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tbpate's avatar
tbpate
Aspirant
Apr 11, 2024

RBKE963 LAN Ports seem to be bottle necked at the Router

My Current Setup:

  • Comcast XB8 Gateway (1.5 Gig Service)
  • RBRE960 Router (AXE11000)
    • connected to gateway via Cat6 patch cable with Cat6 connectors
    • Firmware: v6.3.7.10
  • RBSE960 Satellites (3)
    • two satellites connected via wireless backhaul
    • one satellite connected using wired backhaul on 2.5 Gig LAN Port, via Cat6 patch cable (100')

Testing Results:

  • Router (via app)

  • Wireless
    • Download/Uploads Speeds vary by device, but are as expected without any issues thus far.
  • Wired
    • Tested with MacBook Air, M2 2022, Sonoma 14.4.1 
    • Connected via Cat6 Patch Cable on 2.5 Gig port of RBRE960 and nothing else connected to the Routers LAN ports.
    • Download Speeds Max out at approximately 500Mbps
    • Upload Speeds are as expected, so no issues there.

*NOTE: Wired speed test was also conducted on all 1 Gig ports with same results. In addition, different Cat6 cables were used to eliminate possibility of bad cable.

 

My question is obviously in regards to the download speed being bottlenecked by the RBRE960 via the LAN ports. I am getting expected speed to the router as indicated by the app testing. However, regardless of what cable I'm using on the LAN ports, I cannot seem to get much better than 500Mbps download. However, upload speeds are fine. Wifi speeds, both download and upload, are as they should be.

 

I have searched options in the app to see if there is a setting that I'm missing, which may be throttling the ports. However, I cannot seem to locate anything that has been able to help me. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you in Advance!

 

11 Replies

  • FURRYe38's avatar
    FURRYe38
    Guru
    Apr 11, 2024

    Tried a different PC connected to the back of the RBR to compare speed results? 

    How are you speed testing? Ooklas installable speed test app is recommended. 

    CAT6A STP cabling is recommended between the ISP modem and RBR. 

     

     

    Try disabling the following and see:
    Armor, Smart Parental Controls or Circle, Traffic Meter.

     

    What mode is the ISP modem in? Your ISP Modem is a gateway thus has a built in router and wifi. 

    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=desktop

    Try option #2 first...

     

    Also your system is behind on FW as well:

    https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-WIFI-6-AX-AND-Wi-Fi-6E-AXE/New-RBRE960-RBSE960-Firmware-Version-7-2-6-31-Released/td-p/2370525/jump-to/first-unread-message

    • tbpate's avatar
      tbpate
      Aspirant
      Apr 11, 2024

      Thank you for the prompt response FURRYe38,

      Just when I thought I was being thorough, you point out some pretty obvious information I should have included. My apologies for not including...

       

      - Gateway is in Bridge Mode, which I had done prior to install of the mesh. I wanted the Orbi to do all the network routing, and I didn't want a double NAT issue.

      - Armor, Smart Parental Controls/Circle, and Traffic Meter have all been disabled since the point of install.

       

      Response to your suggestions:

      - I will absolutely switch to CAT6a STP if needed, but a 3' CAT6 patch should be able to handle 1.5 Gig with ease, no? I'm using an Atolla USB-C to Ethernet adapter (C105) capable of 1 Gig, so I would expect close to a 1 Gig when testing... or am I mistaken?!

      - I do have a windows laptop I can conduct a similar test with, so I will try that as well. 

      - The FW issue is very interesting to me, because when I search for updates via the app, it tells me its up to date: 

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      However, I can clearly see that there is another FW update available via the link you sent me. I will look to see if I can manually update the FW and report back. Thank you for that information and links!