Slower speed with WPA2 than WPA

Capt Ron · Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2008 11:29 pm Post subject: Slower speed with WPA2 than WPA

I was reading another thread in which it was said that they got a faster speed with WPA2. So I changed my settings to try it. Before the change I was seeing download speeds of around 800kbps. After changing it went down to 400kbps or less. I changed it back and it went right back to 750 to 800kbps.

I don't know for sure what causes it, but it sure slows my download speed.

By the way I only use the router for access for one laptop. I still have 2.0 software on my router, which is working fine I plan to update to latest release, but don't think it will make any difference. Confused

Hardware · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 141

I have seen this happen on some cards I've used on non-evdo routers.

The basic problem is how the wi-fi chipset can handle the encryption and do the math to encrypt and decrypt the packets. Some wi-fi chipsets just do a lousy job.

So yes, this is a realistic problem. Now, that said, I can't imagine it would hamper your EVDO connection unless you have very poor signal strength on the wi-fi side.

Give us a description of your problem.

Capt Ron · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:27 pm Post subject:

My router is about 20 feet away with one sheetrock inside wall half way between me and it. But I have tried another location with out the wall with the same results.

My WIFI signal level is excellent. Network Stumbler shows -100 noise and -49 signal level. SNR is -54

Hardware · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 141

Interesting, well here are my thoughts and questions.

First, what modem are you using as a point of general interest?

Second, when you make the change to WPA2, I would connect to the router with ethernet and test the speeds. As I'm sure you know the speeds on EVDO are highly erratic, so run several in a row to make sure you're not getting some erratic network behavior. Do this both before and after the WPA2 change and compare the results.

Ok, and last but not least, there is no reason the Wi-Fi encryption should eat up WAN bandwidth. There is so much more bandwidth on 802.11b or 802.11g that there is no way that the wi-fi is the bottleneck. So that leads us to some kind of hardware or software fluke that's causing problems. So disable any and all firewalls and virus softwares for the duration of the testing just to make sure the environment is as clean as possible.

tvBilly · EVDO User Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 30

Have you considered the WPA2 slowdown may be at the other end (i.e., in your laptop, not the router)?

Bill S