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Forum Discussion
rbk843s - different link rates on 2.4ghz
RBK843S (RBR840, RBS840) all running v4.6.14.5. I noticed that the router shows 2.4ghz wireless mode "up to 1147 Mbps" but both satellites show 2.4ghz wireless mode "up to 574 Mbps" (both router and...
I see 573Mbps under the wireless mode for 2.4Ghz WiFi on my Satellite and I have the RBK853. Looking at the specs, the main difference between the 840 and 850 series is the 2.4Ghz radio supports 256 QAM on the 840 compared to 1024 QAM on the 850 (this is why max link rate on the specs of the 840 is 900Mbps instead of 1200Mbps for 2.4Ghz). I think we both probably have the enable 20/40Mhz coexistence checked (it's a default setting and I leave it enabled because I don't want interference with bluetooth). When this is enabled you won't get the full rate on 2.4Ghz (indicated on the satellite configuration page). This doesn't really matter though because 5Ghz is preferred for faster speeds and should be what most devices are using which makes the 840 series practically identical to the 850 series in actual use cases. I think that Netgear should post an updated firmware for the 840 series as it likely is compatible with the same software that is on the 750 / 850 series and there were recent security fixes. Hopefully that gets posted soon.
Hi Musicman, thanks for the confirmation, looks like you have the same rates so I won't be so concerned. I think you'll see the attached specs in my previous post that the "updated" 840 also supports 1024-QAM. I'm thinking the marketing guys created a special for Costco and called it the RBK843s (I don't believe the updated hardware was available anywhere else) so the cheaper price wouldn't impact sales of the "identical" RBK853. I'm also hoping (although I consider it very doubtful) that NG will release any further firmware updates since they very easily could have already -- and you'll note in an earlier post that the validation of machine ID's in the firmware for the 840's actually IS included in the new firmware for the 850's, which is why I'm asking in my original post if there is any way to get the newer firmware on the 840.