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Forum Discussion
Avohai
Aug 06, 2021Tutor
Orbi WiFi speeds drop low until I reboot the router
Dear All, I have the following Orbi mesh router with 2 satellites running the latest firmware v.2.7.3.22: Netgear Orbi Mesh Router RBK53S-100NAS (router + 2 satellites) Router Product Model: RBR50...
CrimpOn
Aug 12, 2021Guru - Experienced User
Avohai wrote:
I am also not so happy for getting ~ 300 Mbps on wifi when my internet capabilities are 600 Mpbs (verified with wired connection).
WiFi speeds are often a disappointment, for several reasons:
- Whereas an ethernet connection is inherently full duplux (packets travel in both directions at the same tiime), WiFi is inherently (a) half duplex (i.e. a device can either transmit or receive. it cannot do both at once), and (b) the available radio time is shared with every device on the network
- WiFi has a lot more overhead than ethernet. For example, every 100ms every access point broadcasts a "beacon frame", which takes up bandwidth. WiFi frames are actually longer than ethernet frames. (A very complicated subject, for example see this reference:
https://dot11ap.wordpress.com/ieee-802-11-frame-format-vs-ieee-802-3-frame-format/ ) - WiFi frames are encrypted, which takes processing power on the WiFi device to decrypt.
- WiFi speed falls off with distance (physics square law), so a link that may be 'rated' for 866mbs will not actually achieve that speed in practice. I am sitting 4' from my Orbi and my 2019 Sony phone reports a Transmit Link Rate of 650mbs and a Receive Link Rate of 585mbs (and that's before all that overhead eats away at it). Moving just 15 ft. away dropped them both. And... they are not constant. Link rates vary by the second as WiFi devices clamor for attention.
- WiFi devices vary in their capabilities. A friend and I were struggling to understand the speed of his home network. My Sony was reporting a much higher Speedtest than his older (and cheaper) Motorola.
I think if Speedtest is reporting 300mbs on your phone, tablet, or laptop WiFi, that's pretty good.
When you get a WiFi 6 system, the theoretical maximum speed will be higher, provided that you have WiFi 6 devices to use it.