I have recently purchased an Orbi system (RBK50). I am wondering what troubleshooting I can do to enhance my network speeds? I have FiOS gigabit, and directly connecting my laptop to the ONT (aka taking the line plugged into my Orbi and plugging it into my router nets me 950/900 speeds. With it connected through the Orbi I am getting 200-400/100-300. This is actually worse than what I was getting from my Nighthawk R7000 (what I was replacing because of slower speeds off the router). Firmware: V2.1.4.16 Parental Controls: Off Traffic Meter: Off UPnP: Off Port Forwarding: Some DNS: I am using google DNS (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4) * for what its worth, Verizon DNS Seems to move me up about 50mbps consistently, so for now I switched to those.

Put your Orbi in AP mode and try.

donalcombright wrote: st_shaw, not 100% sure why my post that I wrote up 3 times got wiped, but here is the short answer as I don't have the exact figures now: ONT -> USB-C ethernet laptop (directly plugged into ONT) 1. SpeedTest: 950/900 (tested about 20 times and works consistently) ONT -> USB-C ethernet laptop (directly plugged into ONT however through the junction box, so basically took the "Internet" plug out of my Orbi and plugged it into my laptop) 1. SpeedTest: 950/900 (tested about 20 times and works consistently) ONT -> Orbi -> USB-C ethernet laptop 1. SpeedTest: 400/400 (about the best I have ever gotten 2. Verizon: 150/900 (tested 5 times, best result given. It timed out 3 times and 1 time I only got 24/800). 3. DSLReports: 800/650 (tested about 5 times, best results given) To me, that means the router is causing something of a bottleneck. Regardless of SpeedTest being good or not, it should be consistent no? So it should not have degraded going through the Orbi. Thanks. Your results illustrate a couple points. 1. As I wrote, "You must use a speed test that utilizes multiple parallel streams to get maximum throughput with Orbi."Dslreports uses 32 parallel streams when you click the Gigabit/Fiber button. Did you click this button each time? I don't know what the other speed tests do, but it looks like they might use fewer streams, or even one stream. 2. You results also may vary with different broswers. You could try different browsers and use the latest version of the most modern browser you have. Make sure you have a modern computer with a good network card also. You said you have a USB-C laptop. If you are using a USB dongle, maybe the dongle, or its device driver, is part of the issue. 3. Routers do tend to be a bottleneck. Note that when you test connected to the ONT you are directly connected to the Internet. You have no router and no firewall in place. All routers and firewalls must process the packets going through them, and are liable to slow down the connection, depending on how they are configured. Expect them to get slower as you add more firewall rules. I'm a bit surprised by the Verizon results, but their site says it's in beta. I don't know what happened to their old speed test. Bottom line: it can be difficult to test a gigabit connection, especially if you go outside your ISP's network. The differences between test sites say more about the sites than your router. Network congestion can cause varying results. If you get reasonablly consistent results with the Dslreports test, your gear is probably working fine. If you feel like you need more speed you could run Orbi in AP mode behind another router. I get 940/920 through Orbi in AP mode.

Did you enable QoS speed test on the Orbi router? If so, you need to factory reset the router and set up from scratch. This time, don't enable traffic meter, access controls or QoS speed test. Also be sure to use wired LAN connected PC for speed testing with a browser. WIrless speeds will not achieve 900Mb. Max limits on wireless speeds ranges from 400-600Mb depending upon wireless client design and support.

FURRYe38, thanks for the reply. I am using a wired connection. I have also never enabled QoS either, and its disabled. With it set to FiOS DNS I am getting about 400/400. Direct connect to ONT the same laptop gets 950/900.

donalcombright wrote: (aka taking the line plugged into my Orbi and plugging it into my router nets me 950/900 speeds. What do you mean by "router" here? Do you have a second router in the mix, besides Orbi, or did you mean to write something else? You should be able to connect Orbi directly to the ONT with no other router invovled: ONT <--> ORBI <--> LAN

Netgear Orbi Performance Slow | NETGEAR Communities

16 Replies

FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Aug 31, 2018
Did you enable QoS speed test on the Orbi router? If so, you need to factory reset the router and set up from scratch. This time, don't enable traffic meter, access controls or QoS speed test.

Also be sure to use wired LAN connected PC for speed testing with a browser.

WIrless speeds will not achieve 900Mb. Max limits on wireless speeds ranges from 400-600Mb depending upon wireless client design and support.
- donalcombright
  Guide
  Aug 31, 2018
  FURRYe38, thanks for the reply. I am using a wired connection. I have also never enabled QoS either, and its disabled. With it set to FiOS DNS I am getting about 400/400. Direct connect to ONT the same laptop gets 950/900.
st_shaw
Master
Aug 31, 2018
donalcombright wrote:

(aka taking the line plugged into my Orbi and plugging it into my router nets me 950/900 speeds.

What do you mean by "router" here? Do you have a second router in the mix, besides Orbi, or did you mean to write something else?

You should be able to connect Orbi directly to the ONT with no other router invovled: ONT <--> ORBI <--> LAN
- donalcombright
  Guide
  Sep 01, 2018
  FURRYe38, sorry I meant the Orbi.
  
  ONT -> Orbi -> Wired Laptop - 200-400 (d)/200-300 (u)
  
  ONT -> Wired Laptop - 950 (d)/900 (u)
  
  So, the cables are good (I have tried a few to be safe from Orbi -> Laptop), but the hop from ONT directly to router means to me all my ethernet cables are fine to the Orbi.
  - FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Sep 01, 2018
    Yes, lets try AP mode.
    
    Is the ONT in bridge mode or router mode?
    
    What is the Mfr and model# of th ONT?
    
    If the Orbi in AP mode exibits the same thing, I presume maybe the Orbi is faulty and would need to be replaced or RMAd. Others have posted that theyve seen near or at 900Mb on 1Gb services with the orbi so it's doable.
toe
Apprentice
Sep 01, 2018
Put your Orbi in AP mode and try.

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Netgear Orbi Performance Slow