Absurdly slow speeds from outbuilding Satellite

One of the frustrating parts of a user forum is when participants are located "all over the world" and conversations get spread out over days as people "come and go".  Please feel free to ignore this post if it is not helpful.

One of my basic tools for documenting my network performance is a free tool called "iPerf", which is available for every major operating system.(Windows, MacOS, Android, AppleOS, and nearly every flavor of Linux)  The way it works is (a) one computer is set up to run iPerf as a "server" and listen for a client to connect.  Another computer runs iPerf as a "client" and attempts to transfer as much data as possible to the server while the server transfers data back.

The latest version of iPerf3 can be downloaded from: https://iperf.fr/en/iperf-download.php .  Each operating system is bit different as far as how to set up iPerf3, especially when it comes to "opening the firewall" to let the server listen.

As an example, I have iPerf3 on my desktop (192.168.1.2) which is connected directly to the Orbi RBR50 router acting as a server.  iPerf3 is also loaded on a Lenovo laptop.  Open a command line window and enter:

iperf3 -c 192.168.1.2 -t 10 -i 1

(Run iPerf3 as a "client" connecting to an iPerf3 "server" located at 192.168.1.2.  Send 10 times, waiting 1 second between sends.)

Here are the results:

Connecting to host 192.168.1.2, port 5201
[ 4] local 192.168.1.21 port 50696 connected to 192.168.1.2 port 5201 [ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth
[ 4] 0.00-1.00 sec 111 MBytes 934 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 1.00-2.00 sec 109 MBytes 915 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 2.00-3.00 sec 111 MBytes 928 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 3.00-4.00 sec 110 MBytes 922 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 4.00-5.00 sec 113 MBytes 946 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 5.00-6.00 sec 113 MBytes 948 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 6.00-7.00 sec 113 MBytes 948 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 7.00-8.00 sec 112 MBytes 939 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 8.00-9.00 sec 113 MBytes 946 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 9.00-10.00 sec 112 MBytes 943 Mbits/sec
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth
[ 4] 0.00-10.00 sec 1.09 GBytes 937 Mbits/sec sender
[ 4] 0.00-10.00 sec 1.09 GBytes 937 Mbits/sec receiver

iperf Done.

Both computers are connected over gigabiti ethernet.  There is some overhead, so the maximum transmission is about 937Mbits/sec.  Ethernet is a "full duplex" medium, which means that traffic flows both directions at the same time.

Change the laptop to a WiFi connection to the Orbi router and repeat.  This is the result:

Connecting to host 192.168.1.2, port 5201
[ 4] local 192.168.1.22 port 50887 connected to 192.168.1.2 port 5201
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth
[ 4] 0.00-1.00 sec 27.5 MBytes 230 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 1.00-2.00 sec 32.5 MBytes 272 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 2.00-3.01 sec 34.9 MBytes 292 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 3.01-4.00 sec 33.8 MBytes 284 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 4.00-5.00 sec 29.8 MBytes 250 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 5.00-6.00 sec 28.5 MBytes 239 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 6.00-7.01 sec 26.6 MBytes 223 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 7.01-8.00 sec 26.9 MBytes 226 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 8.00-9.00 sec 25.8 MBytes 217 Mbits/sec
[ 4] 9.00-10.00 sec 28.5 MBytes 238 Mbits/sec
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth
[ 4] 0.00-10.00 sec 295 MBytes 247 Mbits/sec sender
[ 4] 0.00-10.00 sec 295 MBytes 247 Mbits/sec receiver

iperf Done.

The laptop is connected to Orbi's 5G WiFi and Orbi reports a "Link Rate" of 866Mbit/sec, which is the maximum possible.  Not quite 1 gigabit, but close.  HOWEVER, WiFi is a "half duplex" medium.  Only one radio can transmit at any given time and there is significantly more overhead in WiFi than there is for ethernet.  So, I was able to push 247 Mbit/sec in each direction, for a total of just under 500Mbit/sec in total.  Naturally, if the server were not sending back data at the same time, I might be able to get 500Mbit/sec in one direction as long as no other device was using WiFi at all.

Sorry for the long explanation.  So, what good is this tool?

My proposal would be to set up similar experiments and record the results.

Two computers both attached to Orbi router LAN ports should generate about 937Mbit/sec in both directions.

One computer on the router LAN and another computer attached directly to that ethernet cable to the pool house should also generate 937Mbit/sec.  If it does not, the ethernet cable is suspect.

If it does, then connect the Orbi satellite in the pool house to the ethernet cable and hook the computer to a LAN port on the satellite. My Orbi satellite is WiFi connected, so I cannot report what value to expect.

Similar experiments can be done with the other two Orbi satellites.

• yes, speed is being measured by SpeedTest, both phone app and computer/browser test
• unfortunately, no, we are a house of MacBook Air laptops
• I have seen reference to telnet on other posts but understand that with Mavericks OS that option is no longer accessible?  
• I don't see a diagram attached for your network but all my satellites report as "good" and "5G"
• attached is my "show statistics" box
• yes, the pool house satellite is connected via an underground ethernet cable directly to the orbi router 

CrimpOn wrote:

What "tools" are available to help diagnose the situation?

• I am assuming that speed is being measured by using one of the "SpeedTest" web sites on a cell phone, tablet, or laptop, correct?
• Are there laptops with ethernet ports that can be used to help diagnose the situation?
• Can you "telnet" into the Orbi?

Does the attached diagram remotely resenble the situation?

 

All three satellites report a "Good" connection to the router?

(two over WiFi and one wired.  ordinarily a 50ft distance to a satellite would be considered "far", but if the Orbi reports "Good" that would seem to mean that it is "close enough".)

 

The Pool House satellite is connected directly to one of the Orbi LAN ports (not to a switch).

 

On the Orbi web interface, the Advanced Tab, clicking on the box "Show Statistics" beings up a display like the attachment.

Does it show the WAN link to Fios as 1000 full and the LAN link to the satellite as 1000 full?

 

 

 

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