Just ditched the new Xfinity modem (the black technicolor one that looks like some kind of award/trophy) for an Arris SB8200. Before the Arris, my Orbi was consistently getting 400-450Mbps on the Orbi app speedtest. Hooked up the new Arris modem, and now I am getting a little bit better but nothing near what I'm getting when I plug a laptop straight into the modem. Now my speeds are in the low 500Mbps on the Orbi app speedtest. But 700-800Mbps on my laptops I tested. I did factory reset the Orbi router and satellites after I got the new modem setup. My Orbi system has the 2.3.5.26 FW installed. Just to be clear, I'm talking about my speeds from the modem to the Orbi Router. I know I'm being nit-picky and already have great speeds. But I'm curious as to why the Orbi router isn't showing anything near the 700-800Mbps I'm seeing on my laptops? I have read several posts here and on other sights where people seem to think the Orbi can't handle gigabit speeds. Is this correct? I never saw a definitive answer.

Yes, it could be. We don't know for sure if the RBR20 series supports 1Gb WAN to LAN. Seen others with similar problems with the 20 series Orbi. Though I think the 50 series supports 1Gb WAN to LAN, i've not been able to get my RBR50 to test out much past 400Mbs for some reason. Others are reporting getting near 900Mbps, while others are not. I presume there is a FW issue also as a factor. Hardware Acceleration or Cut-Through features are needed for any home class router to see anything near 900Mbps. I have a XR450 and a couple of other non NG routers that test out to 900Mbps, So far my RBR50 and a XR700 I tested fails in this area for some reason. Blanca_O No, the modem only a modem so changing to AP mode on the RBR won't work unless you have a different router that you can place in the middle. I did notice that putting the RBR in AP mode, this mode see's 900Mbps. Of course it should as the WAN to LAN changes to LAN to LAN and all connections are 1000Mbps and speeds are near 900Mbps when testing.

Seen this issue where some Orbi users are not getting anything near 900Mbps. With the Arris modem and just the Orbi RBR, should be able to obtain something near 900Mbps. I would open a support ticket and let NG know about this:https://www.netgear.com/mynetgear/registration/login.aspxPoorOldRudy wrote:Put the Orbi in AP mode and hooked the Xfinity router/modem back up to make it the router. But nothing exciting. Did a speedtest and was getting 60-70Mbps. But I'm assuming I would have to call Xfinity to have them provision(?) Or whatever they do to make the Xfinity modem my main one instead of the Arris. So if I have time before my next billing cycle I may call them to do that. At this point I'm blaming the Orbi for the most part and will just suck it up and enjoy my 400-500Mbps speeds :) Or I may return the Arris and get a Netger CM1000, CM1200. The quest for faster speeds continues!

I would contact the forum moderator and hopefully they can direct you.Blanca_O Good Luck. PoorOldRudy wrote:Well shoot. Went to open a ticket and looks like my phone, chat and email support have expired. But I still have the hardware warranty. How do I submit a ticket if they so all my options expired by I'm still under hardware warranty? I filled out the support form and the only two options I got are this community forum and the knowledge base.

PoorOldRudy wrote:Just ditched the new Xfinity modem was this modem a modem/router combo????

Yes, the one I sent back to Xfinity was the Modem/Wifi Router combo.

Xfinity gigabit plan but Orbi maxes out around low 500Mbps

32 Replies

Retired_Member
Aug 19, 2019
PoorOldRudy wrote:
Just ditched the new Xfinity modem

was this modem a modem/router combo????
- PoorOldRudy
  Aspirant
  Aug 19, 2019
  Yes, the one I sent back to Xfinity was the Modem/Wifi Router combo.
plemans
Guru - Experienced User
Aug 19, 2019
I've got an Orbi and can confirm it should work. I can regularly pull 940 mbps down on it through a CM1000.
did you try resetting after updating firmware and changing modems? Anytime you change modems, its a good idea to start fresh.
Are you using QoS?
- PoorOldRudy
  Aspirant
  Aug 19, 2019
  Yes I factory reset the Orbi router and satellites after I got the new Arris modem up and running. On my Orbi admin I don’t have a QoS setting. But I don’t have or see any setting like that. I’ve heard some people mention that traffic meter is similar but I do not have that enabled either.
  - plemans
    Guru - Experienced User
    Aug 19, 2019
    I'd start with replacing cables and trying a different device to see if that impacts it at all.
    Are you hardwiring into a satellite or the main router?
PoorOldRudy
Aspirant
Aug 19, 2019
Here is a screenshot of my Speedtest history. I got the new modem setup on the 18th. And now that I look at it my speeds haven’t gone up that much. You’ll notice prior to the 18th the up and down are swapped. I’m assuming because of the recent Orbi app update. My upload speeds have been rock solid.
FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Aug 20, 2019
Seeing this with other RBR20s as well:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi/ORBI-RBK20-with-Bell-1G-Fiber-in-Canada/m-p/1789915#M68596
- PoorOldRudy
  Aspirant
  Aug 20, 2019
  I'm not a hardware guy, but could it simply be the limitation of the Orbi hardware? As a router it can handle the gigabit speeds but when you run code on it to test bandwidth it just doesn't measure up?
  - FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Aug 20, 2019
    Yes, it could be. We don't know for sure if the RBR20 series supports 1Gb WAN to LAN. Seen others with similar problems with the 20 series Orbi. Though I think the 50 series supports 1Gb WAN to LAN, i've not been able to get my RBR50 to test out much past 400Mbs for some reason. Others are reporting getting near 900Mbps, while others are not. I presume there is a FW issue also as a factor. Hardware Acceleration or Cut-Through features are needed for any home class router to see anything near 900Mbps. I have a XR450 and a couple of other non NG routers that test out to 900Mbps, So far my RBR50 and a XR700 I tested fails in this area for some reason.
    Blanca_O
    
    No, the modem only a modem so changing to AP mode on the RBR won't work unless you have a different router that you can place in the middle. I did notice that putting the RBR in AP mode, this mode see's 900Mbps. Of course it should as the WAN to LAN changes to LAN to LAN and all connections are 1000Mbps and speeds are near 900Mbps when testing.
- PoorOldRudy
  Aspirant
  Aug 20, 2019
  FURRYe38 I've seen people recommend/suggest switching to AP Mode. Do you think this could help in my situation? Can the Arris SB8200 function as a router?
PoorOldRudy
Aspirant
Aug 22, 2019
FURRYe38 Saw several of your posts recommending users to hardwire straight into the Orbi and do a speedtest through the app and not the site. I did get a couple test results in the 600-700Mbps range. But most landed in the 400-500Mbps range. So the speed is there, almost, but something is getting in the way. I know it's cable which can degrade when other people around you are using it. Which could be part of it. I had a tech who came out to test my equipment tell me we are on a shared line with 20 other people. So... there is that.

While on the Orbi's wifi I have tried several speed tests on the http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest which have came back in the 500+Mbps range. Has anyone ever tried the dslreports speed test?
- FURRYe38
  Guru - Experienced User
  Aug 22, 2019
  Ya seems like something in the RBRs FW and or HW is not fully getting or allowing near 900Mbps...
  
  Ya, used dslreports.com before as well. The test I run is more local and has no internet processing interferences.

Forum Discussion

Xfinity gigabit plan but Orbi maxes out around low 500Mbps