My Linksys 4 port HUB slows my DSL by 75%...help please

[Guest_imported]

Hi I run a brand new linksys 4 port hub and I connect 4 PC's to it...when I get it all set up my transfer rate (using only one of the 4 PCS) is 400 mbit/sec or so...when I hook my DSL modem directly to one of my comps I get 1.4mbit/sec.

I have tried everything, and can't seem to get a good speed using this hub. I have called tech support and they are no help.

Also just to be certain I hooked only one comp into the hub (to make sure the others were not sapping the performance) and I got the same slow result. I can only get the good speed that I am paying for if I connect only 1 PC directly to the modem

Thanks!

Speed_Demon

 

[jimbopalmer]

Any chance you are using 10/100 cards and a 10/100 DSL modem but a 10 meg hub? A 10 meg hub 'ought' not to impact a 1.4 meg data flow but there are some possibilities where it does.

As a general rule Hubs are half duplex, while your PCs and Modem may support full duplex. Using a Switch rather than a Hub would help in that respect. Perhaps the PCs just need to be set to half duplex like the Hub (got a model number for us?) as a situation where one side is half duplex and the other is full duplex, is slower than a matched set.

(I am assuming the 400 Mbps is .4 Mbps) Are you using a router, or is the ISP providing multiple IP numbers, if the same packet has to go to a router then on to the ISP through a hub you may get collisions. (can you describe the connections?)
I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[TheOldMan346]

Hubs have shared bandwidth. In this case with 4 port hub, each computer would get (1.6 / 4) .4 Mbps while transmitting. Switches provide dedicated bandwidth. Each computer would have the potential of using the full 1.6 Mbps bandwidth.

Hope that helps.
The Old Man

 

[jimbopalmer]

While true, even in a hub, one computer can get all the bandwidth, if the other 3 are idle; and even in a switch no more than 1.4 meg of internet is available to all the PCs. I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[Guest_imported]

Thanks for the response, here are more details:

1. I use Verizon DSL 1.5 down 384 up.
2. I connect my modem directly to my Linksys router, then use the ports on the router to my computers.
3. If I only connect one PC to the Linksys router I still get a big speed slowdown.
4. If I connect all of my PC's to the router I get the same slowdown.
5. I have a dynamic IP address: maybe you are right about the "collusions" but I don't know much about that, there should be a way to remedy I would think.
6. The only way to get full speed (that I am paying for) is to go direct from my modem to one of my comps bypassing the router completely.


With this said, I do want to find a way to have all of my comps on the same LAN and share my internet connection with the best possible speed. I am willing to change my setup if need be. Does anyone know of alterante routes for me? Maybe a different brand besided Linksys? I have also heard of some software that lets you share the same DSL connection without the router at all. Security issues?

Thanks!

 

[Guest_imported]

One of my friends told me that maybe its the incoming speed of my router...like its not 10/100...but just 10.

It says 10/100 for LAN speed, but only 10 for WAN speed and the WAN port is where my modem gets plugged in.

Also, could it be the 4 ports? Maybe even though I don't hook a computer into each port it still divides the speed amongst them.

hmmm

just thinking.

Do they make a router that deos 10/100 incoming that I can buy? The other option might be to get a router with only one port.

I do not have a spare machine that I can put 2 netcards into and run firewall software on it...so I need to stick with a router/switcher type solution.

Thanks!

Speed_Demon

 

[TheOldMan346]

Speed_Demon,

Wait a minute! You said it was a hub. If you've got a Linksys DSL router, it's most likely an integrated switch, not a hub. That is a whole different story!

What is the model and the firmware version?

The Old Man

 

[Guest_imported]

The model number is the Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port Switch. Model # BEFSR41 ver. 2

Thanks!

Speed_Demon

 

[Guest_imported]

Firmware version: 1.42.7

 

[TheOldMan346]

Speed_Demon,

That is a Cable/DSL router with an integrated 4 port switch. The firmware version is current. I have the same router and it works flawlessly.

In answer to the questions you raised, the WAN interface is 10 Mbps. That is not a limiting factor since your DSL currently is 1.6 Mbps. Since it is an integrated switch, each of the ports gets dedicated, not shared, bandwidth.

You could use proxy or Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) but that is generally more troublesome and less effective than the routers.

Did you try resetting the router? What are you using to check the speed? When your computer is connected to the switch, do the LED's indicate a 100 Mbps, full duplex connection? It IS possible you have a faulty unit.

The Old Man

 

[Guest_imported]

Where do I set it to full duplex? I have the "Link" LED lit up but that's about it.

 

[jimbopalmer]

neither the 100 lights nor the full light are on any of the LAN ports?

As a general rule, (there are exceptions) 10 meg is half duplex while 100 meg is full duplex. I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[TheOldMan346]

Speed_Demon,

If the NIC's and router are working correctly, you should have a Link light and the Full/Coll and 100 LED's should also be lit. See the image below.

If you are not getting these lights, then the NIC is not being recognized as a 100 MB/Full Duplex capable card. This is not a setting. The ports are autosensing and it needs to be recognized. This may be a result of a router issue or the NIC. What type of NIC is it?

Whatever is causing this situation [hardware fault, incompatibility, etc.] is what is causing the slowdown.

The Old Man

 

[jimbopalmer]

By the way, if we had the model of the DSL modem , we could get specs on it as well I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[Guest_imported]

I think you all are right...I don't have the proper LED's lit.

My modem is a Fujitsu. It's an older model, If I connect it straight to my comp I need a crossover cable.

here's the model # (err all the #'s I could find)

ORFAST-R2-A-SA-Br-US

IP-ATUR-ETH2 FC9660RA12

Thanks for all the help people!

Speed_Demon

 

[Hungster]

Speed_Demon,

was your problem solved ?
i had 4 of this piece, and couldn't stand it under dsl
works fine under cable

 

[jimbopalmer]

if the PCs are on 10 meg cards, then no 100 light, no full duplex light is correct, (mine are all 10 meg ethernet) as the Linksys is only 10 meg on the WAN side, the Toshiba should also indicate 10. but none of that should slow down a 1.4 meg DSL connection I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[Guest_imported]

PROBLEM SOLVED!

I wanted to thank you all for being so kind and trying to help me with my problem! Here is the solution that is working great for me:

I ditched the Linksys router and obtained a SMC 4-Port router, model number SMC7004ABR

I think it was able to detect my DSL modem and connections better than the Linksys...I just plugged it all in and it works! I have 4 comps on my network all able to download at 1.3 mb/sec...which is great!

Thanks again! I hope this conversation helped others as well!

Speed_Demon

 

[Hungster]

See another user hate Linksys

lol i flashed the rom till it choked
and the tech support just know me, cuz i buged the heck out of him
finally returned them all to Future Shop

 

[TheOldMan346]

Speed_Demon,

Glad things worked out for you.

I personally have had excellent results with LinkSys. Never had a failure and I've done many. Have also done SMC, Net-Gear, etc.

Whatever works! That's what counts.

Good luck.
The Old Man