Crap!

[ffutures]

I got a new PC for the back room (where it will mostly be used for file transfers and on the TV, and as a reserve in case the other one dies) today - after shopping around I decided that rather than building it the cheapest and easist route for me was a slimline XP box, so I got a reasonably good deal on an Elonex with 512mb, 3ghz, etc. I've since wasted FOUR hours trying to get Bittorrent to work properly via the wireless network, with a total lack of succes - it invariably locks up after a few minutes - and have now bitten the bullet and run a cable through the wall so that I can connect it to the router directly. And it's now happily downloading at an average rate of 174k a second - it's finished a 348mb file since I connected the cable.

The WiFi card wasn't expensive, and I'll probably put it into the Windows 98 box or something since I just stole its cable, but it leads me to ask yet again - why is windows wireless networking so amazingly crap? Is it just me, or is everyone running into this sort of difficulty?

Still trying to make up my mind what to do with the Windows 98 box - can you realistically run linux on a 400mhz machine with maxed out 256mb?

Later: I was obviously a bit tired when I posted that because I missed the most important part, which is that the WHOLE NETWURK was freezing, and would only work if I reset the router, and that this hasn't happened with the cable.

With regards to the questions people have asked, this first happened with the official Bittorrent client, then Azeurus, then Bitlord. I've ended up using Bitlord because it incorporates file finding etc. and seems to work pretty well.

Thinking about it, I've never previously tried to use bittorrent over a wireless connection for anything big, so it's possible that this is something about the router, not the PC.

Re. the limitations of the Windows 98 box, sounds like the best bet is to reformat it with 98, take out the second drive and put it into my external case (which will give me a 40gb USB drive which should be useful) and pass the PC itself along to charity or something. Unless anyone wants it here, and can pick it up from me in London? It'll have 26gb in two HDs and a CD writer, and is normally pretty reliable; I haven't pinned down the source of the recent problems but I suspect a rebuild will fix things - won't get it done for a few days though. I'll throw in a 15" CRT monitor if it's wanted... Also a SCSII scanner and card.

Comments

[vicarage.livejournal.com]

Linux wifi is worse... You can run linux on that spec if you avoid a gui, and run it without X. With X it will struggle.

[saranjeuhal.livejournal.com]

Only if you use the newer Gnome or KDE. That type of machine would work as a nice NAS, firewall or e-mail server.

[robertprior.livejournal.com]

I haven't had any trouble with my Mac wifi network. I occasionally have trouble at school, but usually only when someone else has been fiddling with the network (and it's connected to a PC network there, which I suspect is a big part of the problem).

[saranjeuhal.livejournal.com]

A couple of things. First, if you're running Windows XP, you need to switch out the TCPIP.SYS file that's in by default. Your box is most likely locking up because all the file handle are being used. Windows XP by default only allows 10 half-open connections.

Here's a link.

http://www.lvllord.de/?url=tools

Secondly, what torrent program are you using?

[cobrabay.livejournal.com]

174k a sec is good, a lot better than I'm getting. Who's your ISP?

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

ntlworld - 4mbit cable.

[saranjeuhal.livejournal.com]

Make sure you have the latest firmware patch for your router. Linksys routers (which I use) often have issues with too much wireless traffic and need to be reset from time to time.

You may also be having issues with too much interference on the wireless band you're on. Change the wireless band and channel and you should be okay. 3, 5 and 11 are your best bet.

As for BT client, try using uTorrent. Nice, small, fast, capable.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Interference is a possibility - there are five other Wifi networks I'm detecting apart from my own, annoyingly all of the buggers are encryupted so I can't get the dirt on my neighbours- and I know there's another stealthed one in the flat downstairs, because I installed it.

It isn't a linksys router, it's Netgear, and firmwear is up to date.

[saranjeuhal.livejournal.com]

It's most likely the interference then. Switch to a different channel. Most people will run on 2 or 8. Really, it's a case of trial and error. Experiment until you find what seems to be the best.

Oh, and you might also get some interference from radio signals nearby and microwaves when in use. Annoying, but it happens. Our wifi used to drop in the kitchen when we used the microwave, but I added an extender and that took care of it. Metal in the walls will do it too.

Remember that when you use wifi, you're never going to get true throughout of the wifi type. You'll end up maxing out at about 25-30% of the possible depending upon range from the transmitter. I get a max 25% throughput on my 54g network., so I'm really like being on a 12Mb Lan. There's a lot of overhead with wireless packets, and lots of communication between clients and routers. The more clients there are, the slower the network obviously.

Another area that slows wifi down is the processing power of the router. Most are relatively low power and have little memory, and then again, the upline from the router to the physical connection can affect you as well.