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Technical Help & Discussion => General Tech Discussion, News & Q&A => Topic started by: chorleydave on October 02, 2010, 23:25

Title: Bandwidth Question
Post by: chorleydave on October 02, 2010, 23:25

I have a desktop PC and two laptops.  One laptop rarely comes out, but I am typing this on the other one now.  I have a question.  Why does my laptop use about three times as much bandwidth to do exactly the same thing as my desktop?

The desktop is connected directly to the router through the LAN port.  The laptop connects wirelessly.  If I watch a Youtube video that uses (say) eleven MB bandwdth and then watch exactly the same video on the laptop, the laptop will take nearly forty MB.  Only a couple of days ago, I updated the definitions for my anti-virus, SuperAntiSpyware and Spywareblaster.  The desktop used just eight MB to complete the downloads, but the laptop used up over thirty MB to carry out the identical process.

Baffling!  ???

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: Rodders on October 03, 2010, 01:59

I can only think your wi-fi must be dropping a helluva lot of packets, Dave.

Q1.  Does the laptop eat less if you move it closer to the router?
Q2.  Is your modem/router near a wireless phone?
Q3.  Are you using an appropriate USB dongle, or is there one built-in to your laptop?
Q4.  What is the capital of Burkina Faso?

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: sam on October 03, 2010, 03:54

Quote

I can only think your wi-fi must be dropping a helluva lot of packets, Dave.

yeah, that's the only thing I can be thinking of, its losing info and thus having to regrab them.. still though that does sound pretty crazy

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: chorleydave on October 03, 2010, 09:57

I've just had a look in Wireless Connection Network Status on the laptop and it is telling me that it has sent 400,000+ packets, but has received over 2.5 million, whereas my desktop seems to receive and send more or less equal numbers.  Is there a cure?

Thanks.

P.S.  Apparently, the capital of Burkino Faso is Ouagadougou.  :laugh:

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: Simon on October 03, 2010, 10:09

How often do you use the laptop, Dave?  I'm just wondering if something might be updating each time you use it, if not that often?

Also, just to eliminate the basics, I assume your wireless connection is secure?

Hopefully Rik may be in today, and he may have some more ideas.

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: chorleydave on October 03, 2010, 10:13

Hi, Simon.

Yes, it is secure.  I have all automatic updating turned off.

Thanks.

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: chorleydave on October 03, 2010, 12:30

Hmm!  I have just pinged www.google.com 100 times with the result of no packet loss.

Very baffling, but if I have to I can live with it.

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: Rik on October 03, 2010, 12:42

How are you measuring the bandwidth used, Dave?

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: Clive on October 03, 2010, 13:42

Oh welcome back Rik!  Hope you are feeling much better!  :D

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: chorleydave on October 03, 2010, 13:45

Quote from: Rik on October 03, 2010, 12:42

How are you measuring the bandwidth used, Dave?

Hi, Rik.

I am using a little program called ShaPlus Bandwidth Meter.  It loads on Startup and sits in the System Tray.  I have it installed on both the desktop and the laptop.

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: Rik on October 03, 2010, 13:56

Does it measure all LAN traffic, or just internet?

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: chorleydave on October 03, 2010, 15:22

Just internet, Rik.

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: Simon on October 03, 2010, 15:37

Bang goes that theory. 

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: Rik on October 03, 2010, 17:48

Indeed. I can only think you need to use a packet sniffer to analyse what the laptop is receiving. It might just be worth trying a different app, like the one at ThinkBroadband, in case the one you're using is mis-reporting.

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: chorleydave on October 03, 2010, 20:24

OK, I'll try that.  Thanks for the advice folks!  :)

Title: Re: Bandwidth Question
Post by: sam on October 03, 2010, 21:56

also you possibly would want to measure the bandwidth that the router is noticing, not your laptop.. though I guess its not like you are streaming data from the other machine.