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Forum Discussion
dlwhite66
Oct 02, 2019Guide
RAX120 slow wireless download speed (24Mbps) with High Internet Speed (325Mbps)
On Xfinity Internet Service. Using a Netgear CM1200 cable modem Nighthawk RAX120 Using Nighthawk App, Wired and Wireless connections Nighthawk App reports 326Mbps; Speedtest.Net app on wired co...
dlwhite66
Oct 07, 2019Guide
I am making progress. I kept thinking "what could be the reason to throttle bandwidth?"
a) Wireless signal quality - nope, hardwire connection is similarly throttled though a higher speed
b) Wireless client capability - nope, multiple clients behave exactly the same, different router provided higher speeds
c) QOS - should be NOPE, because it's turned off, but I am suspecting this is not true. (and maybe QOS has a different setting for hardwired connection which would account for the increased but not full speed access).
I turned QOS back on and removed all rules, then added rules for specific mac addresses to make them Highest priority. Suddenly those computers have access to the full >300Mbps of my ISP connection.
In general, the admin area of QOS rules list is, at best, beta quality. You can't edit a rule, though it looks like you can. But editing a rule results in a duplicate rule and if focused on Mac Addressed, it won't let you edit/add a rule for a mac address that already has a rule. Deleting the rule causes the list of Mac Address devices to include two devices for the same Mac Address. It's all very confusing and clearly not working correctly. See attached image as an example when trying to create a QOS rule for a mac addresss.
I'm going to continue to see if setting these rules and then turning QOS back off keeps highbandwidth - in which case QOS on/off switch isn't working correctly.
dlwhite66
Oct 07, 2019Guide
After further experimentation and several resets/reboots using latest firmware in beta V1.0.1.100
QOS on 2.4ghz = horrible performance - 1.4Mbps
QOS off 2.4 = average performance - ~24Mbps
Using an older computer with wireless card that supports 2.4 only, so could be bandlimited at the client
QOS on 5ghz = excellent performance - nearly full bandwidth of ISP, ~160-300Mbps
QOS off 5 = average performance - ~24Mbps
Using a new HP Laptop and an iPad Pro 10in (gen 6)
So something appears to be throttling bandwidth when QOS is off for 5ghz
I have no idea what is happening with QOS on for 2.4ghz. But for now I can at least rely on the 5ghz.
With default set of rules
- aFireInside82Oct 24, 2019Aspirant
Following as I'm having similar issues with my RAX120, and have since the purchase date just over 90 days ago. On the latest (1.0.1.100) firmware.
We have gigabit internet with Comcast. Direct modem speed test is > 920mbps. Speed test on (awful) Nighthawk app is similar.
Assuming we're talking the same language... When my QOS is enabled (WMM on 2.4 and ghz anyway), I get ~30mbps / 400mpbs wireless, respectively. Wired network speeds slow, especially on my TVs (a new LG OLED and Samsung QLED), which hardwired become unusable for streaming. Disabling QOS (WMM) limits the wifi speeds to a crawl, but now the TVs show 96mbps download speed on a Netflix speed test. (I assume the TVs have 10/100 network cards?)
Enabling WMM brings the wifi speeds back up, but kills the wired speed.Enabling upload QOS doesn't seem to work, as the interface takes around 2 minutes to reboot, but the box remains unchecked.
I tried browsing / utilizing the "hidden" QOS menu but I don't understand what QOS Fasttrack VS service options are.
We have AX disabled and traffic meter disabled.My whole house is wired, and I'm extremely dissapointed in the flaky performance of this router. On the plus side... every wireless device on every floor receives a good signal.
- dlwhite66Oct 24, 2019Guide
I'm working with Netgear support to trouble shoot but it's very slow going because I live in the foothills of the rockies and have no cell service so internet is my only telephone access. So any change and reboot means also restarting the call after the reboot.
so far they have just gathered information.
- NS_LabManOct 30, 2019Aspirant
Seems to be a firmware issue/bug.
Just moved my router one room over to hardwire my PC since I finally ran the coax today and started having WiFi issues. Having the same issue, capped at ~30 down on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz with nothing changing other than moving to the otherside of the wall it already was on and plugging in 1 PC.
- catalambanoNov 11, 2019Star
Hello, I still have additional information.
I verified that, when the router renews the lease with the wired device, the speed is halved (this happens even if the lease is renewed manually from the "connection status" panel). In this case it is enough, with the qos activated, to open the "connected devices" panel, select the device connected by cable and simply click on "apply" (even without changing any settings) and the speed returns to maximum. However, at the first automatic renewal of the lease, the speed will be halved again.
I gave this information, like all the information I have given to you so far, to the technical support, which transmitted it to the engineers.
I don't think they will be limited to generic requests to do useless tests. It is all too obvious that this is a software problem and it is up to them to solve it if they do not want to be faced with massive product returns.
In this regard, I believe that the fact that the problem is widespread and does not concern only one person is a good thing.
- PigletRiderNov 25, 2019Apprentice
dlwhite66 wrote:After further experimentation and several resets/reboots using latest firmware in beta V1.0.1.100
QOS on 2.4ghz = horrible performance - 1.4Mbps
QOS off 2.4 = average performance - ~24Mbps
Using an older computer with wireless card that supports 2.4 only, so could be bandlimited at the client
QOS on 5ghz = excellent performance - nearly full bandwidth of ISP, ~160-300Mbps
QOS off 5 = average performance - ~24Mbps
Using a new HP Laptop and an iPad Pro 10in (gen 6)
So something appears to be throttling bandwidth when QOS is off for 5ghz
I have no idea what is happening with QOS on for 2.4ghz. But for now I can at least rely on the 5ghz.
With default set of rules
Hmmm... I've never turned on nor toggled any of the QoS settings. When my 5GHz radio is working, I get the full speed (~200Mbps down). When it's not working, I get half of that and (or 0), causing me to reboot and/or factory reset the router, whichever recovers the radio's performance.
When I next notice a serious performance degredation on my 5GHz radio, I'll try toggling the QoS settings and see if the speed returns. If it does, then this confirms your findings. QoS ("Quality of Service" ironically), even when off, is screwing things up royally.
- dlwhite66Nov 25, 2019Guide
Don't just toggle QOS, but make sure the Mac Address of your devices is in the QOS list with priority set to Highest
- GabboCHNov 25, 2019Apprentice
Seems very similar to the issues other people have experienced on the RAX80.
I have tried the same things (QoS on/off) to try to improve 5G performance but either way it seems to grind to a halt after a day or so uptime.
Its quite clearly a firmware issue but waiting on a response/acceptance from Netgear is like watching water grind away a stone....