Bandwidth Sharing / Prioritizing

[LyRiKaL]

Hey all, I just moved to Calgary and currently live with 3 other roommates who all share the internet connection. The problem is, when there's more than 2 people using the internet it slows it right down, for example it's almost impossible to have 2 people on youtube at the same time and have it not lag, or if one person downloads a torrent at 150k/s average, it'll go down to 30-50k/s if someone else or if two people are surfing.

Is there any way to control the amount of bandwidth the computers use to either share it equally or prioritize specific computers? Whether it would be a software app or a hardware connection?

We're with Telus on high-speed cable, and there are no routers connected, I run off the box with an Ethernet cable and the other 3 are laptops with Wi-Fi. Much appreciated.

[johnwill]

Actually, you have a router, or you wouldn't have multiple computers and wireless connections.

Perhaps you could share the exact make/model of that modem/router that you have. The obvious way it to configure QoS on the router, but many cheap routers don't have decent QoS capability. In that case, you may need to buy a better router and put it in front of your existing unit to control the network.

[LyRiKaL]

Originally Posted by johnwill

Actually, you have a router, or you wouldn't have multiple computers and wireless connections.

Perhaps you could share the exact make/model of that modem/router that you have. The obvious way it to configure QoS on the router, but many cheap routers don't have decent QoS capability. In that case, you may need to buy a better router and put it in front of your existing unit to control the network.

Okay, in regards to the modem/router, I'm not sure what type it is exactly, all I can tell you is that it's supplied by Telus (controls the telephone, TV, Internet), it's grey and black, on the top it says 2WIRE and the model number on the corner is 2700HG-E, dunno if that helps much. There are 5 Ethernet ports, and I'm using one while two others are being used for the phone and the television.

You'll have to tell me about this QoS configuration, I've not a PC noob but I've never heard of this.

Also, I'm not sure how putting a new router in front of my unit would control the network any more efficiently. The Wi-Fi signals will still come off the original source, won't they?

Thanks for your time.

[johnwill]

OK, I suspect you may need a better router.

QoS Definition