Internet connection being used for network activities

[Krazy]

I notice a big slowdown in my Internet connection speed when I'm using
my network connection. For example, while browsing the web I'm
listening to some MP3s in iTunes that are stored on my external
network hard drive. As soon as I close down iTunes and the music
stops my Internet connection speeds up. How can I force the network
connection to use just that and not my Internet connection?

I'm running Vista Ultimate. I'm connection to a wireless Internet
connection that is plugged into another computer. Let me know what
other details you need to help me answer the question.

Kol

 

[Gordon]

I notice a big slowdown in my Internet connection speed when I'm using
my network connection. For example, while browsing the web I'm
listening to some MP3s in iTunes that are stored on my external
network hard drive. As soon as I close down iTunes and the music
stops my Internet connection speeds up. How can I force the network
connection to use just that and not my Internet connection?

I'm running Vista Ultimate. I'm connection to a wireless Internet
connection that is plugged into another computer. Let me know what
other details you need to help me answer the question.

Kol

How is your "external network HDD" connected to your machine?

 

[Krazy]

How is your "external network HDD" connected to your machine?

Via a network cable.

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

Via a network cable.

You motherboards most probably already have onboard gigabit ethernet
adaptors. If not, you will need to buy one for each computer. It is
probably your switch, which is causing the network to not run at gigabit
speeds. This is very likely if you are using a switch built into a router.
Get a gigabit switch.

Can you make a diagram of your network?

ss.

 

[Krazy]

You motherboards most probably already have onboard gigabit ethernet
adaptors. If not, you will need to buy one for each computer. It is
probably your switch, which is causing the network to not run at gigabit
speeds. This is very likely if you are using a switch built into a router.
Get a gigabit switch.

Can you make a diagram of your network?

ss.

I'm using the onboard already. By switch do you mean something on the
m'board?

Out of interest I tried a few things. More detail below but basically
copying from network to local was at 5.75Mb/sec. Testing Internet
speed during copying files and after yeielded matching results but the
download speed visibly dropped while I was playing MP3s, located on
the external drive, in iTunes.

My network is as follows: We're on a ADSL line with Freedom2Surf.
One computer is network cabled into a wireless 54Mbps+ router and I'm
in another room wireless connecting to that router (signal is
generally Fair to Good - 162-216Mbps). My external HD is on a
ethernet cable plugged into this computer (1Gbps).


Details:
I tried copying files from network drive to local drive. It was a
selection of my photography (some small some vary large files), the
speed started off at 6Mb/sec, copying 4.73Gb in about 12mins. Sounds
very slow to me? It got slower, dropping to 5.55Mb/sec then 5.3Mb/sec
but finished at about 5.5Mb/sec

I also ran a speed test 3 times while copying, results were
2124/1537/1700kps down and 372/371/364kps up. Again slower than
predicted as I'm supposed to have am 8Mb connection but that's what we
expect. :-(.

I then ran it again after copying was complete and got
1865/1939/1646kps down and 371/370/366Kps up. So I'm going to say now
change.

Last, I tried the tests while playing music in ITunes (the MP3s being
on the external networked drive). Results where 1144/976/1242kps down
and 366/361/361kpbs up. A visible decrease in download rates

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

I'm using the onboard already. By switch do you mean something on the
m'board?

Out of interest I tried a few things. More detail below but basically
copying from network to local was at 5.75Mb/sec. Testing Internet
speed during copying files and after yeielded matching results but the
download speed visibly dropped while I was playing MP3s, located on
the external drive, in iTunes.

My network is as follows: We're on a ADSL line with Freedom2Surf.
One computer is network cabled into a wireless 54Mbps+ router and I'm
in another room wireless connecting to that router (signal is
generally Fair to Good - 162-216Mbps). My external HD is on a
ethernet cable plugged into this computer (1Gbps).


Details:
I tried copying files from network drive to local drive. It was a
selection of my photography (some small some vary large files), the
speed started off at 6Mb/sec, copying 4.73Gb in about 12mins. Sounds
very slow to me? It got slower, dropping to 5.55Mb/sec then 5.3Mb/sec
but finished at about 5.5Mb/sec

I also ran a speed test 3 times while copying, results were
2124/1537/1700kps down and 372/371/364kps up. Again slower than
predicted as I'm supposed to have am 8Mb connection but that's what we
expect. :-(.

I then ran it again after copying was complete and got
1865/1939/1646kps down and 371/370/366Kps up. So I'm going to say now
change.

Last, I tried the tests while playing music in ITunes (the MP3s being
on the external networked drive). Results where 1144/976/1242kps down
and 366/361/361kpbs up. A visible decrease in download rates

Don't worry about it.

There is no way that I can see where any improvements can be made without an
accurate diagram of the connections, and you may not even be able to make
one anyway. I'm not sure is the Vista Network Map will be adequate.

A switch is like an intelligent hub, that your wired connections are
probably all connected to. Most likely it will be built into your router.
Replacing this with a gigabit speed switch can improve your LAN speeds,
depending on how everything is connected. It won't do anything for your
wireless connection, unless your wireless access point also goes through
this switch.

ss.