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Forum Discussion
Is WiFi6 possible with EAX80?
Third attempt to succusfully extend my network. Another failure. The current router is RAX120, running V1.2.0.16. First I tried range extender EX7500 connected to Nighthawk XR500. That extender kept dropping connection. Bought a better extender, EX8000. Did not work well. Thought it could be the router, so replaced the XR500 with Nighthawk RAX120. Again, multiple issues (asked a question here without much success). Returned the EX8000, was told by Netgear sales technical support team EAX80 is what I want as it is a WiFi 6 extender and will work great with the WiFi 6 router. Just got the extender today. Already spent 2 hours with technical support. Tried everything even before calling: already had the latest firmware, experimented with placement, same/different SSID, SmartConnect on/off, wireless/wired to PC, factory resets/new setup, FastLane options (FastLane, right :)). If I connect directly to the router, I get close to my ISP speed of 1Gb/s down and 40 Mb/s up on my Asus WiFi 6 card. The router is about 30 feet from PC. Placing the extender halfway between PC and router, speed drops to 170 Mb/s down and 4.3Mb/s up. Technical support decided it was hardware problem and teh extender is defective. Has anyone successfully gotten the WiFi 6 protocol to work as intended with the EAX80? Did I get a dud (again)?
6 Replies
What is your home made of for interior materials?
How far from the router is the extender?
These are kind of key questions because 5ghz speeds drop off quickly with distance as well as certain materials block wifi better than others.
Plus extenders by their very nature drop speeds. Especially /singledual band ones.
Reason why is they have to use the same wireless chip to go router--->extender and then extender----->device. And they can't do both at once.
Tribands do a better job of mitigating that because of their dedicated backhaul.
The AX extenders have a theoretically higher connection than sometihng like the EX8000.
for example the EX8000 can use a 1733mbps backhaul link. Because its a dedicated link, its theoretically possible for the full link to be connected at 1733mbps.
the EAX80 has a 4800mbps connection through 5ghz but its not dedicated so even though its connected at a 4800mbps link its thoroughput is only 2400mbps. And thats with a 4x4 connection.
Also, link rate is not equal to actual throughput.
Plus with 5ghz speeds dropping quickly with distance, it could be a distance/obstruction issue.
So distance?
obstructions?
whats the actual link rate between the rax and the eax?
Distance: PC to extender ~15 feet, extender to router ~15 feet
Obstructions: The PC, extender, router are pretty much on a straight line. Router sits on top of a bookshelf in the family room, right next to a door to the hallway, then hallway (about 3 feet wide), then door to bedroom, then extender (about 3 feet from door). You may argue that the straight line goes not througfh the doors but through the inside corners next to the doors. Wall materials: bedroom standard drywall, family room is older, I think horsehair plaster
Other: Opening doors makes no difference; putting extender in direct line of sight of router makes no difference. Turning off extender and putting router in direct sight of PC produces >1Gb/s download, >40Mb/s upload
I hear you on the tri-band and the backhaul points. As mentioned, I replaced an EX8000 because I was told tyhat EAX80 is better suited for a WiFi 6 router, despite beiong dual-band only (I specifically asked). I also get it that we cannot achieve the theoretical speeds. But when you have the router to extender at 4,800mbps and extender to device at 2400mbps on the 5Ghz band all the way through, you'd think you shoul get better than 170Mbs down and 4Mbs up on a 1.2Gbs down and 40Mbps up ISP.
So I simply want to know is it unmet expectations or am I dealing with a fauilty device.
When you log into the extender, what are you showing for link speeds?
What device are you testing on? (sorry if i missed that)
What speed do you get if you hardwire into the extender?
