Wifi speed?

[gscotten]

I have a Netgear WNDR3400v2 router, which is a N600 dual-band router that runs both a 2.4GHz and a 5GHz channel at 300 Mbps each. My laptop confirms that the link speed is 300 Mbps. But a speed check only gives me around 22 Mbps. If I connect to the wired 100 Mbps Ethernet port, I get around 95 Mbps. (My cable plan is charging me for a 90 Mbps plan.)

Since the router is only a N type which is limited to 100 Mbps and wifi has a lot of overhead, I knew that I should not expect more than, say, 50 Mbps. But still I expected more than 22. Am I doing something wrong? My laptop has a Wi-Fi 6 modem. For these tests, the only other devices online were my two wifi printers that were both sleeping.



George

 

[Robert Zanatta]

Reviews of your router show the 5GHz band to have a lot more throughput than what you're getting, even at 30 feet, so your results should be better.

One of my routers is an older Asus 86U, which supports WiFi 5 and my laptops and smartphones gets full bandwidth of 350Mb/s from my ISP. Perhaps a basic but decent and inexpensive router will be of use.

 

[Austinian]

I am undecided as of right now. I am thinking either the eero Pro wifi 6 system or the netgear orbi 2.2ghz three pack. I think both are around 799 cdn. I will need 4 pods in order to provide top speed to my entire home.

Here's an Eero review+comparison with other mesh systems I found while wandering around the Net; that may be informative:

Eero Pro 6E mesh Wi-Fi review: More family sedan than sports car

Eero’s new mesh system is fast enough, reliable, and cheaper than other big mesh Wi-Fi 6E systems.

www.pcworld.com

 

[gscotten]

Your mileage may vary, but having the wireless speeds at 20% of wired seems poor.

I agree. And probably a new router is the answer. But I am surprised that the laptop tells me the link speed is 300 Mbps while the speed test is only 22 Mbps. I just wonder if something in the router could be configured wrong.

 

[PHXAZCRAIG]

I'm also wondering what is going on there. Sure the laptop is wifi6?

Does the access point have default settings? Are you connected 5Ghz?

I have a pair of Asus XT8 aimesh access points here. They are wifi6 mesh routers/access points (but I use a pfSense firewall as my router).

When I have a Wifi6 laptop near an access point, it connects at 1.2Gbps, dropping to 500-700Mbps in other rooms.

If you are seeing a very steady 300Mbps connection, it sounds like a configuration issue connecting in some limited capacity.

 

[gscotten]

I'm also wondering what is going on there. Sure the laptop is wifi6?

Does the access point have default settings? Are you connected 5Ghz?

I have a pair of Asus XT8 aimesh access points here. They are wifi6 mesh routers/access points (but I use a pfSense firewall as my router).

When I have a Wifi6 laptop near an access point, it connects at 1.2Gbps, dropping to 500-700Mbps in other rooms.

If you are seeing a very steady 300Mbps connection, it sounds like a configuration issue connecting in some limited capacity.

The router is only a Wifi-N model, serving two 300 Mbps streams, one at 2.4 GHz and one at 5 GHz. What I don't understand is why, if the laptop sees a 300 Mbps stream, why does it speed test at only 22 Mbps? Wifi-N should do 100 Mbps. I know there is some overhead, but that seems excessive.

 

[Eric Carlson]

If you are still running N and 100.Mbps Ethernet, switch to any AC router with Gig Ethernet. I have 100/100 (minimum) Internet, and use a couple old Asus RT-AC68U routers meshed, and I get (at least) 100/100 WiFi and wired, to the Internet, even with wireless mesh.

 

[tkbslc]

I'm also wondering what is going on there. Sure the laptop is wifi6?

Does the access point have default settings? Are you connected 5Ghz?

I have a pair of Asus XT8 aimesh access points here. They are wifi6 mesh routers/access points (but I use a pfSense firewall as my router).

When I have a Wifi6 laptop near an access point, it connects at 1.2Gbps, dropping to 500-700Mbps in other rooms.

If you are seeing a very steady 300Mbps connection, it sounds like a configuration issue connecting in some limited capacity.

The router is only a Wifi-N model, serving two 300 Mbps streams, one at 2.4 GHz and one at 5 GHz. What I don't understand is why, if the laptop sees a 300 Mbps stream, why does it speed test at only 22 Mbps? Wifi-N should do 100 Mbps. I know there is some overhead, but that seems excessive.

How far are you from router? How many walls?

signal is only going to be max speed right by the router.

 

[gscotten]

How far are you from router? How many walls?

signal is only going to be max speed right by the router.

It is about 15 inches away with line of sight.

 

[tkbslc]

How far are you from router? How many walls?

signal is only going to be max speed right by the router.

It is about 15 inches away with line of sight.

--
George

then you definitely have a problem!

 

[gscotten]

How far are you from router? How many walls?

signal is only going to be max speed right by the router.

It is about 15 inches away with line of sight.

then you definitely have a problem!

We agree! Since it works that way with at least four laptops and five phones, I am assuming the router must be the weak link. I have pored over the router settings, but can find nothing that looks like "Limit Wifi speed to xx" I am not an expert in this particular area, so I might have missed something.

 

[SecondTimeAround]

How far are you from router? How many walls?

signal is only going to be max speed right by the router.

It is about 15 inches away with line of sight.

then you definitely have a problem!

We agree! Since it works that way with at least four laptops and five phones, I am assuming the router must be the weak link. I have pored over the router settings, but can find nothing that looks like "Limit Wifi speed to xx" I am not an expert in this particular area, so I might have missed something.

With no obvious cause of the problem, I would probably push the "Restore Factory Settings" button and hope for the best.
(If you do, remember to change the default password)

 

[jboyer]

It may have reached its end of life?

Routers can either die -- no Wi-Fi, no Ethernet, or become unresponsive: your case.
Using a reputable dealers with good return options, you can get one in the $200 range that may do wonders. If not, just return it.

 

[gscotten]

With no obvious cause of the problem, I would probably push the "Restore Factory Settings" button and hope for the best.

That's such a good idea that I am astonished I didn't think of it myself. I'll try that as soon as I can get my wife off-line.

 

[gscotten]

It may have reached its end of life?
Routers can either die -- no Wi-Fi, no Ethernet, or become unresponsive: your case.
Using a reputable dealers with good return options, you can get one in the $200 range that may do wonders. If not, just return it.

Do you have a recommendation based on a small (1100 sq ft) house, two people with laptops and phones, and (currently) 90 Mbps service?

 

[Charles2]

gscotten wrote: Do you have a recommendation based on a small (1100 sq ft) house, two people with laptops and phones, and (currently) 90 Mbps service?

We use a TP-Link Archer A8 in a similar situation, except our connection to the Internet is fiber. It works just fine.

 

[jboyer]

It may have reached its end of life?
Routers can either die -- no Wi-Fi, no Ethernet, or become unresponsive: your case.
Using a reputable dealers with good return options, you can get one in the $200 range that may do wonders. If not, just return it.

Do you have a recommendation based on a small (1100 sq ft) house, two people with laptops and phones, excellent (currently) 90 Mbps service?

 

[BobKnDP]

(snip)

Do you have a recommendation based on a small (1100 sq ft) house, two people with laptops and phones, and (currently) 90 Mbps service?

If you don't plan to upgrade your internet service any time soon, there may not be a point in buying a $200 wireless router. You may not need a $200 router even if you can upgrade to 1Gbps.

I was quite happy with a TP-Link Archer A7 (AC1750). Archet A7 Rated 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, 1300 on 5GHz. Ethernet ports are 1Gbps. It can be had for $54 at Amazon at the moment. BestBuy has it for $70.

I didn't test it for range, but an 1100 square foot house isn't demanding.

 

[Mark S Abeln]

How far are you from router? How many walls?

It is about 15 inches away with line of sight.

Try moving the router away from your computer. Sometimes the signal can be too strong and the result is heavy distortion with lots of packet loss, leading to slower data rates. Imagine someone shouting in your ear for a similar situation.

Try placing it six or so feet away, and see what you get.

 

[gscotten]

How far are you from router? How many walls?

It is about 15 inches away with line of sight.

Try moving the router away from your computer. Sometimes the signal can be too strong and the result is heavy distortion with lots of packet loss, leading to slower data rates. Imagine someone shouting in your ear for a similar situation.

Try placing it six or so feet away, and see what you get.

I get the exact same results at six feet and twenty feet, which is as far away as I can get in the house. The speed doesn't start to drop off significantly until I am about 150 feet down the road.

 

[CBR1100XX]

How far are you from router? How many walls?

It is about 15 inches away with line of sight.

Try moving the router away from your computer. Sometimes the signal can be too strong and the result is heavy distortion with lots of packet loss, leading to slower data rates. Imagine someone shouting in your ear for a similar situation.

Try placing it six or so feet away, and see what you get.

I get the exact same results at six feet and twenty feet, which is as far away as I can get in the house. The speed doesn't start to drop off significantly until I am about 150 feet down the road.

--
George

This is going to sound way too simple but did you try unplugging it for a minute and then trying again after it reboots?

Routers can get weird sometimes and a power cycle can often fix it. I even did it with my own recently when I was only getting 400 down instead of the 900 I should be and it's worked fine since.

The other possible issue is WiFi interference if you live close to a bunch of people/routers.

As for a new router do you do any transfer between your computers or is it just for the Internet? If it's just the Internet and your speeds are that slow I'd look around. WiFi 6 would be ideal but if you find one without it but with a bunch of antennas and great range for a lot less you shouldn't be giving up much.