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Speed Test Issues
Hello, I am having this exact issue from this community post: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/Orbi-Limiting-bandwidth-wired-and-wireless/m-p/1675266#M47241 But I don't understand t...
karlf2059 wrote:
But I don't understand the "solution". How can I properly test my internet speed when connected through the Orbi?
If I connect a laptop direct to my modem, I get 900 something mbps. If I connect the laptop direct wired to the Orbi router, I get 550-ish. If I run a speed test from the Orbi firmware, I get 550-ish. If I run a speed test from a PC wired to a satellite upstairs, I get 300.
Anything fully wireless seems to vary greatly on location and device.
What speeds am I supposed to believe and trust? How can I determine if I am getting the full 1.2Gbps from my ISP if the Orbi limits me to 550? Can someone explain more as to why this is? Should I be concerned?
So many issues:
The SRR60 Orbi "Pro" router has exactly the same physical hardware as the RBR50 router, but the firmware is different as the SRR60 was created as more of a small business solution. Netgear created a community forum specifically for the Pro product. If there is anything unique to the Pro that affects this issue, posting the question in that forum may get a more informed response.
How can I determine if I am getting the full 1.2Gbps from my ISP? With this equipment, you cannot. The ISP modem has to have one of two ways to create a 1.2Gbps stream: (a) a network port capable of greater than a gigabit or (b) "aggregating" two gigabit ports. The SRR60 Orbi has neither capability. (nor, I imagine does the laptop). Newer router models have one or the other capability, but not this one.
Anything fully wireless seems to vary greatly on location and device. This is exactly correct. The farther a WiFi device is from the WiFi access point, the lower the signal strength and effective link speed. The tiny footnote by those advertised WiFi speeds in the product data sheet points to a footnote at the bottom of page 3 admitting that those speeds are the maximum theoretical if the device was (literally) next to the access point.
https://www.netgear.com/images/datasheet/orbi/SRR60.pdf
If I run a speed test from a PC wired to a satellite upstairs, I get 300. That is because the satellite is connected over WiFi and is far enough away from the router that it does not achieve 'maximum speed.'
But I don't understand the "solution". Message 14 in that discussion about speed is an interesting assertion. iperf3 is a utility program (available for almost every platform - Windows, Mac, Linux, Android) That transmits and receives a constant stream of data and records the results. What the poster was saying is that he connected several computers on the Orbi LAN to run iperf3 with computers somewhere on the WAN. (Wish he had said more about how that was set up. There are 'public' iperf3 servers on the internet so he may have opened sessions with several of them.) He claimed that the sum of 8 such iperf3 sessions totalled 920-940Mbps. Note that it is physically impossible to record 1,000Mbps on a gigabit link. There is some overhead even in ethernet.
So, the claim in that post is that the his Orbi did in fact handle almost a gigabit of data from the ISP, but not apparently in one single stream.
Should I be concerned? Only if your performance needs are not being met. Can you stream 4K video to every TV in the house and play computer games on every PS5 or XBox in the house all at the same time?
karlf2059 wrote:But I don't understand the "solution". How can I properly test my internet speed when connected through the Orbi?
If I connect a laptop direct to my modem, I get 900 something mbps. If I connect the laptop direct wired to the Orbi router, I get 550-ish. If I run a speed test from the Orbi firmware, I get 550-ish. If I run a speed test from a PC wired to a satellite upstairs, I get 300.
Anything fully wireless seems to vary greatly on location and device.
What speeds am I supposed to believe and trust? How can I determine if I am getting the full 1.2Gbps from my ISP if the Orbi limits me to 550? Can someone explain more as to why this is? Should I be concerned?
So many issues:
The SRR60 Orbi "Pro" router has exactly the same physical hardware as the RBR50 router, but the firmware is different as the SRR60 was created as more of a small business solution. Netgear created a community forum specifically for the Pro product. If there is anything unique to the Pro that affects this issue, posting the question in that forum may get a more informed response.
How can I determine if I am getting the full 1.2Gbps from my ISP? With this equipment, you cannot. The ISP modem has to have one of two ways to create a 1.2Gbps stream: (a) a network port capable of greater than a gigabit or (b) "aggregating" two gigabit ports. The SRR60 Orbi has neither capability. (nor, I imagine does the laptop). Newer router models have one or the other capability, but not this one.
Anything fully wireless seems to vary greatly on location and device. This is exactly correct. The farther a WiFi device is from the WiFi access point, the lower the signal strength and effective link speed. The tiny footnote by those advertised WiFi speeds in the product data sheet points to a footnote at the bottom of page 3 admitting that those speeds are the maximum theoretical if the device was (literally) next to the access point.
https://www.netgear.com/images/datasheet/orbi/SRR60.pdf
If I run a speed test from a PC wired to a satellite upstairs, I get 300. That is because the satellite is connected over WiFi and is far enough away from the router that it does not achieve 'maximum speed.'
But I don't understand the "solution". Message 14 in that discussion about speed is an interesting assertion. iperf3 is a utility program (available for almost every platform - Windows, Mac, Linux, Android) That transmits and receives a constant stream of data and records the results. What the poster was saying is that he connected several computers on the Orbi LAN to run iperf3 with computers somewhere on the WAN. (Wish he had said more about how that was set up. There are 'public' iperf3 servers on the internet so he may have opened sessions with several of them.) He claimed that the sum of 8 such iperf3 sessions totalled 920-940Mbps. Note that it is physically impossible to record 1,000Mbps on a gigabit link. There is some overhead even in ethernet.
So, the claim in that post is that the his Orbi did in fact handle almost a gigabit of data from the ISP, but not apparently in one single stream.
Should I be concerned? Only if your performance needs are not being met. Can you stream 4K video to every TV in the house and play computer games on every PS5 or XBox in the house all at the same time?
Thanks for the response! So first let me explain that I do fully understand that I will never get 1.2gbps total when running speed tests, I realize the limitations of the gigabit ports on the Orbi. The cable modem has a 2.5mbps port on it. I was also incorrect on one thing, if I plug my laptop straight into a port on the Orbi, I do see 900-ish mbps. Which is what I would expect, in fact I would expect anywhere between 800-900mbps. That is what I would also expect when running a speed test from the Orbi Pro's firmware, but it never seems to get above 550 and that was my concern (and I mistakenly thought my laptop direct connected was limited to 550). I was worried that the Orbi was somehow restricted to 550 and I needed new hardware.
However, while my concerns about making sure I am getting the speeds I pay for from my ISP, I can say that we hardly ever have any issues streaming, gaming, downloading, etc. I work from home and almost never have any issues. This is just me being **bleep** and wanting maximum speed!
I do have a somewhat separate question. This 550 speed test issue concerned me so much that I purchased a new cable modem that was rated for 2.5gbps, BUT, I don't think I need it. My previous cable modem was 3 years old and rated for up to 1gbps. If the Orbi can never go above 1gbps, then the new cable modem might be moot. Unless it is a good idea to upgrade cable modems every 3 years or so? I wouldn't think that would be necessary. What are your thoughts?
Please visit and post about this over in the Orbi Pro forum:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-Pro-WiFi-for-Small-Business/bd-p/en-business-orbi-pro
You find additional information regard this product series there as well.
Good Luck.IF you have a 2.5Gb modem and you don't have a router that supports 2.5Gb on the WAN side, then you'll be limited to around 900Mps on the wire. Wifi on Orbi AC 5Ghz will never see anything near 900Mpbs as most wifi devices max out at around 300-500Mpbs on 5Ghz AC. If your getting 900Mpbs on your PC thru the Orbi router, then would be preferred testing method as the onbard orbi speed test app maybe falsely reporting speed results or it's speed testing at a server that maybe either not working well, busy or giving inaccurate speed results to the Orbi speed test app. I recommend using Ooklas installable speed test app on a wired PC, close down ALL running appications on the PC and test with the speed test app with your wired PC connected at the Orbi router for best and most accurate speed results. Also speed test with a different PC to compare results as well.
karlf2059 wrote:I do have a somewhat separate question. This 550 speed test issue concerned me so much that I purchased a new cable modem that was rated for 2.5gbps, BUT, I don't think I need it. My previous cable modem was 3 years old and rated for up to 1gbps. If the Orbi can never go above 1gbps, then the new cable modem might be moot. Unless it is a good idea to upgrade cable modems every 3 years or so? I wouldn't think that would be necessary. What are your thoughts?
No, there is no need to have the new cable modem as it is impossible to take advantage of the additional capacity. (and also no need to have a 1.2GB cable subscription unless that is what the ISP offers instead of "only" 1GB. (Sort of a marketing gimmick to sell something that the vast majority of customers cannot take advantage of.)
I see no reason to replace appliances that continue to function correctly. In the grand scheme of things, it is not an obscene expenditure and it leaves you with an instant spare in case the one that being used dies. Even Amazon cannot beat "take it out of the box and plug itin."
I used to have 600mbps service, and all I wanted to do was renew my contract for the same price for another couple years. But you are right, marketing gimmicks and ploys made it so the 600mbps service was MORE EXPENSIVE, than upgrading to 1.2Gbps. It is kinda nuts, but whatever, I am getting 1.2Gbps for the same price I was paying 600 and avoiding an increase.
In order to take advantage of the 1.2Gbps, I would need to upgrade my existing Netgear Orbi to the latest $1000 product! I got the Netgear Orbi Pro I have now a year ago, for half that cost. I would like to get more mileage out of it before upgrading lol.
So with that said, I will put my old router back in place and return the new one.
