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FPSUsername's avatar
FPSUsername
Aspirant
Aug 09, 2020

RAX20 disappointing 5GHz speed (and overal range)

Hello,

 

I have the AX1800/RAX20 router and from day one it is good yet very disappointing for it's price tag.

To begin with the 5GHz issue. I have an intel AC9260 in my desktop with dual 12/18dB antennas (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33022846285.html)

Using the provided Arris ConnectBox from my ISP, I can reach 250Mbps download and 25Mbps upload (the plan I have).

With the RAX20 I get very disappointing speeds over 2.4Ghz and 5GHz. The 2.4GHz is understandable, since even the ConnectBox could reach 40Mbps max. However, when it comes to the 5GHz channel, the downloads are slow, and I mean SLOW. Running multiple speedtests in a row result in various results from 10Mbps to 50Mbps download. When actually downloading files, it takes a very, very long time to download them, because the speeds are inconsistent and unstable (sometimes it shoots to 150Mbps and quickly returns back to 10Mbps). Checking the router's speedtest within the QoS tab, I see that it reaches the max download and upload speed just fine.

 

These are my current router settings:

- QoS disabled (enabled doesn't seem to make a difference)

Wireless settings:

- Region Europe
- AX mode enabled

- OFDMA enabled on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz
- Smart connect is disabled (enabling this pretty much forces all devices on 2.4GHz unless you're within 1.5 meters of the router)
- 5GHz channel 44
- 5GHz mode is up to 1200Mbps

- 5GHz TX power 100%

 

The rest is kept default (however, most of those settings are).

 

Secondly is the poor range of this router. It can have a range of roughly 5-6 meters and then the speed is dropped so significantly that browsing the web is impossible as images aren't really loading, let alone videos.

 

The internet and playing games work fine, but downloading (especially large updates or files) is a pain.

I would like to know how to fix these issues regarding the router.

8 Replies

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    • FPSUsername's avatar
      FPSUsername
      Aspirant
      Aug 14, 2020

      I have. The only thing they could give me is to reset the router, which I already did.
      I see that other people have issues with nighthawk routers as well and to increase download speeds temporarily, a reboot is required.

      Not a solution.

      • CaptainB's avatar
        CaptainB
        Tutor
        Aug 14, 2020

        Reset the router, they told me that too, for a different problem, they probably tell everyone that.  I have the same router, here in the USA it is the RAX15, and I have had very good internet and WiFi speeds, here are my settings:

         

        In Advanced settings->

        Wireless Settings->

        Enable implicit beam forming -> On

        Enable MU-MIMO -> Off

        Enable AX -> On

        Disable PMF -> On

        Use other operation mode -> Off

         

        In Advanced settings->

        Ipv6 ->

        IPv6 -> Off  (This seems to make a big difference with my ISP)

         

        If the range of the WiFi is compromised, you may have a Radio Frequency interference problem.  Check other nearby devices for WiFi interference.  It could even be a neighbor if you live in an apartment.  It could also be a defective router.