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Question

Router being mean to my laptop - only connects at slow speed

Jul 25, 2016 5:32PM PDT

My laptop (HP dv6-1330ca) will only ethernet connect (sometimes I need to) at 10 Mbps while wireless is a full 104 Mbps; I'm not super sharp with networks and I've pretty much exhausted my troubleshooting abilities so hoping someone here can point me right.

- my laptop insists on ethernet connecting to my dLink DIR-655 router at 10 Mbps; (this computer is max 100 Mbps) .
- for the purposes of troubleshooting, I reset DIR-655 to factory settings.
- the cable is known good. Everything has been rebooted (several times actually).
- other devices can connect to the dLink at the appropriate speed (1000 or 100).
- likewise this computer can connect to 2 other routers (Bell, Linksys) at the proper 100 Mbps.
- this behavior is recent - it was fine before today on the dLink; couldn't find anything in Windows Events to explain it.
- eventually I upgraded the Windows driver (even though I never really thought that was the issue).
- also has the exact same behavior in Linux.

Backgound: Normally I use the DIR-655 as a switch/ alternate wireless access (mainly because the ISPs router is really bad at in-home streaming).

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
2003. Yes.
Jul 25, 2016 5:41PM PDT

This router started shipping in 2003. They can go bad. Troubleshooting costs so much that I carry a cheap router to show where the problem is and how a 20 buck router can be the answer.

As a test I pull the router back to 802.11g only connections. Sure that's only 54 megabit but that's 5 times the speed you have now.

Now here's another thing. The Linux angle tells me it's hardware IF other machines are same or fine. I happen to have a dv6 and they do tend to need new WiFi cards after a few years.

All this is inconclusive but you will get clients that can't accept a card or router has failed. Which is great news for your billing!

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Thanks for the replay R. Proffitt .
Jul 25, 2016 6:11PM PDT

I agree with most of what you said (especially with weird dv6 behavior .... you should SEE what this thing has cost me in batteries over the years) but why would the dv6 then connect to 2 other routers at full speed; likewise why would the router manage to connect at proper speed to other computers. (so if I look in router Status I see for example 2 connected at 1000 and this one at 10)

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Why.
Jul 25, 2016 6:35PM PDT

Because a WiFi card can go wonky and be fine with another router. The USB WiFi I carry is under 10 bucks and what I pull out when I suspect the card.

I would check drivers but the Linux test tells me it's something else.

Do try changing the router's mode.

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K... I'll try that test.
Jul 25, 2016 6:46PM PDT

Will change the router setting tomorrow evening - will let you know.

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Changed the wireless protocol
Jul 28, 2016 11:52AM PDT

Changed the wireless protocol to (g) only but it didn't affect the Ethernet connection speed. However, when I use the docking station Ethernet port instead of the laptop port I get the proper speed [remember though that the laptop port connects properly to other routers]; so weird and I guess not really worth spending any more time on it. Thank you for your help though R. Proffitt.