Wifi hates large files

[furrycheeky]

I am having trouble with my wifi. The signal is good and for general surfing it will work all day without pause.

However if I try to download a large file it starts playing up and cuts off randomly. The cut off is so bad I have to unplug the wifi adapters usb and replace, it will not re-seek the signal. Once plugged in it connects within seconds to a good signal until next time. I have tried different channels, with wep, without wep, using windows to control the connection or leaving it to the supplied one, but it always messes around downloads not webpages. I am now a bit behind on windows updates because they cant finish.
Its an Edimax EW7315 running Atheros client program. Any ideas appreciated.

[Ethel]

I am convinced that it is not wifi that is the problem here.

Please try connecting your laptop to the router by ethernet and see if you still have the problem before we consider other things.

[furrycheeky]

Thanks for helping, unfortunately the adaptor is for a PC and not easily moved. I might consider a move as a last resort.

[ACtheTROLL]

wifi - and networking in general "expect" corruption (lost packets)
and with a small file (surfing generally involves lota of small files)... a few lost packets are hardly noticeable because they are transmitted as a short burst.
10% of 10 seconds = 1 seconds - not long

A large file however requires sustained accuracy ...
10% of 5 minutes = 30 seconds ... much more noticeable

Worse wifi monitors traffic ... more errors and the transfer rate drops incrementaly from 54Mb/s to as low as 1.1Mb/s
trying to find a stable rate (0.02% of max)
so 2 mins becomes 1 hour

if possible prove the fault with a cable connected directly
(you probably got one in the box with the router
(or could you borrow a laptop?)
a pain ... but so is the problem you've got