DIR-655 Packet Drop over N vs G

[IceRedwing]

So basically, I've had this router for about 6 months. And I've been connected to it wireless via G speeds because (up until now) I didn't really bother changing it. (Since N speeds could only be achieved via AES encryption)

So when I'm connected via Wireless G speeds (54 and down), I have pretty much 0 packets dropped. Where as if I'm using Wireless N, i'm seeing a bit dropped. With normal surfing and downloading it is a non-issue. But anything streaming (like video games) it starts becoming an issue. Games or Video would have a jitter affect due to the packets dropping.

I know it isn't specifically my router, as I've purchased another DIR-655 to see if I had a faulty one.

This issue occurs with all my wireless N connections (4965AGN, Intel 6200, and Asus N Adapter).

Has anyone encountered a similar issue? Any ideas how to fix it (outside of just sticking to G). Because I enjoy the extra speed of using N.

Side By Side Example:

G: ~1000000 packets sent | ~ 5 packets dropped
N: ~1000000 packets sent | ~ 67000 packets dropped

 

[spidey07]

When you have the higher speeds you're going to have more errors which means more drops.

 

[IceRedwing]

so then you are basically saying you can't game in Wireless N

 

[spidey07]

No. Wireless is pretty flaky for gaming anyway. You probably just have some 2.4Ghz noise in your area which would affect N speeds more than G.

 

[IceRedwing]

so if that's the case. Getting a dual band router will help the packet dropping issue?

If I get a router that is dual band, does the adapter also need to be dual band capable? or will i be fine with my current wireless adapters

 

[Emulex]

no man - the jokes on you. wifi still sucks ballz with N

 

[Thor86]

I can game fine with my DIR-655 with no drops. Using the latest 1.34NA beta firmware.

As prior posters suggested, you must have some 2.4Ghz interferrence. These can range from wireless phones to microwaves, or other APs that may be using the same freq.

 

[Emulex]

dual band means 2.4 and 5-6ghz
so yeah you need clients on that as well.

it's cheaper to use an AP with DD-wrt as a client imo

 

[ImDonly1]

Change network channels? 1, 6, or 11.

Use a wireless sniffer to see what people are you are using and how many other wireless routers are up.

 

[JackMDS]

Sniffer???

That is much more functional - http://majorgeeks.com/WirelessNetView_d6102.html

 

[Emulex]

yeah that 3D mapping tool is built into DD-WRT is cool as hell. it presents the objects nearby in a graphical 3d "rings of jupiter" style map so you can guess where to best place your AP's.

If you are evil and disregard the law - you can set your locale to japan and use channel 13 .

 

[yadda]

Just curious Redwing which firmware version are using on the 655??? I have the 655 too and are they ever going to come out with a firmware version that is not Draft???

 

[JackMDS]

Many of these Gizmos will be EOL before a "real N" firmware comes out. That is probably part of the plan to avoid admitting that they can not be upgraded.

 

[Emulex]

N is compatible with draft-N.

the big "sucka!!" moment is that N doesn't guarantee interop. between chipsets.hell it doesn't guarantee what you use as a client (pci,usb,etc) will be compatible fully with the AP.

basically N is a cluster feck. unlike G/B which performed about where they designed it.

 

[IceRedwing]

i'm also using 1.34NA

I'm using channel 7 actually. I did use a sniffer program to check the best channel. I just find it annoying since overall performance is up, but there is a lot more errors and packets being dropped while using N. Where as in G the performance is much lower but practically non-existent in drops or errors.

So any type of streaming info becomes an issue. I'm guessing that the fact that I live in an apartment complex might have to do more with it then I am willing to admit. I just don't understand exactly why at G, I have no issues with interference while in N i do.

At my parent's house, they also have an N router. An airlink101 (pretty cheap) in comparison to DIR-655, but I have absolutely no issues with streaming data on that since I am not getting any form of errors or dropped packets.

 

[omber]

I have another suggestion - is the WiFi security mode set to TKIP or AES? I have some D-Link routers (625 and 655) and I had insane amount of packet drop on TKIP cipher - on AES there are no such issues - maybe because the AES encryption is done by a dedicated chip.

Hope this helps

 

[IceRedwing]

you can only achieve N speeds if you use the AES cipher. It you use TKIP then you are stuck at G speeds.

So basically, i have the opposite situation as you. I get more drops in AES

 

[Thor86]

This issue occurs with all my wireless N connections (4965AGN, Intel 6200, and Asus N Adapter).

Side By Side Example:

G: ~1000000 packets sent | ~ 5 packets dropped
N: ~1000000 packets sent | ~ 67000 packets dropped

Where are you measureing these from, the AP?

What OS? Using latest drivers? Updated any firmware(s) for the client wireless nics?

 

[IceRedwing]

the example was taken from the AP. The UI has an option to measure the sent & receive packets via LAN, WAN, and Wireless. The example i provided was the wireless data