TomatoUSB

I am currently using Tomato Firmware v1.28.8754 ND USB Ext on a pair of Asus WL 500 W that are connected in WDS mode.
This issue has spanned all version of firmware so I don't think its an updated driver issue.

These routers are sorta the first wave of N routers so I am wondering if this is perhaps a factor involved in my problem and I live in a relatively crowded apartment building.

My problem is under no load my routers usually show a tx/rx rate of ~120 (flip back between 117 and130) but when I put it under load (copy a file across the wireless network) the speed usually drops to anywhere between 7-26 and the actual transfer speed is aprox 2mb/sec sometimes a little faster and sometimes slightly slower.

I currently have set the Wireless Network Mode to Auto but I have tried N only and G only and they provide similar results.
My security mode is set to WPA/AES. I have tried disabling security but did not change performance. The routers are physically only 20 feet away from each other.

The only thing I have found that seems to make any difference is the wireless channel. When I use certain channels the rate (without load) tend to stick around 130/130 but when I use other channels it fluctuates and rarely hits the 130/130. Under load it always drops right down regardless of the channel but with the channels that don't seem to work as well the speed is slower (1mb/sec in comparison to 2-3mb/sec). I have also run Kismet on my laptop and the clearest channels don't seem to provide the best speeds but none of the channels are completely clear.

I attempted to set the router to wiressless ethernet bridge (this is actually the only thing I need) but I have not gotten the second router it to successfully connect to the first so I cannot confirm if it is in fact a WDS issue.

Does this look like a simple issue of not enough clear channels or perhaps a setting I have incorrect (most of them are set to default) or again perhaps its inherit with WDS or atleast Tomato WDS?

Any insights? thanks in advanced.

What are the signal strengths and noise levels ? Running too much power is a pretty common mistake. I do not have any experience with that model of radio, but if your SNR is 30 or better you might do better with a lower power setting.

I knocked the power settings down to 17 on both routers and have noticed slightly higher speeds. ~5mb/sec. The device list still shows the rates dropping for a 130/130 to something much lower maybe a 58/7 (58 being the transferring side).
So I suppose this quantifiable results.
Thanks.

Any other tips for improving performance?

Any other tips for improving performance?

Frame bursting will usually deliver an extra 5% bandwidth.

Disable CTS protect mode so it will ignore 802.11B traffic.

Enable STP since you are using WPA encryption.

These settings are for both radios.