Why is TC router sometimes slow?

Question

I have a Macbook Pro 2010 that connects to a Time Capsule wirelessly. Sometimes I get 10mb download but sometimes only 5mb. I have a Vista desktop that connects via wire to the TC. It always gets 10mb download even when the MBP is slower. I'm guessing this is more an issue with the TC and not the ISP. What would cause such large fluctuations in speed or how can I troubleshoot it?

Answer 1

There are so many different and related things that affect wireless connection speed that is difficult to name specifics without actually being at your location.
First, you cannot really compare a direct ethernet connection to a wireless connection. Ethernet will always be faster and more stable. It does make some sense to compare one ethernet connection to another on a network if you are testing things to make sure all the cables are working correctly.
Wireless connection speed is affected primarily by the following things:
o Distance of the computer to the router. Speed falls off with distance.
o Any obstructions in the signal path (a normal wall in a home will absorb 20-25% of the signal. A ceiling, which is thicker, will absorb more.) Lower signal strength = lower connection speeds
o Other electronics that may be nearby, cordless phones, other wireless networks in the neighborhood, wireless security systems in the neighborhood, microwave transmissions, the list is almost endless of possible causes.
If I power up an old cordless phone and base station that I no longer use, and move it anywhere within 20-25 feet of my router or computer, the wireless speeds drop immediately and fluctuate up and down. Sometimes, the internet connection is lost if the cordless phone is closer to the router.
That is why I no longer use cordless phones in the house. I'm not saying this is your issue, but it's a fact that cordless phones cause all kinds of problems for wireless networks. And it can be the neighbor's phone causing the problems as well.