which is good, but only 10/100 Ethernet which is odd, but probably fine. Note the fastest (in ideal theoretical conditions) Ethernet speeds your notebook can do is 100Mbp - not 172Mbps.

I can not find any reference to an Arris E31A modem. Are you sure of that? Every Arris/Motorola modem I have seen has the model number right on front.

Is it a "residential gateway"?

There are are typically 4 discrete network devices on most home networks.

1. Modem - to connect your network to the ISP's network. This is typically your network's gateway device.
2. Router - a device to connect (or isolate) two networks. Routers have only 1 input and 1 output.
3. 4-Port Ethernet switch - a device to allow connecting multiple "wired" nodes (computers, network printers, network storage and other devices) to your side of the network via Ethernet cables.
4. WAP (wireless access point) - a device that allows wireless devices to connect to your network via an Ethernet port on the 4-port Ethernet switch.​

These device are are often integrated in various combinations.

1. Router - typically this device includes the router and a 4 port Ethernet switch. Two discrete device sharing one box. The router then connects your LAN (local area network) via an Ethernet cable to a separate modem that then provides Internet access.
2. Wireless router - this integrated device includes the router, 4-port Ethernet switch, and the WAP. The WAP typically connects to a 5th internal Ethernet port on the integrated Ethernet switch. The wireless router then connects your network (everything on your side of the modem) via cable to the modem.
3. "Residential gateway" device. This is often used today. It includes the modem, router, 4-port Ethernet switch and WAP in one box. These are 4 totally discrete network devices that just happen to share a common main circuit board, chassis/case, and power supply (and usually a common admin menu).

4. Some may even include a VoIP (voice over IP) device to provide Internet phone service to your network. ​

This matters since I can find no reference to that Arris device, I still don't know the configuration or capability of your network.

 

Yes the modem it self has all them connections.

DG2470A here is the modem https://arris.secure.force.com/cons...0000OlFUyAAN&c=Touchstone Modems and Gateways

Compatibility Major U.S. Cable Providers
Download Speed (Internet) Up to 343 Mbps
DOCSIS 3.0
Gigabit Ethernet Port 4
MoCA Technology Yes
Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
WPS (Wi-Fi Pairing Button) Yes
Preset Wi-Fi Security Yes
Wireless Guest Access Yes

Guess i looked at the wrong model number.

 

Okay, your gateway device is fully capable of 1000Mbps Ethernet speeds and supports 802.11ac for 500Mbps or faster wifi speeds.

But as always, speeds are determined by the slowest link.