Wireless vs wired internet speeds

[Brian D]

If you are running wireless (which I think just about everyone is) and you are in your home, I have a request. Please test your wireless speed and tell me if you are getting anywhere close to your wired speed. Here is your task.

1. Connect your PC/Laptop to your router (wired).
2. Go to speedof.me and run a speed test.
3. Now, go wireless.
4. Go back to speedof.me and run a speed test.
5. List your results.

My results are 60Mbps wired and +/- 20 Mbps wireless. My setup: Cisco DCP3010 modem, Linksys WRT160N router (running only N network).

 

[Phil Herring]

I think that's pretty typical. Also, the N protocol isn't the fastest option now.

 

[Brian D]

Yeah, but the issue is not so much the megaspeed of 1300 Mbps, but what wireless is doing in the background. The inherent issue is half-duplex, or simplex for us old-school guys. With a simplex system, the speed in 50% of that rated. So for anyone who has 54Mbps will see about 20Mbps as I do.

So far I have not had the opportunity to move up to 802.11ac because my systems in my house cannot not use it. So unless I replace everything, 802.11n is here to stay.

Are you running 802.11ac? If so, I would love to see what you get wired vs wireless.