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Level 4

2,986 points

Download rates

I've noticed a consistent pattern in download rates on the Core Duo.

On my G4 PB when I download a large file from a site with consistenly fast servers, such as Apple, I get download rates that usually saturate at about 600 kB/sec on my cable modem. The rate will usually stay right there until the end of the download.

On the Core Duo, the rate oscillates. It peaks at 600 kB/sec and then a few seconds later drops to near zero and then peaks at 600 kB/sec. There period of this oscillation is about 7 seconds and this pattern repeats until the end of the download.

Both computers are downloading through the same Airport base station although not at exactly the same time. The net download time for the same file is about double for the Core Duo.

Anybody have similar or different experience?

- gws

iMac Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.4.4), 20"

Posted on Jan 27, 2006 7:09 PM

51 replies

jb102

Level 1

0 points

Feb 15, 2006 5:36 AM in response to jb102

Problem solved...at least for our computer.

This is a follow-up on the same problem of slow download speeds.

Yesterday a tech specialist from Apple got back to me about the problem after I called them.

The engineering departments says that there is inteference between channel 6 on wireless routers with Bluetooth. They told me to change to any other channel and the problem should be solved. I just changed my D-Link 624 to channel 11 returned to our wireless keyboard and wireless mouse and we now have screaming fast download speeds that match our 15 inch PB.

Hope this info helps others solve this problem.

mywhen

Level 1

0 points

Feb 17, 2006 3:40 AM in response to jb102

So, in finality, does 10.4.5 solve the problem of airport ?

dwind

Level 1

5 points

Feb 17, 2006 1:58 PM in response to mywhen

no, the problem is still present. There are several threads on this problem.

Feb 21, 2006 9:35 PM in response to GW Schreyer

What is the output of this command:

/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Resources/airport --getinfo

Feb 22, 2006 5:15 AM in response to AirPort-Guy

I ran those tests. I tried it several times - the only thing I changed was the airport channel between 8 - 3 on my airport express basestation. I then ran www.speakeasy.net/speedtest and recorded the results. Here you go....

--------------
commQuality: 50
rawQuality: 30
avgSignalLevel: -69
avgNoiseLevel: -95
linkStatus: ESS
portType: Client
lastTxRate: 54
maxRate: 54
lastAssocStatus: 1
BSSID: 00:14:51:6b:6e:c5
SSID: Apple Network 6b6ec5
Security: none

Channel 8
SpeakEasy.Net Speed Test 1030/230

---------------
commQuality: 54
rawQuality: 32
avgSignalLevel: -67
avgNoiseLevel: -76
linkStatus: ESS
portType: Client
lastTxRate: 54
maxRate: 54
lastAssocStatus: 1
BSSID: 00:14:51:6b:6e:c5
SSID: Apple Network 6b6ec5
Security: none

Airport connected to my Airport Express Basestation.
On Chanel 7
SpeakEasy.Net Speed Test 827/232

---------------
commQuality: 50
rawQuality: 30
avgSignalLevel: -69
avgNoiseLevel: -96
linkStatus: ESS
portType: Client
lastTxRate: 48
maxRate: 54
lastAssocStatus: 1
BSSID: 00:14:51:6b:6e:c5
SSID: Apple Network 6b6ec5
Security: none

Chanel 6
SpeakEasy.Net Speed Test 764/236

-------------------
commQuality: 44
rawQuality: 27
avgSignalLevel: -72
avgNoiseLevel: -96
linkStatus: ESS
portType: Client
lastTxRate: 54
maxRate: 54
lastAssocStatus: 1
BSSID: 00:14:51:6b:6e:c5
SSID: Apple Network 6b6ec5
Security: none

On Channel 5
SpeakEasy.Net Speed Test 1094/224

----------------------
commQuality: 30
rawQuality: 21
avgSignalLevel: -78
avgNoiseLevel: -71
linkStatus: ESS
portType: Client
lastTxRate: 48
maxRate: 54
lastAssocStatus: 1
BSSID: 00:14:51:6b:6e:c5
SSID: Apple Network 6b6ec5
Security: none

Channel 4
SpeakEasy.Net Speed Test 899/233

-----------------
commQuality: 24
rawQuality: 19
avgSignalLevel: -80
avgNoiseLevel: -87
linkStatus: ESS
portType: Client
lastTxRate: 48
maxRate: 54
lastAssocStatus: 1
BSSID: 00:14:51:6b:6e:c5
SSID: Apple Network 6b6ec5
Security: none

Channel 3
SpeakEasy.Net Speed Test 841/230

------------------------

There is little difference in performance for me between those channels, and they are (speedtest) about half of what I get on my mac mini, powermac and ibook.......

Mar 7, 2006 9:05 AM in response to Patrick Ellis1

do you mean burst ack mode? if your wireless router has it, it will give you best transfer speed, at the expense of range though. i have mine set on burst rather than immediate.

no wireless issues on my 17"intel imac, belkin pre-n, airport express, and dell pc's on the network.

try putting the router on the wall midway or high up away from eledctronics stuff.

also, i have absolutely no idea why wireless routers put different channels, it makes no difference as the freq's between them are too close together to make any difference.

Download rates