Slow Internet on One Computer, Fast on Other

[Drikkink]

I believe that we pay for 20 mbps, which my dad gets on his computer downstairs (connected wirelessly, less than 10 feet from router). I was getting 15 or so upstairs last week.

Suddenly, I start only getting 2 down, but still get 10 up. Why?

[Lorath]

Since it's wireless, you might have something new that's interfering with the wifi signal. And that interference might be only on the channels used for downstream. I would first check if anything new is in your house that can put out wireless signals (i.e. cordless phone, microwave, space heater [Yes really. Even normal appliances can sometimes emissions on the 2.4/5 GHz radio spectrum]). Then if that doesn't help, try to see if you can move the pc or it's antenna around a bit and see if the connection improves. Lastly, you could try changing your router's wifi channels. You could have a new neighbor or they have a new router that's overlapping your downstream channels.

Sorry for the lot of IFs but it is hard to track down a wifi signal problem without actually BEING there and looking at the house. If you have a tablet or smartphone, there's free wifi analyser apps you can download to do a test of your signal from where your pc is at. Then move around and see if the signal suddenly gets better in other locations (or if it shows a neighbor router on the same channels).

http://customer.comcast.com/help-and...ireless-signal

http://www.howtogeek.com/126327/how-...-interference/

[Drikkink]

I mean, we just got a new microwave, but it isn't in the path from the router to my computer. Wouldn't interference slow down upload as well as download?

- - - Updated - - -

After connecting with a wire, no change.

Why would that happen, especially when the other computer still gets 20?

[Fainth]

When I run the speedtest on my computer I get 50mbps but when I run it on my phone I get like 2mbps. Does your connection seem slow? Maybe try a different speed test.

[TheSerialSniper]

Could be an issue with the nic in the slower pc

[Lorath]

Well, if it's not getting any faster connecting with an ethernet cable then it's definitely not the microwave. I'd first go ahead and do a full scan on your pc for malware or viruses using Malwarebytes or Spybot Search & Destroy. It's possible that it's the pc that is connecting slow not the network.

Also, was any changes made to your pc recently?

[wowaccounttom]

either someone is throttling your bandwidth, a program is using a large amount of bandwidth or you nic might be dropping packets (maybe)

[Drikkink]

Well, if it's not getting any faster connecting with an ethernet cable then it's definitely not the microwave. I'd first go ahead and do a full scan on your pc for malware or viruses using Malwarebytes or Spybot Search & Destroy. It's possible that it's the pc that is connecting slow not the network.

Also, was any changes made to your pc recently?

About a month ago I had a virus problem that I couldn't resolve with any scans. I ran them all. I had to factory reset my computer.

[wowaccounttom]

I mean, we just got a new microwave, but it isn't in the path from the router to my computer. Wouldn't interference slow down upload as well as download?

- - - Updated - - -

After connecting with a wire, no change.

Why would that happen, especially when the other computer still gets 20?

To add to what I said before,

There might be two more possible scenarios:

- You are part of a zombie network
- You are behind a proxy (most likely out of the two)

[Drikkink]

Well after running Spybot, it only deleted cookies, but my speed went up to 5 Mbps last night and 9 today, so it's back to normal. I'll see if it stays that way.