Tips to speed up network transfers
 

I'm running a very basic setup here... Linksys Wireless (B) router.

2 desktops and 2 laptops, but only 1 desktop and 1 laptop are currently on right now. All are wireless.

I'm trying to copy SP2 (250 megs?) to my desktop, and it's taking FOREVER. It says 20 mins remaining! I might as well just redownload the thing at this slow slow rate. 10 mins to download it vs. 20 for network transfer (file share.. the \\ipAddress\c$ method).

Something's not right here! I know 10Mbps is a bit slower than most, but it shouldn't take 20 minutes! My broadband is 4Mbps, so.. I can only guess my network is operating at 2 and below. Both machines have "Excellent" signal from the router, which is directly below me (and both machines) in the basement.

What can I do to make sure things are set properly to insure a full and proper transmission?

Unfounded Theroy:
What could have happened is that the two computers noticed that they are on the same wireless network, and could be talking directly to each other without the help of the AP, so while they might be getting a 11Mbps connection to the AP, they could be getting just a 2Mbps connection to each other. I'm not sure if 802.11b does this, but just to try things out, you could try to move the two devices closer together.

Now, if they aren't talking directly to each other, remember that wireless networking is a shared medium, if there are two people on it transferring files to each other, your bandwidth between them drops down to a half, minus some more for overhead/timing delays. So if they are sending data through the AP, the packet has to go over the wireless to the AP, bounce back from the AP to the other computer, wait for the reply to be sent and bounced, and then it starts again.

I'm not to experienced with wireless though, I only use my wireless access point to serve up data for one laptop, and it's just used as a toy, no serious transfers, for that, I plug it in.

802.11b 11mbps * 40 percent = 4.4 mbps real world speed

why dont you try putting the two computers in adhoc mode and see if its any faster. if it is. it might be your router. check your duplex speeds.

Tip: Go wired.

Always up, 10X faster, cheaper, more efficient. You can transfer files faster.

No one really cares about a fucking grey wire going down the stairs, really.

I'm very close to installing ethernet jacks in my house. I have an old linksys router (5 port) that I can use in addtion to the 4 ports on my wireless, so.. I could probably get away w/ putting a jack in each room of the house :D

Makes more sense, I suppose, than fiddling with this wireless.. unless I go out and get G (not likely)

You should have settings both on your router and your network cards to move them to full duplex. This should speed up your transfers significantly. There would be no error checking, but it would be fast enough to re-transfer the error'ed portion over again.

Also, you have 802.11b. 11mbps only. 802.11g runs at 54mbs. Not true 54mbs, but certainly faster than 802.11b. What's really going to be nice is when 802.16 comes out, also being called WiMax.

From WiMax.org: