Bandwidth problem

having odd behavior with my new system and would like some advice in figuring it out.

Just got a spanking new 3ghtz, 256MB nVidia, 2gigRAM machine to finally see SL the way it was meant to be seen. I'm connected via cable modem (2MB speed) and a wifi network (quality: excellent).

When I open the Alt-1 debug screen, my new system shows great FPS now, but bandwidth jumps around and every so often bottoms out at ZERO. This makes for a very odd experience and when i'm trying to build, rotations reverse themselves, the numbers I change jump back and forth etc.

Now, i would think it was my connection, but when I run my laptop (which uses the unsupported Intel chipset but which provides a decent playing experience) I don't have this problem at all.

As a matter of fact, i put them side by side, logged in under my normal account and my testing ALT, and watched this new computer's bandwidth fall down to zero multiple times while the other SL client did fine.

The other difference is that the laptop has an older built-in wifi card, and the new computer has a new 802.11a/b/g USB 2.0 wifi adapter.

Any ideas for me to troubleshoot?

Sure, don't use WiFi. If you plug a network cable into your router, you'll be just fine.

If you absolutely must use WiFi, get NetStumbler and try to figure out how many other networks are around you. Make sure you're not using a channel that another nearby network is already using.

Don't use it near microwave ovens or 2.4Ghz cordless phones. If you're trying to send a signal outdoors, make sure it's not raining.

Your other problem is that the laptop has a great big antenna behind the screen. Your USB antenna sucks. A lot. What model is it? You might be able to attach something external to it, if actually plugging into your router is an impossibility.

Finally, if you can't plug in and your laptop's antenna works fine, use your laptop as a router and run a crossover cable from it to your desktop. I got into SL for a couple months like that.

thanks Catherine. Yes, unfortunately the layout of our apartment means that an ethernet cable directly to a computer would... lead to my wife being furious at me.

I'll try experimenting with the channels. The USB adapter is just the Dell 1450 model that came with my computer. I'll look into what else is out there with a stronger antenna.

Well, in that case, I'd recommend you use your laptop as a router. It's cheap and reasonably easy to do. Failing that, perhaps getting a USB extension cable and moving your network card around might help. I assume there's no cable outlet nearer your computer? No central heating ducts, no conveniently-placed windows?

If you're not having playable throughput on your current device, I'd probably go with an internal PCI card with an external antenna cable. Well, actually, I'd run the cable through the walls/floor/ceiling in the first place while your wife was out, but I'm sensing that this might not go well?

hahaha funny to read your note Catherine. I got fed up and drilled hole through the wall and ran the ethernet cable through. LOL

thanks for the help!

Excellent! Glad I could... encourage you to drill holes in things.

She does that. You should see my apartment now. Swiss cheese!

ive been having a similiar problem, but i dont use wi-fi. But ive narrowed it down to a router between me and SL's servers. If i do a ping to a sim in SL 50x with a filesize of 128bits, sometimes one will return with a ping of 2000+. And from what ive heard on DSL Reports, seems that its Bellnexxia.