NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
AX2400 5 Stream WiFi RAX29
So before I got this router, I was clocking in 300+Mbps using speedtest.net. When I got this Nighthawk router, using the same speedtest.net website, I'm barely clocking 80 Mbps. However, when I run a speed test on the Nighthawk app, it says I'm clocking 300+Mbps. So why the discrepancy? Why am I getting 2 drastically different results? Which is correct?
4 Replies
nds76 wrote:So before I got this router, I was clocking in 300+Mbps using speedtest.net. When I got this Nighthawk router, using the same speedtest.net website, I'm barely clocking 80 Mbps. However, when I run a speed test on the Nighthawk app, it says I'm clocking 300+Mbps. So why the discrepancy? Why am I getting 2 drastically different results? Which is correct?
Additional information would be helpful.
What is the brand name and model number of the modem/ONT that is connected between your RAX29 and the internet?
What is the throughput capacity you purchase from your internet service provider?
What is the device you are running the speedtest.net website tests on? A computer, Windows or Mac? A mobile device, Android or iOS?
How is this test device connected to your router? Ethernet or Wi-Fi? If Wi-Fi, what frequency band? 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz?
The throughput test on your Nighthawk mobile application shows the throughput from the internet (your modem/ONT) to the RAX29. Whatever test device you are running and however it is connected, shows the throughput from your router to the test device.
The modem is from Spectrum. I'm not sure the brand, but this is printed on it. Hitron Technologies EN2251.
I'm paying for 300 Mbps and before switching routers I was exceeding that with the speed test on the aforementioned website.
I tried the speedtest.net on laptop, S23 Ultra, and iPad 9th Gen
All via WIFI, I think 2.4, not 100% on that.
nds76 wrote:The modem is from Spectrum. I'm not sure the brand, but this is printed on it. Hitron Technologies EN2251.
I'm paying for 300 Mbps and before switching routers I was exceeding that with the speed test on the aforementioned website.
I tried the speedtest.net on laptop, S23 Ultra, and iPad 9th Gen
All via WIFI, I think 2.4, not 100% on that.
The details are helpful. First your Spectrum modem is just that, a modem only and not a combination modem/router. This is good as it means you are not connecting a router (RAX29) downstream from another router.
Need to get you adjusted to stay away from web sites for throughput testing. Install the Ookla stand alone application that is available in the play store. This eliminates one variable, the web browser, from the test process. Is your laptop running Windows or is it a Mac?
If you are connecting to the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band, that explains the difference in throughput capacity. In most situations, the 2.4 GHz band usually limits out at around 100 Mbps. Your devices are newer and they should be capable of connecting to the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band.
Your router broadcasts WI-Fi with what is called a Service Set Identifier (SSID). Basically the name of your Wi-Fi and there is a default SSID printed on the nameplate of your router. Most people choose to rename the SSID on their Wi-Fi. It is much easier if you give your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi an SSID like Jerrynet and your 5 GHz Wi-Fi a SSID like Jerrynet-5. When you are dealing with newer client devices you choose to connect to the 5 GHz and when you are dealing with iOT devices you choose to connect to the 2.4 GHz.
In your RAX29 user interface, you go to the Wireless settings to give your SSID's names. If you have a feature like Smart Connect, you will need to disable it. Smart Connect forces both Wi-Fi bands to use the same SSID.
If you have not done so, go to the Downloads section at the top of this page, feed in your router model number (RAX29) and download the user manual. It will have a section on setting up the wireless.
With your newer client devices connected to the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band, you should be able to max out the download capacity you are purchasing from Spectrum. Use the Ookla test application.
nds76 wrote:
When I got this Nighthawk router, using the same speedtest.net website, I'm barely clocking 80 Mbps. However, when I run a speed test on the Nighthawk app, it says I'm clocking 300+Mbps. So why the discrepancy?
If you test with the speedtest app on a mobile device, you are running the test over the wifi connection between the device and the Internet. Maybe 80 Mbps is all that your wifi client can handle.
If you use the Nighthawk app, you are measuring the speed between the modem and the Internet. The wifi connection is there simply to control the router and tell it to test the modem speed.
