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RBR50 different download speeds for different Macs
I have three Macs in my home. MacBokPro Mid-2012 with OS 10.15.4, an iMac Late 2015 with OS 10.14.6 and a Mac Mini Late 2012 with OS 10.15.4. The first two Macs achieve a D/L speed of 28 Mbs U/L sppe...
What Firmware version is currently loaded?
What is the Mfr and model# of the ISP modem the NG router is connected too?
What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router and satellite(s)? 30 feet is recommended in between RBR and RBS to begin with depending upon building materials when wirelessly connected. https://kb.netgear.com/000036466/How-far-should-I-place-my-Orbi-satellite-from-my-Orbi-router
What channels are you using? Auto? Try setting manual channel 1, 6 or 11 on 2.4Ghz and any unused channel on 5Ghz.
Any Wifi Neighbors near by? If so, how many?
Try enabling Beamforming and MIMO(MIMO may or maynot be needed) and WMM. Under Advanced Tab/Advanced Settings/Wireless Settings
Try disabling the following and see:
Armor, Circle, Daisy Chain, Fast Roaming, IPv6 and Set 20/40Mhz Coexistence to 40Mhz only. Set Short preamble instead of Long preamble modes. Save settings and reboot the router and satellite(s).
JBuddenbrooks wrote:I have three Macs in my home. MacBokPro Mid-2012 with OS 10.15.4, an iMac Late 2015 with OS 10.14.6 and a Mac Mini Late 2012 with OS 10.15.4. The first two Macs achieve a D/L speed of 28 Mbs U/L spped of 3 Mbs. The Mac Mini can only get a D/L speed of 20 Mbs at best with an U/L of 2 Mbs. Placing the Macbook Pro next to the Mac Mini and it still gets the faster D/L and U/L speeds. (The MacBook Pro gets the 28 Mbs speed anywhere I place it in the house.) What can I do to get the faster speeds with my Mac Mini? I'm checking the speeds with speedtest.net, fast.com and dslreports.com. The results are similar with all three apps. Suggestions as to why the Mac Mini is almosr 30% slower? (P.S. I do have the latest Orbi Firmware installed.)
In answer to some of your questions - the prior answer was not from me - is as follows:
• Orbi Firmware: 2.5.1.16
• Cable Modem ARRIS Touchstone TM3402A (it's DOCSIS 3.1 and was replaced about 10 days ago as part of troubleshooting - made no difference) It is located about 3 feet from the RBR50 and connected via Ethernet.
• My MacMini is about 10 feet from the Orbi base, the RBR50. When I place the MacBookPro next to the Mini, the MacBookPro has a speed of 28 Mbs.
• Connecting the ARRIS to my Mac Mini via Ethernet produces as D/L Speed of 28 Mbs. Unfortunately, when I usethe Ethernet cable,the ARRIS is appears to disable the WiFi.
The other Orbi (RBS50s) are located 30 to 50 feet away and provide 28 Mbs speeds to the other two Macs - the MacBookPro and an iMac.
What mode is the Arris modem running in? This is a gateway modem with built in router and wifi already:
https://www.cox.com/residential/support/arris-tm3402.html
This would be a double NAT (two router) condition which isn't recommended. https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
https://kb.netgear.com/30187/How-to-fix-issues-with-Double-NAT
Couple of options,
1. Configure the modem for transparent bridge or modem only mode. Then use the Orbi router in router mode. You'll need to contact the ISP for help and information in regards to the modem being bridged correctly.
2. If you can't bridge the modem, disable ALL wifi radios on the modem, configure the modems DMZ/ExposedHost or IP Pass-Through for the IP address the Orbi router gets from the modem. Then you can use the Orbi router in Router mode.
3. Or disable all wifi radios on the modem and connect the Orbi router to the modem, configure AP mode on the Orbi router. https://kb.netgear.com/31218/How-do-I-configure-my-Orbi-router-to-act-as-an-access-point and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7LOcJ8GdDo&app=desktopWhen placing laptops or mobile devices near the base or RBS, be sure to turn OFF the wifi radios on the device for aboug 5 seconds then back ON. This ensures the device connects to the nearest signal source and not remain connected to a farther signal source.
FURRYe38:
A super thank you for the information. After reviewing the references to the ARRIS you provided (I really appreciatre those documentation links) the best I can determine the 3402A is NOT a router just a cable modem. I see no references to any WiFi or WiFi settings in any of the documentation. Also, unfortunately, my cable company (MorrisBroadband) is a small Provider and they don't seem to have anyone who has a clue on the ARRIS setup and specifications. In fact, thanks to your references one question was answered. In troubleshooting the MacMini speed I connected the ARRIS via Ethernet to the MacMini and obtained the 28 Mbsd download. However, in the process the Ethernet signal to the ORBI disappeared. MorrisBroadband didn't have any idea why that happened. But, according to the documnentation you provided, only one Ethernet port on the ARRIS can be active ay any one time. Seems that I might be able to obtain the 28 Mbs download by connecting my MacMini via Ethernet to my RBR50. Does that make sense? I don't think I'd want to keep an Ethernet connection since I believe in using WiFi or Bluetooth wherevere possible since I am located in a very high thunderstorm area with frequent lightening strikes.
Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated but I have to admit much for your detailed suggestions went beyond my technical expertise.
Ya looking closer, I believe your right about the modem. I should have ready more of that information.
Has a factory reset and setup from scratch been performed since last FW update and while the RBR is reset, power OFF the ISP modem for 30 seconds then back ON?
Interesting that you should suggest FW upgrade and Reset. Because of other persistent problems with my ISP I replaced my ARRIS modem about two weeks ago. When I got it home it of course didn't work. After a call to the ISP they updated the firmware. The persistent problems I have a temporary "fix". I unplug the modem for a minute or so and plug it back in. So, the suggestions you offered have alrready been done... multiple times. Each time the Internet dies I "rinse-and-repeat".