Question for Computer Gurus!

[ThatsHowIDo41]

Or non-gurus and just experienced users.

Basically, I moved into an apartment when I transferred schools (hooray!). The downside is I don't have the amazingly fast internet connection I had back at home. I'm on a cable modem connection, but the ISP is definitely much slower than the ISP I had back in my major hometown San Antonio (two different companies, needless to say the SA company is huger and "richer" to provide a comparable faster internet than the smaller, lesser-known cable company where I am now). I'm not too sure what the exact speed capabilities are for my current cable connection, but I do know that the speed is noticeably slower than what I used to have. After doing some speed tests online, I always get an average download speed of 430 kbps, which on average allows me to download files at around 40-50 KB/s. Horrible. Back at home, I was averaging around 700-1100 KB/s (or 1 MB/s), depending on the server the file was being downloaded from.

I am currently on a laptop, somewhat new laptop, with a built-in wireless card and all that other junk. I have a wireless router at home, a Linksys 54-G. http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/WRT54GL

Now, my question is, would it be worth the trouble of bringing this wireless router from home to where I am now and connect to the internet via wireless rather than directly via ethernet/cable modem? Basically, would this wireless router "improve" my internet connection speed as it can reach speeds "up to" 54 MBPS, or would my wireless router connection speed be limited to only the speed of my current cable modem (which is slow!) since they are connected together?

Page loads and all that are fast, no faster than the connection I had back at home, the only problem is downloads/uploads. I can't even watch streaming video (Youtube for example) without having to pause it every few seconds to let it buffer/load enough for me to have continuous play minus interruptions. If I don't pause it, I get literally 2 seconds of play, stoppage, 2 seconds of play, stoppage, repeat. It is quite frustrating.

I'm huge on internet security, I try to remove spyware/adware/malware as much as possible, I run CCleaner every once in a while to remove all my Temp files, everything. I just can't control the horrible download speed of my internet. So would it be worth bringing my wireless router from home?

I'm not sure what type of wireless card I have, if it's an 802.11b or g. Not sure how to look that up.

[fr4nk1yn]

No. It's not going to magically increase speeds.

I replaced a wired router at work with a tomato tweaked WRT54G and the speeds doubled. But your getting these speeds directly from the modem.

It would however give you the freedom to carry the notebook around the apartment.

[ThatsHowIDo41]

That's what I thought. Thanks for the verification.