[freeagent]

I was having a few problems with dropped connections on my DIR-615 so decided to try DD-WRT.

Followed the instructions, downloaded factory firmware (build 15778), changed the last digit from 0-1 with hex editor, flashed and everything worked!

Logged onto 192.168.1.1 and set up using general Atheros guide.
Key entries:
Mode (NG-mixed)
Channel width (Turbo(40Mz))(tried other options too)
Wireless channel (7) (tried various)
Control Channel (lower)
TX Power - 36 (tried 20 and others)
Antenna Gain - 0 (tried 3 as well)
Protection Mode RTS/CTS (also tried none)
RTS Threshhold - disable
Transmission max/min - auto
Short Preamble - tried enable & disable
TX Ant Chains - Tried 1+2 and 1+ 3
RX Ant Chains - 1+2
AP/Radar - disabled
Ack timing tried 2000/1000/1500 no affect
Max clients - 10
Network config - bridged.

With above settings and Security set to WPA2 Personal TKIP, the best connection speed I would see
under Status would be 108Mb/s and on "n" clients (laptop and Blackberry Playbook tablet) connection speed was 54 Mbps. One other laptop only has "g" capability and it was also at 54Mbps.

I changed the security to WPA2 Personal AES and the speed under Status jumped to 260Mbps (TX Power shows 18dBm) But on devices I get 54/65 on G laptop/Playbook while N laptop fluctuates 120/150Mbps.

Using a utility called inSSIDer, it showed max rate of 54Mbps before I changed from TKIP but now shows 300Mbps. This is the data dd-WRT reports


Considering the Playbook is an N capable client, any reason why it only connects at 65Mbps?

Is there anything else I might do to improve performance?

[Shonk]

Every device i have used

HP Touchpad
Motorola Xoom
Samsung Galaxy note
etc.

The chipsets are only capable of 65 Mbit

Like Below



Intel wireless adaptors specificly 1030 in my case
you have to enable 40 Mhz in the setup of the device
they always come disabled

On tp-link firmware they will bump up to 300 Mbit when needed

On dd-wrt they tend once dropped to 150 Mbit never go back to 300

Realtek i havnt had problems with they run at rated speed with dd-wrt

Atheros ofc i havnt had problems with and always run at 300/300

[freeagent]

My laptop has a Realtek adapter (2009 vintage - RTL8192E Wireless LAN 802.11n PCI-E NIC)

It is running at 120-150Mbps when it seems the router is capable of 300Mbps. Is that the best I can expect?

As you said, the tablet probably has it's own built in limit.

[Malachi]

Your blackberry playbook is most likely only 1x1 mimo. My iPad 2 is N rated but only connects at 65mbps also. It's normal.

[Shonk]

I have an 8192 in one of my netbooks
The one I have is 1x2

So connects at 300/150

Windows reports 150 Mbit

dd-wrt reports the correct 300/150

[freeagent]

Thanks for input. Sounds like the Playbook and Realtek are both ok?

Any tweaks of the setup I should try?

I was about to go out and buy new router, but for now ddwrt seems to have helped! Seems key was to use AES instead of tkip.