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Re: Slow upload speeds on router Speedtest
I installed my new 970 last Friday behind an ATT BGW320 Fiber Gateway (I have 5Gb internet service) and I’ve been experiencing the same issue. My download speeds will be 4500-4800MB, my uploads won’t get above 700 MBs. Netgear, what’s happening on this issue? There were 26 posts on this issue on 1-day in Feb of this year, and then nothing?!?!
- FURRYe38 , After the previous firmware update (not the update you just announced in the last few days) and after that previous software update, I removed one of my two 970 Satellites (per your suggestion) leaving me with two WiFi 7 mesh nodes in a 2000 sg ft home, the Orbi App speed test results (we ultimately had already traced the issue to faulty upload speed READINGS, not an actual slow upload speed THROUGH-PUT) now correctly reflects 4700-5100Mbps upload speeds with my ATT 5 fiber-gig service.
I’ll try to find your previous post and mark my issue as resolved. Thanks for all your suggestions and assistance!
88 Replies
Not sure what post thread your referring too.
How are you speed testing? Wired PC or wireless device? Wired is preferred.
What Firmware version is currently loaded?
Be sure your using a good quality LAN cable between the modem and router. CAT6A STP is recommended.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.
https://community.netgear.com/t5/Orbi-WIFI-6-AX-AND-Wi-Fi-6E-AXE/Procedure-for-Factory-reset-of-RBS850/m-p/2367505/highlight/true#M53985
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...Anything with gateways could cause problems. Modem only units are preferred.
Need to try AP mode as well with the Orbi system.
How many RBS are deployed?
What is the size of your home? Sq Ft?
What is the distance between the router 📡 and satellite(s)🛰️? 30 feet or more is recommended in between RBR 📡 and RBS 🛰️ to begin with depending upon building materials when wired or wirelessly connected.- I opened a Case today after spending 3 hours on phone with Gearhead support. They had me send them 10 screen shots. They are looking into it.
- Well, Netgear’s Community reply template wants me to populate “Device”. My Orbi 971 (RBE971) isn’t a choice in their drop -down and it won’t populate what I typed. I already trued everything in this thread (and 400 other articles from across the world)! I’m most unhappy (I’m not the only Netgear Customer who has an ATT BGW320 fiber Gateway) and I especially liked the Netgear instruction that said if you install the $2300 Orbi behind another router, the Orbi has to be configured in Access Point mode!! So I paid that much money for 3 AP’s and have to still use my slower ATT Gateway router!! Also, even in the 168-page Orbi 971 manual it shows the 3 ways to connect the Satellites. I spent almost $10k upgrading our home to a 10Gb backbone with 8 Netgear stackable managed routers. Two satellites are locate right beside the M4300 routers. The Orbi manual shows 3 connections for satellites, daisy chain (no!), star (no!) and 3rd way shows two satellites on either side of a blue (Netgear) non-descript router with the caption “or a switch can be used”. They don’t mention it will only work with an unmanaged switch!! I’m hoping for a solution that will work for every customer who purchases a Netgear WIFI 7 product.
You don't have to use the product drop down to post.
The M4300 are managed switches, not a router. Also there is a known issue with having RBS ethernet connected to the RBR with ANY Managed switch in between. So only non managed switches work here. XS505M and GS110MX work great with the 9 series.
Also CAT6A STP cabling is recommended for higher speed connections.
Best to keep in contact with NG support since you've made contact there and not giving feedback to questions presented. Hopefully they can help you figure this out.
Good Luck.
Roc1 wrote:
Netgear instruction that said if you install the $2300 Orbi behind another router, the Orbi has to be configured in Access Point mode!!Would love to see a link to that instruction from Netgear. As far as I am aware, customers who can tolerate a Double NAT are free to leave the Orbi in router mode. There are generally three methods to avoid a Double NAT, and putting the Orbi in Access Point mode is one of them. The other two are
- Put the ISP device in "bridge" or "passthrough" mode
- Put the Orbi router in the ISP device DMZ
- ATT Fiber Gateways don’t offer a Bridge Mode, only a Passthrough option. Here’s what a Netgear Support document says (note the word “MUST”):
Depending on which Internet service provider (ISP) you use, you must do one of the following:
Enable bridge mode on your ISP-provided gateway
Install your NETGEAR or Orbi router in AP (access point) mode and turn off the WiFi on your ISP-provided gateway
For more information, see What is the difference between router mode and AP mode?.
I first thought this was strange which is why I started looking for on-line answers. I called Netgear tech Support 2-weeks ago since I saw so many conflicting “How to’s for ATT Gateways. Netgear tech basically told me just to follow the Orbi app instructions and that’s it! Well, I did follow the app instructions to a point, till it took me to the Router “Access Point” and “Router” selection page and told me to select the AP button! I think the app realizes you are connected to a Gateway, I knew enough that “Bridging” or “Passthrough” and disabling Gateway WIFI’s was a must, so I asked the Netgear tech about what settings I needed to change in the ATT Gateway. He said “none”! I questioned, “what about the ATT WiFi frequencies conflicting with Orbi WiFi frequencies, he then added, “yes, you do need to disable ATT WiFi”. So if you don’t know enough about Networks, Netgear will have, at least all the ATT ISP Orbi owners using the same slow ATT router they currently have, and a new $2300 mesh AP system!
- I will explain where Netgear and I are at. You will find this interesting and as bewildering as me. I installed the new Orbi 970 and 2 satellites last Friday. I went into ATT Gateway and enabled pass through and disabled lots of other options. I had internet. I used the Orbi App (WiFi 6MHz and my WiFi 6E iPhone) to test my speed through the router multiple times throughout Fri and Sat: 2100-2300 Mb Down, 650-750Mb Up. I’ve had this same Gateway and 5Gb Svc for three years, it too has an internal speed test option. Consistently for three years, Gateway to ATT server, Up and Down both 4700-5100Mb. Same result on last Fri and Sat from ATT Gateway speed test. On Sun, I checked Orbi App, WOW!! 2100-2500Mb Up and Down!! I’d made no network changes. Same results all day Sun. Yesterday (Mon) and earlier today, Orbi router internal speed test 2100-2500 down, 650-800 up!! No changes made to Network. So today I called Netgear Tech as it was slow upload again. Tech had me go to Speedtest App on my WiFi 6E iPhone (working on 6Mhz Orbi WiFi) Wow! 1900-2300 down, 2000-2300 Up!! What?? We then used Orbi App tester, back to 2100-2500 down, 650-800 up, what?? I then went to the internal ATT Gateway speed test, 4500-4900 down, 480 up?!?!? So some how the Orbi router was slowing down the packets being sent from Speedtest through the ATT Gateway to the Netgear Router. Crazy. I have no idea what speed this expensive paper weight provides me. All the above info with speed test screen shots, and some screen shots of my Orbi settings, and they had me change my DNS Server on Orbi router to Google (helped a small amount on both up /down) all went to my Case number at Netgear.
Passthrough mode appears to be equivalent to bridge mode on the BGW320:
Yes, it is annoying to have identical experiments give different results when "nothing has changed".
Did I read correctly that the AT&T feature to report down/up performance from the BGW320 itself is inconsistent?
(usually reporting 4700-5100 down/up but on at least one occasion reporting 4800/480 down/up?)
If the BGW320 is reporting inconsistent "up" rates, then.... WTF? (technical term)
The Orbi router itself, and devices connected to it, cannot achieve more than AT&T provides. If AT&T 's fiber service is inconsistent, that would seem to put the focus squarely on AT&T.
- I’ve had that exact Gateway and 5G fiber service from ATT for at least 3-years. The speed values you referenced were from the ATT gateway and were close to 5GB consistently while I was using their 5G Gateway/Router and their two 1Gb Satellites. The 480 Mb speed was when the ATT Gateway Speedtest was measuring upload packets coming from the Gateway going to the new Orbi router! The SpeedTest router was having trouble getting the packets from the fiber connection, and 3’ over and into the 10Gb Orbi WAN port!!
I think a Bridging option removes any chance of double NAT issues. With Passthrough, the Gateway still has to assign an IP (I changed the address format of my Gateway from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.10.1 before I powered up the Orbi. But, when I look at the ATT Gateway IP assignment, ATT has assigned 192.168.10.2 to something (WAN port?) on the Orbi Router. When you check the Orbi’s App and the Router IP assignment it shows 192.168.1.1! I think that’s part of my problem, but I don’t know how to get around that having to use the Passthrough option on the ATT Fiber Gateway. So, yes, there is a difference between Bridging and Passthrough! I retired after 32 years from ATT, I know how they operate! If they have a choice to configure a product that will be easy for the customer and might make it possible to leave ATT, or make it more difficult so they have to keep the ATT product, you know what decision they will make!!
Any progress on this?
Roc1 wrote:
I will explain where Netgear and I are at. You will find this interesting and as bewildering as me. I installed the new Orbi 970 and 2 satellites last Friday. I went into ATT Gateway and enabled pass through and disabled lots of other options. I had internet. I used the Orbi App (WiFi 6MHz and my WiFi 6E iPhone) to test my speed through the router multiple times throughout Fri and Sat: 2100-2300 Mb Down, 650-750Mb Up. I’ve had this same Gateway and 5Gb Svc for three years, it too has an internal speed test option. Consistently for three years, Gateway to ATT server, Up and Down both 4700-5100Mb. Same result on last Fri and Sat from ATT Gateway speed test. On Sun, I checked Orbi App, WOW!! 2100-2500Mb Up and Down!! I’d made no network changes. Same results all day Sun. Yesterday (Mon) and earlier today, Orbi router internal speed test 2100-2500 down, 650-800 up!! No changes made to Network. So today I called Netgear Tech as it was slow upload again. Tech had me go to Speedtest App on my WiFi 6E iPhone (working on 6Mhz Orbi WiFi) Wow! 1900-2300 down, 2000-2300 Up!! What?? We then used Orbi App tester, back to 2100-2500 down, 650-800 up, what?? I then went to the internal ATT Gateway speed test, 4500-4900 down, 480 up?!?!? So some how the Orbi router was slowing down the packets being sent from Speedtest through the ATT Gateway to the Netgear Router. Crazy. I have no idea what speed this expensive paper weight provides me. All the above info with speed test screen shots, and some screen shots of my Orbi settings, and they had me change my DNS Server on Orbi router to Google (helped a small amount on both up /down) all went to my Case number at Netgear.- NG is still working on this, my Support Case is still open.
They’ve had me try multiple different RBE 971 configurations over the past several months while capturing debug info which I provide to NG. Still no resolution, but it hasn’t impacted my ability to upload files.
Since my 5Gb ATT Gateway/ONT internal Speedtest that’s located in front of the RBE971, still shows (like it has for 3 years, long before I converted to the NG WiFi 7 router) symmetrical up/down speeds of 4800-5300Mb, and since my iPhone 15ProMax with WiFi 6E connected to Orbi WiFi behind the RBE971 running an Okla Speedtest app still shows symmetrical 1100-1300Mb speeds, I’ve about decided it’s an internal RBE 971 internal Speedtest error. NG has not officially released any explanation or fix yet, so I am waiting on them.
- Furry, the top two rows from the table in the attached photo’s are from the internal Gateway GUI. I’m connected to that Gateway GUI via a cable connection from laptop to port on Orbi Router which has a WAN port attachment over to the Gateway.
Ok, I know your sick of seeing my posts pop-up, so I’m going to take a break and let my Speedtest body parts have a rest.Ok, please update your support ticket on this. Please put all this in to the ticket so NG can review.
I feel there is a interoperation issue between the RBR and your Gateway router. Something NG will need to look into.
Only other test to try, if you have a friend or family member that doesn't have this same ISP Gateway and something differently, say modem or ONT only unit, could test this out at a different location to see if problem follows.
Please continue to use this thread for any and all information regarding this issue.
Hopefully NG can get this figured out.
- I’ll update my ticket with NG. I
don’t know anyone that has this router, or even has fiber internet.
You responded on one of these Community threads (I have no idea what thread I’m on, or who I’m replying to), but there was another Community member that must have been an original “slow speed” thread member. He had XFinity internet service and after firmware his download went up to around 2000-ish, but his upload was 239Mb if I recall (I’m probably off on the numbers but upload was significantly slower). I posted a reply (I thought to him, but you had replied to his post and I think my reply went to you, sorry). I did ask him to continue making speed tests for 2-4 days from his iPhone to Orbi WiFi, with a wired connection to the GUI of Orbi and if he could speed test his Gateway. I’ll see if I can find that post and see if he can post some speed tests over the next few days.
I don’t think this slow upload “interoperability” is limited to just the ATT Gateway since he had Xfinity as an ISP and had that slow upload speed. Maybe if I find that Community member, we can get speed test pictures to add to my NG Support ticket. I’ll update if I make progress.
Coming back to this to see if this issue was resolved up to any point to now?
Roc1 wrote:
I installed my new 970 last Friday behind an ATT BGW320 Fiber Gateway (I have 5Gb internet service) and I’ve been experiencing the same issue. My download speeds will be 4500-4800MB, my uploads won’t get above 700 MBs. Netgear, what’s happening on this issue? There were 26 posts on this issue on 1-day in Feb of this year, and then nothing?!?!- FURRYe38 , After the previous firmware update (not the update you just announced in the last few days) and after that previous software update, I removed one of my two 970 Satellites (per your suggestion) leaving me with two WiFi 7 mesh nodes in a 2000 sg ft home, the Orbi App speed test results (we ultimately had already traced the issue to faulty upload speed READINGS, not an actual slow upload speed THROUGH-PUT) now correctly reflects 4700-5100Mbps upload speeds with my ATT 5 fiber-gig service.
I’ll try to find your previous post and mark my issue as resolved. Thanks for all your suggestions and assistance!Is there a specific FW version?
