Looking to do a network revamp

[raine]

I recently got an increase in my internet speed (to Shaw's Wide-Open 150), and I noticed that my download speed wasn't reaching anywhere near the advertised speed (I was capping at around 20 Mbps, which isn't an increase from when I had Internet 30). After researching I found out that the wireless card I have installed was released during draft-N generation, and have found it to be the network speed bottleneck for my desktop. I have also tested speeds with a new-ish laptop (about 2 years old) and found that the download speed doesn't reach much over 50mbps.

 

I currently have a Cat5 cable (yes I know you can get 5' Cat6 cables on Amazon for under $10) running between my modem (the Shaw high-speed one) and my wireless router (Linksys E3000) and was wondering if this would also be affecting network speed (I currently have the Shaw modem in bridge mode (disabling it's wireless) to prevent it from interfering with the E3000's wireless). Would I likely see any noticeable benefit if I replaced the Cat5 cable with Cat6, and if so is the E3000 capable of supporting 150Mbps speed with/without the new cable, and if not what a decent router that would support this would be (preferably not the Netgear Nighthawk(s) as they are still rather expensive).

 

I'm also looking into getting a new wireless card to replace my outdated one and was hoping for some suggestions for a good AC card with bluetooth from a reputable brand. I currently have 2 PCIe 1x slots available (and as far as I know that is the new-er standard for wireless network cards for desktops).

 

Also for those who undoubtedly will come and say "you should hardwire it" that isn't a realistic idea (as the router is on a different floor at the other end of the house).

 

Thank you in advance for anyone would can offer helpful information.

[Electronics Wizardy]

6 minutes ago, raine said:

Cat5 cable with Cat6,

No, unless your running at 100mbs, and even if you are its still not the limiting factor.

 

Id personally run wired to your desktop, but i know thats not always a option as you said. You can run wires in walls. You want a good n router as AC isn't good at distance.

[Naeaes]

Are you sure it's CAT5, not CAT5e? Going from CAT5 to CAT5e could help going from CAT5e to CAT6 won't. It won't hinder anything either so if it's all the same for you, do go for the CAT6. But I'm thinking, you're not actually being bottlenecked there. CAT5 was phased out in the early 2000's...

 

Just so you know, if you swap your Wi-Fi to AC, you need an AC accesspoint too. If the router is sending at 802.11n speeds, that what your computer will receive too.

 

Before you go buying anything at all, move your computer close enough to be able to test with straight Ethernet. If you're actually receiving in the region of 150Mbps with all wired connection, going form N to AC could actually help. (N can technically do 150Mbps but the connection has to be perfect. With compatible HW it can even do 300Mbps) Not with the ping though. For the lowest latency, it still has to be all copper.

[raine]

7 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

No, unless your running at 100mbs, and even if you are its still not the limiting factor.

Shaw Wide-Open quotes running at 150 Mbps down and 15 up. I currently exceed the quoted up and if the down speed is even 70% of the quoted maximum speeds it exceeds 100Mbps

7 minutes ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

You can run wires in walls.

Running wires in walls isn't really an option as I am temporarily living in a rental.

[raine]

5 minutes ago, Naeaes said:

Are you sure it's CAT5, not CAT5e? But I'm thinking, you're not actually being bottlenecked there. CAT5 was phased out in the early 2000's...

 

Before you go buying anything at all, move your computer close enough to be able to test with straight Ethernet. If you're actually receiving in the region of 150Mbps with all wired connection, going form N to AC could actually help.

I'm not 100% sure as to whether the cable is Cat5 or Cat5e as it came with one of the many modems we've had throughout the past 10-15 years. For the speed testing would you recommend straight from the modem, or connecting to the router? As for going to AC, I would rather stick with N if it isn't going to have a huge effect on speed.

[Naeaes]

8 minutes ago, raine said:

I'm not 100% sure as to whether the cable is Cat5 or Cat5e as it came with one of the many modems we've had throughout the past 10-15 years. For the speed testing would you recommend straight from the modem, or connecting to the router? As for going to AC, I would rather stick with N if it isn't going to have a huge effect on speed.

Well, since you're moving stuff around, do all the tests. Lose all possible bottle necks first by plugging into the modem, then add the router and take note of the difference, add wireless and do the same. It'll paint a pretty effective picture of where the problem lays. And don't forget to run ping tests to your router/modem and to your ISP. I wouldn't be at all surprised if you had <1ms ping with Ethernet and 100ms ping with Wi-Fi and indetical speeds. It's entirely possible. If you game online or make a lot of video calls, the speeds don't matter anywhere near as much as the ping.

[raine]

So I just went and tested hardwired with the laptop (too many peripherals to drag the desktop upstairs).

The speeds were as follows

 

Hardwired

Ping - 14ms

Download - 159.15 Mbps

Upload - 16.19 Mbps

 

Wireless to Router

Ping - 15ms

Download - 82.10 Mbps

Upload - 16.24 Mbps

 

These tests were both performed from the same device at the same spot and same access point. I couldn't find a second ethernet cable lying around to test hardwiring to the router. I have linked the speedtest results in the post.