Slow downloads-wireless only

I am experiencing very slow downloads with a new wireless internet connection (Telefonica in Spain). I have a Lenovo R61 with the Intel 4965 card and downloads were plenty fast over my previous connection in the US. Nominally, this connection is supposed to provide 6Mbps downloads. According to PCPitstop tests, my download speed is ~5000kbps download/255 upload if I'm wired to the router. But with a wireless connection I get only about 55kbps download/45 kbps upload. I don't think there is a problem with the wireless router because my wife's Dell 1310 is getting ~2100kbps download/255kbps upload with a wireless connection (and the same speeds as I do when wired). [All speed tests with only one computer downloading at a time.] It also is not a signal strength issue because I get these slow speeds 3 feet from the router with excellent signal strength. Any solution suggestions would be appreciated. I'm not very experienced, so would appreciate detail on any suggestions of what to do. [In case it matters, I'm running Avast AV, but shutting it off temporarily doesn't make much difference.]

 

Some additional information, based on speedtest.net results. With a wireless connection I get decent speeds testing to a Barcelona server (I'm in Barcelona): ~3600kbps download (and once 5000k), but again very slow speeds testing to a Paris server, ~55kbps download. [The PCPitstop tests I reported in my first post were to a London server.] However, with a wired connection I also get fast download speeds to the Paris server: 5100kbps. I find these results even more confusing. Hope someone else has some idea what is going on. [My practical experience suggests I generally get very slow download speeds.]

 

Are you using the same router you used in the US?

 

Do you have a wireless phone or other electronic device near? You may want to try a different channel. In europe they have 2 more channels then here in the USA 1-13. I would run a survey and see what channels are being used and try one away from them. Make sure you have the latest drivers for all hardware, too.

 

There is a wireless phone base close to the router. How do I check/change what channels are being used? And, could this explain why my wife's computer has fast connections via the same router while I don't? [In response to kegobeer, I'm using a different router than in the US, but presume that the router is not the problem since my wife's computer achieves fast wireless downloads viat the same router.]
Thanks for all suggestions/help.

BTW, I have noticed that there was one difference in the settings of the Intel 4965 on my wife's computer and on mine. Hers was set to 1 ad hoc channel and mine to 11. But changing my setting to 1 ad hoc channel seems to have made no difference (just checked speed again). [What ad hoc channel setting should I be using?]

 

I tried disconnecting both the phone line and AC for the wireless phone -- rerunning the speed test yielded the slowest download speed yet: 26kbps. Doesn't seem like interference from the wireless phone is the problem.

 

Some routers don't play well with some wifi cards. You have the 4965, but what does your wife have? Also, what is the make/model of the router?

 

I tried disconnecting both the phone line and AC for the wireless phone -- rerunning the speed test yielded the slowest download speed yet: 26kbps. Doesn't seem like interference from the wireless phone is the problem.

 

Have you checked to see if Intel has a updated driver for you? Drivers issues are will documented on the Intel cards. You should not need to run a adhoc network if you have a wireless router. So disable adhoc and see if it helps.