Hello! I have suddenly noticed a drastic drop in my WiFi speeds on my desktop computer whether connected to the Orbi Router or Satellite. My internet is AT&T Fiber 2G service. The Orbi app on my iPhone reads: 2361.18 Upload and 2355.57 Mpbs download speeds, but when i do a speed test on my desktop only about 10 feet away from my router, my speed tests read: 70.41 Upload and 49.72 Download. As you can see, that is considerably lower. I've been researching, and others have recommended doing a factory reset. I have done this and still, my numbers read the same. The Orbi router is connected directly to the AT&T modem via Ethernet cable. Anyone know what the problem might be? Thanks in advance! Hardware: Orbi RBR850Firmware V4.6.7.13_2.1.9OS: Mac Monterey 12.0.1

Are you testing over 2.4ghz? 2.4ghz is a much slower band than 5ghz. and its suffers from more interference. (even 5ghz isn't going to max out a 2gig connection or even get close). Also, att uses their own modem/router combo device and it causes a double nat. A double nat happens when you cascade more than 1 router. https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NATFixes? There’s 3 options but only use 1. 1. Put the modem/gateway in modem only/pass through mode. This disables its routing functions. 2. Leave the modem/gateway in router mode but put the Netgears IP address into its DMZ. This forwards the data to the netgear. You can either leave the modem/gateway’s wireless enabled or disabled. Just make sure its using a different wifi channel to prevent interference3. Put the Netgear into access point mode. This disables its routing functions. Wifi/ethernet still works but it does disable some features. https://kb.netgear.com/26765/Which-features-are-disabled-on-my-NETGEAR-router-when-it-is-set-to-AP-Mode

A couple things. 1. try several devices for checking the speeds. not just 1. 2. most devices are only gigabit so aren't going to max out your 2gig speeds. The RBK850 series only has the 2.5gig port (that you're using for wan speed) and then 1gig ports. the 1gig ports can be aggregated but I'm not sure if you're doing that. If you're not, your max speed will be the 1gig.

Hi! Thank you for your time plemans . I'm not sure how to choose which band to test on as I only have one option with my current modem. Looking at the iPhone app though, my desktop is connected to the 5GHz Wifi. I followed these instructions on the AT&T site re: configuring IP passthrough on my modem:https://www.att.com/support/smallbusiness/article/smb-internet/KM1188700 After doing so, my speeds still remain incredibly slow over WiFi just feet away from the router. I've since brought the router further away from the wall and my computer closer too. Current speedtest has me at: 22.54 dwn/9.06 Up mbps over WiFi, but Orbi app is reporting: 2349.3/2358.43 mbps. If i connect the desktop to the Orbi with an Ethernet cable, the speed goes up to: 931.83/938.20 mbps. Still less than half of what the app is reporting.

An update. I tried to downgrade to a previous Firmware version as some people are saying that might be the problem, but when I try to update i get the following message without an option to choose "yes." There is only a "no" button (screenshot attached): Firmware UpdateWarning! The firmware version you are trying to upload is older than the one you had.Do you still want to continue?Current Firmware VersionV4.6.7.13_2.1.9New VersionV3.2.17.12_1.4.14No

Thanks again for your time .1. Yes, I have checked multiple devices (a laptop and several phones) and all are the same. I am primarily reporting my desktop because it has an Ethernet port that will allow me to compare a direct connection. All devices were achieving 1.5k mbps speeds when I was within the vicinity I am in now, but have dropped since the firmware update.2. I was achieving 1.3-1.5 g+ plus speeds prior to the latest Orbi firmware update without aggregating. I will have to look into aggregating ports as I don’t know how to do that, but still doesn’t change that my speeds have dropped considerably without aggregating either before or now. I’ve gone from 1500+ Mbps to only double digit (sometimes single digit) MBps. That is a huge drop. I can’t even watch short non-4K YouTube videos without lag and distortion.

Orbi RBR850 Wifi speeds very slow using AT&T Fiber even after factory reset

21 Replies

plemans
Guru - Experienced User
Mar 17, 2022
Are you testing over 2.4ghz?

2.4ghz is a much slower band than 5ghz. and its suffers from more interference.

(even 5ghz isn't going to max out a 2gig connection or even get close).

Also, att uses their own modem/router combo device and it causes a double nat.

A double nat happens when you cascade more than 1 router.
https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
Fixes? There’s 3 options but only use 1.
1. Put the modem/gateway in modem only/pass through mode. This disables its routing functions.
2. Leave the modem/gateway in router mode but put the Netgears IP address into its DMZ. This forwards the data to the netgear. You can either leave the modem/gateway’s wireless enabled or disabled. Just make sure its using a different wifi channel to prevent interference
3. Put the Netgear into access point mode. This disables its routing functions. Wifi/ethernet still works but it does disable some features.
https://kb.netgear.com/26765/Which-features-are-disabled-on-my-NETGEAR-router-when-it-is-set-to-AP-Mode
- Teleport
  Aspirant
  Mar 17, 2022
  Hi! Thank you for your time plemans . I'm not sure how to choose which band to test on as I only have one option with my current modem. Looking at the iPhone app though, my desktop is connected to the 5GHz Wifi. I followed these instructions on the AT&T site re: configuring IP passthrough on my modem:
  https://www.att.com/support/smallbusiness/article/smb-internet/KM1188700
  
  After doing so, my speeds still remain incredibly slow over WiFi just feet away from the router. I've since brought the router further away from the wall and my computer closer too. Current speedtest has me at: 22.54 dwn/9.06 Up mbps over WiFi, but Orbi app is reporting: 2349.3/2358.43 mbps.
  
  If i connect the desktop to the Orbi with an Ethernet cable, the speed goes up to: 931.83/938.20 mbps. Still less than half of what the app is reporting.
  - Teleport
    Aspirant
    Mar 17, 2022
    An update. I tried to downgrade to a previous Firmware version as some people are saying that might be the problem, but when I try to update i get the following message without an option to choose "yes." There is only a "no" button (screenshot attached):
    
    Firmware Update
    Warning! The firmware version you are trying to upload is older than the one you had.
    Do you still want to continue?
    Current Firmware Version V4.6.7.13_2.1.9
    New Version V3.2.17.12_1.4.14
    No

Firmware Update
Warning! The firmware version you are trying to upload is older than the one you had. Do you still want to continue?
Current Firmware Version	V4.6.7.13_2.1.9
New Version	V3.2.17.12_1.4.14

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Orbi RBR850 Wifi speeds very slow using AT&T Fiber even after factory reset

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