Why is wireless transfer files slow?

[Mr.CookieMonster]

Hello.

I got a Netgear DGN200Mv2TELKOM ADSL Modem, which has Wi-Fi "up to 300mbps".

I was transferring some files from my laptop to another laptop. Both laptops had a speed 150mbps. When transferring, the speed was so crappy, files were copying at 2,04MB/sec. Isn't it suppose to copy faster than this, like 10MB/sec?

Why is the copying speed so slow?

I was copying from a Dell XPS L502X to a HP 602.

Thanks

[dj_jyno]

Unfortunately wireless is still a hit-and-miss affair, even with 300 Mbps routers. Theoretically, with both laptops supporting 150 Mbps you should see around 10 MB/s, yes. Rarely ever happens, though.

Sometimes you get slow copy speeds over Gigabit cabling as well - it depends on what type of file you are copying and how fast the laptop's storage is.

[The_Librarian]

The wifi radio can either do transmit or receive, and not both simultaneously.

I have found that, if a wifi device in close proximity of the wifi router (or with a stronger wifi radio module) is starting to download/use the network, it will cause the other wifi device (which is farther away, or with the weaker signal) to start experiencing heavy lag.

[CoolBug]

Generally wifi transfer is always ridiculously slow even if you put your laptop physically on the wifi router.

Copying a few songs or documents might be okay but anything more than that then you might as well try find another way of copying, USB, through a lan cable, 1 Gigabit network is usually my favorite.

Basically anything internet related, wifi will be okay so that means, browsing, online gaming etc.

Problem is that current technology is just lacking, eventually we'll get there.

Unless you buy a really fast router

i.e. http://gizmodo.com/5920235/these-new...-for-your-buck

but then your other devices have to comply.

Unfortunately not even the Galaxy S III complies with these new standards. Some new laptops do though.

Normal speeds would be Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n but if a phone also has the "c" then it will be fast, currently there are no phones that I know of that has this wifi standard though.

[HavocXphere]

No that 2mb is normal unfortunately. That standard for the g standard.

Consumer routers just seem to suck though:

e.g. On the netgear (DGN2000) here as soon as a wifi device is connected even the wired connections drop to ~2mb. As in ethernet to ethernet PCs drop too. Pretty retarded.


Interestingly though Win8 -> XP is about 2mb faster than Win7 ->XP over identical gear. Assuming its not a measuring issue then thats a pretty solid improvement (20%).