Question

Brand new iMac Airport network speed test shows 5 times slower than XP, Vista and Linux? Why?

Asked by: deve-lopez

Hello!
Just added an iMac to my network.
Network access is really slow, the speed test shows it is about 5 times slower in download and upload than my Win Xp and Win Vista machines?
Why is that?
I looked at the Airport settings under System Preferences but not much that can be configured there?
Any Apple guru who can shade some light on that, even my old linux box network is running 5 times faster... I don't understand what the differences are.
Thanks, D.

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Asked On
2009-09-09 at 00:39:50ID24717359
Tags

Mac Network Speed Airport

,

Mac Airport

Topics

Wireless Networking

,

Snow Leopard (OS 10.6)

,

Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard)

,

Apple Networking

Participating Experts
1
Points
125
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: strungPosted on 2009-09-09 at 04:13:59ID: 25289924

 

by: deve-lopezPosted on 2009-09-09 at 10:38:06ID: 25293677

Hi!
Yes I saw the comment posted there.
I applied the fix mentioned and while it did in fact improve the speed the Airport is still bellow the other PC. The speed test shows:
On the Mac Airport: 4.7 Mbps Download and 0.4 Mbps Upload
On Windows and Linux: 9.9 Mbps Download and 2.4 Mbps Upload
The fix has improved Download speed, it is 1/2 of what it should be but at least it is usable now.
On the other hand the Upload speed has not improved much :-(
I need to serve files and data with the iMac so Upload speed is just as important as download speed.
I cannot understand why Apple would not release a patch for that issue if it has been around for so long and with there large customer base.

Is there anything else I could take a look at?

Thanks again, D.

 

by: strungPosted on 2009-09-09 at 10:44:12ID: 25293733

You could spend $29 to upgrade to OS 10.6 Snow Leopard and see if that makes a difference.

What brand and model of wireless base station are you using? Are you on G or N? Have you tried updating the base station firmware? It might be using an older version of draft N than the Mac.

 

by: deve-lopezPosted on 2009-09-09 at 12:25:14ID: 25294655

I am on G.
It is a Netgear Wireless Router WGR614 v5.
I have not updated the firmware of the router.

 

by: strungPosted on 2009-09-09 at 12:28:28ID: 25294686

Updating the router firmware is the first thing I would try.

By the way, is your connection to the internet a DSL connection using PPPoE, or a cable connection?

 

by: deve-lopezPosted on 2009-09-09 at 16:35:49ID: 25296469

It is a Cable Connection.
Router info on NetGear site indicates it is certified up to 10.4 but no mention of 10.5...
How much of a difference is there from a networking POV from 10.4 to 10.5?
I think you might be right about the router being the source of the headache!
More later...

 

by: deve-lopezPosted on 2009-09-24 at 13:07:42ID: 25417288

My NetGear router firmware was not compatible with 10.5...
So I upgraded the router everything is working now!
Thanks for the suggestions!

 

by: deve-lopezPosted on 2009-09-24 at 13:13:36ID: 31626491

Went with Cox Com small business ISP offer

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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