3250 wireless slower than ethernet connection, just got Verizon FIOS

Hi,
I just got Verizon FIOS high speed. My service speed is 20 meg. down, 5 upload.

On my Averatec 3250, 802.11g, Ralink Technology, Inc., 9/7/2005, driver version 3.0.5.0. I get the following speeds----

Wirless speed is about 5 meg. down, 1.5 up.

Ethernet (hard wire connection), 20 meg. down, 5 up.

What gives, my wireless speed is much slower than the hardwired speed? I have searched to find a new driver, and can't find. Do I need a new driver or is the 802.11g capped somehow? The wireless icon on the lower right shows "Speed: 54Mbps"

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks.

 

The link speed is only an initial detection of link speed. It does not indicate either signal strength or signal quality (two separate items), which will determine your true data transfer rate. Further, strength and quality can vary continuously, but your status indicator will not reflect this continuous fluctuation. (it would needlessly use CPU cycles and drive you nuts if you paid too close attention).

To give a parallel example... if you speak in a whisper across the room, I may not hear you at all. On the other hand, while I might hear you yelling, if there is a lot of conflicting sound, I may not understand what you said.

Back in the days where dial-up connections were the prevalent connection type, an identical issue existed (actually still exists) where the modem icon only indicated the initial connection rate and didn't show the continual fluctuation due to noise on the phone line.

To get a higher wireless data rate, increase the signal strenth by minimizing the distance between transceivers, align the antennas so they are parallel to each other, and minimize objects between the antennas - especially metal or water (people are big bags of water). To increase signal quality, use a wi-fi channel as far as possible from any other wi-fi channels currently in use, and minimize the use of other 2.4GHz transmitters (e.g., cordless phones, bluetooth, microwave ovens).