Does anyone know about wireless routers?

I have an odd problem. So there are multiple devices connected to the router, one plugged in with a cable that the download speed is about 100 mbps, a desktop computer with a wireless card that's about 35 mbps download speed, a fire tablet that's at about 8 mbps, and 2 of the exact same cell phone, one that's about 100 mbps download speed, and the other is about 15 mbps. Any idea what would cause the speed differences? I don't remember the exact model of the router but it's one of the first of the red wedge shaped d link ones from a couple years ago.

There's a lot that can affect wireless speeds. I'm assuming those devices are all the same distance from the router and tested within minutes of each other. Of the speeds you posted the fire tablet and the one identical phone having lower speeds are the flags. I'd want to test both devices on another Network to see if that remains the same.

Here's how I explain wireless to customers.

Perfect wireless is your router and your device in the middle of a football field with nothing else around. That's like two people standing in an empty room talking. Nothing is interfering so communication is easy and fast. The first problem is a crowded spectrum. That's when you get a lot of wireless devices in the same area. For the people it's like now we have a party and there's 10 people in that room. Now they have to speak up louder and there's going to be some communication loss sand the conversation will slow down. Next you can have a wireless device go bad and over transmit. That's like a guy at the party got drunk and is yelling over in the corner. Now communication is at a stand still because no one else can hear anything but him.

That's why no provider will guarantee wireless speeds. In your case I'd want to know if you have 2.4ghz and 5ghz and what devices support what networks. 5ghz has less likely chance of interference because less devices support it.

And in my party scenario it's not just the devices you listed that can interfer but also cordless home phones, baby monitors, wireless alarm systems, wireless cameras, and a whole bunch of others.

I've had customers complain that their wireless goes out when the phone rings. Easy enough to troubleshoot down to a bad cordless phone. Easy because they see the pattern. But their neighbors probably pull their hair out because they just see random dropping of speed or internet depending on how long the person is on the phone.

Hope that helps.

Outside of wireless signal issues, the wireless interface device types on the different machines, and their different antenna configurations will also affect speed. Even the processing power of the different devices can affect how quickly they relay traffic - for instance, most routers don't have the processing power to saturate a gigabit ethernet link in a bandwidth test.

In short, wifi speeds are kind of a crapshoot.

I assume you're using a web-based bandwidth test to get these readings? Although the phone getting 100mbps seems insane, in practical terms.

I used the bing and Comcast web based speed tests, and other than the one desktop everything was in the same room at the same time. The faster of the 2 phones was about the same speed as the laptop plugged in with a cable or the speed of the same phone on the LTE wireless network. The fire tablet is pretty much slow enough to be almost useless and has been like that since I got it. I will try connecting those devices to a different network and see what happens though. It just seems odd that you can take 2 of the same phone and standing in the same room one is as fast as a cable plugged into a computer, the other won't even play smoothly through a YouTube video. Who knows I suppose.

A friend of mine recently purchased a cell phone case designed to "block 98% of harmful cell phone radiation" to go with her new phone. She then spent an embarrassingly long time vocally complaining about how bad her reception was and how much her phone stunk. Her phone was markedly different out of it's case.

In reply to oldopelguy:

That is priceless.

Well the case worked as advertised, LOL!