Hi All, just installed my brand new RBE871 and I’m getting a constant 94MB download/upload speed. If I connect my laptop to the ethernet port of the wall I get 850MB download. I have a main router in my house (FritzBox!5590) provided by the ISP, which delivers connectivity to the entire walls, this device is wifi disabled.the Orbi is intended to deliver wifi connectivity. Wires in the walls are CAT6A. each wired port in the house gives me high speed, just wifi from Orbi is slow at 94MB. I already downloaded the update firmware and restarted the Orbi a few times. I’m not a tech guy. Thanks for suggestions.

lucapelo wrote: It shows 100M/Full. I restarted the 871 and went to 1000M - immediately the download speed went to 960Mb via WiFi (both on my MacBook and my iPhone 13). Was so happy. Unfortunately the day after, WAN shows again 100M/Full - and the wifi speed is back limited to 93Mb. Ethernet hardware has a built-in feature called Autonegotiation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonegotiation) The Show Statistics box reports the speed that the Ethernet hardware on the Fritzbox and the Orbi WAN port have determined to be the maximum speed that the link can support. What this suggests is "something is wrong" with the cable pathway between the Fritzbox and the Orbi WAN port. This is often a problem with the termination of one of the RJ45 jacks or RJ45 plugs. Perhaps something is loose and although it made good contact when first connected, it moves a bit over time. There are 8 wires in an Ethernet connection. If even one wire loses contact, it is impossible to get 1000M/Full. When the link has been negotiated to 100M/Full, it is impossible to get a speed higher than about 94Mbps. No "settings". The only solution is to get the connection to be 1000M/Full. I bought a 100ft. Ethernet cable from Amazon for under $20US for just such situations. Stringing it through the house from Fritzbox to Orbi should result in 100M/Full that stays as long as the cable is connected. (and the family does not revolt) Finding the fault can be a nightmare. But if the temporary cable works and the existing wiring does not......

Any chance you can bring the RBR to same room as ISP modem and connect it directly behind the modem? Will need to look at the modems web page for the DMZ or IP Pass thru feature. Look at the Mfr user manual or ask ISP support for help on that.

There are now two separate topics under discussion: Why the Orbi router WAN port is connecting at 100Mbps rather than 1000Mbps. The optimal way to configure "two routers" in one house. (Fritzbox and Orbi) It might be worth spending a few minutes to examine the WAN port RJ45 jack. Are all eight of those tiny wires the same? (nothing bent or out of alignment?) If "the only thing that changes" is the CAT7 patch cable plug is moved from the MacBook to the Orbi WAN port, that would be the first place to look. (perhaps it is technically possible for the MacBook Ethernet adapter to negotiate gigabit speed and the Orbi Ethernet Adapter to negotiate 100Megabit speed, but that seems unlikely.) I find it really strange that the Orbi reports different connection speeds from one minute to another.)

Lets work on getting the WAN connection rate fixed first.

Could you please use the web interface to display the Advanced Tab and click on Show Statistics: What does the router display for the WAN port?

RBE871 slow speed | NETGEAR Communities

22 Replies

CrimpOn
Guru - Experienced User
Oct 29, 2025
Could you please use the web interface to display the Advanced Tab and click on Show Statistics:

What does the router display for the WAN port?
- lucapelo
  Aspirant
  Nov 03, 2025
  It shows 100M/Full. I restarted the 871 and went to 1000M - immediately the download speed went to 960Mb via WiFi (both on my MacBook and my iPhone 13). Was so happy.
  Unfortunately the day after, WAN shows again 100M/Full - and the wifi speed is back limited to 93Mb.
  
  How to keep the WAN port at 1000M/Full (even after a power cycle of the Orbi)?
  
  thanks
  - FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Nov 03, 2025
    Your ISP Modem already 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.
    Static IP Address Configuration for AP Mode | NETGEAR Communities
    
    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...
    
    Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6A STP is recommended.
    
    If you happen to have a non managed 1Gb LAN switch, connect this switch in between the ISP modem and the RBR and see if connection rate changes while connected to this LAN switch.

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RBE871 slow speed