I am at my wits end and hoping someone has some answers.I have been having issues with slow internet speeds. When my package was for 400mbps, I was getting 250, I thought it wasn't too bad. Recently upgraded and now am supposed to be getting 800, I'm still at max of 250.So I had my ISP (Comcast) come out and do an inspection, they fixed some spots but also said I needed new hardware. So I upgraded to the nighthawk CAX30 which should get wifi speeds up to 2700, Ethernet is great 930 (out of 800) so it's not Comcast's fault, but wifi i am stiiiilll only at 250mpbs .I was on the phone for 4 hours with Netgear support, changing channels, and mtu, and factory reset, still nothing fixed. And when they ran out of ideas they kept trying to say I needed to wait, first 2-3 hours (after already being on for 4) then tried to say 24 hours, they refuse to admit there is something wrong with the device, or transfer me to someone who has any other ideas. So I am turning to the forums..Some things I've gone through:Switching channels for both 2.4 and 5GLowering the MTUTurning off Smart connectFactory ResetDouble checked firmware is the latestBuying a new Wifi card (not sure I understand these but link signal on old said 433/433, so thought it was capping? New adapter is 1300/1300)Made sure drivers were up to dateTLDR: brand new modem/router. Ethernet fine, wifi speeds not getting above 250mbps, should be 800 please help.

What brand and model wifi device are you using to speed test with? Some AC mode devices have limitations on what they can actually speed test up too. Most max out at around 400-500Mpbs on 5Ghz AC. Even at 1300Mpbs though you should see near 600-700Mpbs. What band does the device connecte too? 2.4 or 5Ghz?What speed test app are you using to speed test with? Ooklas installable speed test app works well. https://kb.netgear.com/19668/Link-Rate-and-Transfer-Speed

I have tested with multiple devices on multiple speed test sites: desktop/2 laptops/android smartphone. Ookla, Xfinity, and Netgear speed sites. All of these were on my 5G networkI also thought that the cards I had should have at least gotten to 400. So I got the new adapter, which is an Edimax EW-7833UAC AC1750 which as mentioned, says it should be able to get speeds up to 1300. But I'm still stuck around 250

Washautumnstar wrote:I have tested with multiple devices on multiple speed test sites: desktop/2 laptops/android smartphone. Ookla, Xfinity, and Netgear speed sites. All of these were on my 5G network< is this the 5G wireless on the CAX or cell service? I also thought that the cards I had should have at least gotten to 400. So I got the new adapter, which is an Edimax EW-7833UAC AC1750 which as mentioned, says it should be able to get speeds up to 1300. Wifi bandwidth will never see 1300Mbps bandwidth download speeds on 5Ghz AC with your adapter. Its rating is:Data Rate 11a: 6/ 9/ 12/ 24/ 36/ 48/ 54Mbps11b: 1/ 2/ 5.5/ 11Mbps11g: 6/ 9/ 12/ 24/ 36/ 48/ 54Mbps11n (20MHz): MCS0-15 (up to 223Mbps)11n (40MHz): MCS0-15 (up to 450Mbps)11ac (80MHz): MCS0-9 (up to 1300Mbps)FYI, These are DATA Connection RATES only. Meaning that its the connection rate seen between the this adapter and host wifi router. This is NOT actual bandwidth download speeds. This differs from Data Rate. https://kb.netgear.com/19668/Link-Rate-and-Transfer-Speed I would agree though that if the adapter is connected at 1300Mpbs, it should be seeing around 500Mpbs on 5Ghz with the CAX. Is Smart Connect enabled on the CAX? What FW is loaded on the CAX? And be sure the USB adapter is connected to a USB 3.0 port on the PC?

1. 5Ghz Wireless from the Cax2. Is it just that AC isn't compatible with those high speeds? I'm still not really understanding, link rate is gonna be higher than bandwidth? Why do numbers not equal reality? If my card max is 1300 and my service max is 800, why would my real bandwidth only be 500? Does wifi just have that much degradation?3. Smart connection is not on. enable AX is on, not sure if it matters.4. Firmware version 1.4.10.8

Data rate will always be higher than actual data flow thru the connection. Again this is just the connection rate between the adapter and the CAX. Not actual data speed flow. Nature of the wifi beast. Data flow is always lower than the rate on wireless. Even on a wired 1000Mpbs connected ethernet adapter you not see 1000Mpbs however will be near 900Mpbs since wired out performs wireless. Is WMM enabled on the CAX30 as well and any Beamforming and MIMO features? Ensure the adapter is connected to a USB 3.0 port on the PC. Try a different PC to compare.

CAX30 Slow Wifi | NETGEAR Communities

12 Replies

FURRYe38
Guru - Experienced User
Aug 02, 2021
What brand and model wifi device are you using to speed test with? Some AC mode devices have limitations on what they can actually speed test up too. Most max out at around 400-500Mpbs on 5Ghz AC. Even at 1300Mpbs though you should see near 600-700Mpbs.

What band does the device connecte too? 2.4 or 5Ghz?
What speed test app are you using to speed test with? Ooklas installable speed test app works well.
https://kb.netgear.com/19668/Link-Rate-and-Transfer-Speed
- Washautumnstar
  Aspirant
  Aug 02, 2021
  I have tested with multiple devices on multiple speed test sites: desktop/2 laptops/android smartphone. Ookla, Xfinity, and Netgear speed sites. All of these were on my 5G network
  
  I also thought that the cards I had should have at least gotten to 400. So I got the new adapter, which is an Edimax EW-7833UAC AC1750 which as mentioned, says it should be able to get speeds up to 1300. But I'm still stuck around 250
  - FURRYe38
    Guru - Experienced User
    Aug 02, 2021
    Washautumnstar wrote:
    I have tested with multiple devices on multiple speed test sites: desktop/2 laptops/android smartphone. Ookla, Xfinity, and Netgear speed sites. All of these were on my 5G network< is this the 5G wireless on the CAX or cell service?
    
    I also thought that the cards I had should have at least gotten to 400. So I got the new adapter, which is an Edimax EW-7833UAC AC1750 which as mentioned, says it should be able to get speeds up to 1300. Wifi bandwidth will never see 1300Mbps bandwidth download speeds on 5Ghz AC with your adapter.
    Its rating is:
    Data Rate
    11a: 6/ 9/ 12/ 24/ 36/ 48/ 54Mbps
    11b: 1/ 2/ 5.5/ 11Mbps
    11g: 6/ 9/ 12/ 24/ 36/ 48/ 54Mbps
    11n (20MHz): MCS0-15 (up to 223Mbps)
    11n (40MHz): MCS0-15 (up to 450Mbps)
    11ac (80MHz): MCS0-9 (up to 1300Mbps)
    FYI, These are DATA Connection RATES only. Meaning that its the connection rate seen between the this adapter and host wifi router. This is NOT actual bandwidth download speeds. This differs from Data Rate. https://kb.netgear.com/19668/Link-Rate-and-Transfer-Speed
    
    I would agree though that if the adapter is connected at 1300Mpbs, it should be seeing around 500Mpbs on 5Ghz with the CAX.
    
    Is Smart Connect enabled on the CAX?
    What FW is loaded on the CAX?
    
    And be sure the USB adapter is connected to a USB 3.0 port on the PC?

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CAX30 Slow Wifi