How can I minimize the amount my router slows down my Internet connection speed?

Solution 1:

Your test is flawed as time is a large variable when dealing with Internet services. Even if you started the file download 1 minute and then in the next minute tried downloading it without your router, there is still no way to know if net conditions have stayed the same. I agree that it does sound like your router, but that's hardly scientific.

The only way to really test if your router is the problem and be sure of it is to do something like put another local network (ie. If one machine is on 192.168.1.0/24 network, then put another host on a network like 192.168.20.0/24) on your router and hook up two systems to it, then try to transfer a few between the hosts. Since they are on different networks, it will require routing the same way it does when you go out to the Internet (Note, this isn't entirely true because of NAT translation) If your router doesn't allow you to add static routes, then maybe that's a sign that its too cheaply designed.

I've dealt with broadband routers, PC based routers (such as running Linux) and even enterprise and ISP routers (like a Cisco). I and many other people can tell you that the $70 routers you buy in the store are cheap as hell. It may be nice that they are available for that price and they work for a little while, but they overheat easily, get into state problems that require a restart, etc. Some brands are better than others, but not by much. I've actually seen my Internet problems go away simply by pointing a desk fan at one.

I know your goal is to reduce 10 hours of download time to an hour, but if I were you, I'd find a cheap PC and put SmoothWall, Endian Firewall on it. It will make it as easy as one of the broadband interfaces and it will be much more reliable, provided your hardware doesn't break.