Linksys router choking off 8Mb of bandwidth

Scott Butterfie · Post by **Scott Butterfie** » Sat Nov 24, 2001 8:24 pm

I just subscribed to the new fiber optic ISP in my neighborhood. They advertized speeds of 10 Mb. And son-of-a-gun they get right close to it. (9.8 Mb on their speed checker, around 8 Mb on DSL Reports). That’s when I hook the ethernet cable directly from their modem to my ethernet card. When I hook their modem to the WAN port on the Linksys 4 port router and hook the router to my ethernet card, I get speeds of only 500k to around 1.5M. Linksys tech support was less than helpful. (Even a bit surly, “there are no speed settings on the router, I guess it must be defective, take it back to the store if you don’t like it”). Of course the ISP doesn’t support the router connection. Any body have any ideas on setting up the router.

HalfLifer · Post by **HalfLifer** » Sat Nov 24, 2001 9:26 pm

Routers will do that.

Get a Netgear.

Bob Carrick · Post by **Bob Carrick** » Sat Nov 24, 2001 10:45 pm

The Linksys does not have any more then 4mb of through put. Well that is the maximum, so as we can see it's not even that.

Scott Butterfie · Post by **Scott Butterfie** » Sun Nov 25, 2001 12:36 am

But... but... but, the box said .... "supports 10Mb Ethernet on its WAN port"... was they foolen with me?

donald_k · Post by **donald_k** » Sun Nov 25, 2001 1:02 am

Get new firmware for your linksys providing your oruter is a BEFSR41. Version 1.39 and above fix the speed drop issue. http://www.linksys.com/download/firmware.asp

Bob Carrick · Post by **Bob Carrick** » Sun Nov 25, 2001 9:16 am

That is just what I've read about the Linsksys routers.

NYR 56 · Post by **NYR 56** » Sun Nov 25, 2001 11:06 am

Get the new firmware. This is a common problem with OOL subscribers and firmware update almost always fixes it. Also make sure your NIC drivers are up to date.

Scott Butterfie · Post by **Scott Butterfie** » Sun Nov 25, 2001 2:19 pm

Drivers were the first thing I tried. Router is at version 1.40.2 and my Xircom RBE 10/100 is at 3.14.5.0. Since the connection is at top speed when plugged directly into the cable modem, I'm guessing that the NIC is ok. I ran all the SG tweeks. Still 8 Mb seems like a pretty big bite for a router to take.

Bob Carrick · Post by **Bob Carrick** » Sun Nov 25, 2001 2:58 pm

As mentioned I've seen reports that this is exactly what the Linksys router does.

cyberskye · Post by **cyberskye** » Sun Nov 25, 2001 3:07 pm

Tweaking will only affect a direct connection - they change you registry, NIC, or browser settings - not the connection itself.

What is the MTU set to on the router setup page? Do you have SPI and/or logging enabled? They will slow the throughput as well.

I agree with an earlier post about replacing the router. Linksys advertisements aren't the most...accurate. Realize that you are using a very low-grade, residential router for a business-class connection (and a very fast one considering T1=1.5 Mbs). Those routers are obviously much more expensive but one is probably required to acheive your rated speeds. Either that, or go with a sw firewall and lose the router altogether.

Cheers,

Skye

BoGGy · Post by **BoGGy** » Sun Nov 25, 2001 3:58 pm

i had many problems with my netgear router

Scott Butterfie · Post by **Scott Butterfie** » Sun Nov 25, 2001 8:16 pm

Thanks guys, you make perfect sense. (That's why the Linksys guy was getting testy when I pressed him for ways to make the router perform as advertized... It won't). So Skye... do you have opinions on the best router for the job?

BlackSword · Post by **BlackSword** » Mon Nov 26, 2001 11:14 am

Originally posted by Bob Carrick
The Linksys does not have any more then 4mb of through put. Well that is the maximum, so as we can see it's not even that.

I have heard that too.

Thing is if you go to Linksys website they don't specify data rate.

Go to Nexlands site, they specify over 8MB bi-directional.

www.nexland.com

BlackSword · Post by **BlackSword** » Mon Nov 26, 2001 1:21 pm

[img]d:\pictures\linksyscompare.gif[/img]

cyberskye · Post by **cyberskye** » Tue Nov 27, 2001 12:19 pm

Sorry Scott - busy day at work yesterday.

For that kind of speed you are probably looking at something in the Cisco realm, though I am not an expert on the high-end router arena.

[where is that StoneCat when you need him

]

A friend of mine uses a SonicWall Soho2 which boasts 10MB through put (and an ICSA certified FIREWALL - not just a NAT router). It runs for just over $400 if you shop around. No commercial endorsements here

but I have looked into one myself - http://www.sonicwall.com then link to Soho2. It only advertises 8MB RAM so I suppose your usage of that massive bandwidth will also determine the grade of router you need - is this a single machine or single stream downloads or are you setting up a busy LAN where all will access simultaneously?

I don't have the answers but I think these questions and some of the knowledgable folks on this site will guide you to your solution.

Cheers,

Skye

Phantom-Vortex · Post by **Phantom-Vortex** » Tue Nov 27, 2001 4:46 pm

Be careful putting that much bandwidth on that linksys or you may see smoke due to its weak ability to route that kind of throughput.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Nov 28, 2001 7:58 am

Originally posted by cyberskye
[where is that StoneCat when you need him ]

Cheers,

Skye

Holiday month man....busy partying! And actually working a lot too....lot of new servers to build this month for new networks.

Like most others here are saying, the Linksys is trying to feed too fat a pipe....although I suspect your router is hosed also, as not even a Linksys should be performing that slowly. But even at it's best, it will still be cutting your bandwidth in half.

NetGears are the best home market routers, in my opinion. I have one at the office hooked to a 6 meg DSL pipe, and it flies. But I think it's about maxed out there.

On your optic pipe (drools)....I'd recommend stepping up to a SOHO class router, like a Netopia, Cisco, or, as I'm getting turned onto by some peeps on this forum, Nexland. I'm wanting to suggest a Nexland, as they are still very user friendly with web admin features like the Linksys. If you get a Netopia or Cisco...well, they're not easy to run, no web admin features, they're really geared for IT peeps to admin through TelNet, etc. Not user friendly devices.

I don't have input on the Sonic devices, have been wanting to see one, but Nexland seems really to have won over their customers....very loved devices by those who have them, I'm probably going to pick up one of their rigs soon to give a try.

cyberskye · Post by **cyberskye** » Wed Nov 28, 2001 4:52 pm

Thanks 'Cat. I am going to be in the market as soon as I get myself moved next month (2.2 MB SDSL supplied by my office - can't wait) and will definitely give the nexland a look-see.

Cheers,

Skye

fokker · Post by **fokker** » Wed Nov 28, 2001 8:37 pm

what's your fiber optic service called? and how much does it cost?

SG Broadband Community

Linksys router choking off 8Mb of bandwidth

Linksys router choking off 8Mb of bandwidth

But Bob:

Drivers are the latest