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Forum Discussion
Netgear Ex6120 AP Mode Speed
Hi, I currently have my Netgear Ex6120 setup in AP mode via ethernet cable running directly from my router with a Cat6 cable. My Internet speeds via the router are around 360Mbps which is what I am c...
Just an update I was able to send off my device for a replacement under warranty however I am still having the same issue. Again, if I plug a device directly into the socket via ethernet cable I get full speeds but as soon as I set up the EX6120 as an access point via ethernet the max speed is around 40-50mbs.
Chris9393 wrote:
Again, if I plug a device directly into the socket via ethernet cable I get full speeds but as soon as I set up the EX6120 as an access point via ethernet the max speed is around 40-50mbs.
Are we really talking about the EX6120?
This is an ageing (2015) device. (Does Netgear still sell them?)
The specifications aren't great. (I looked at the manual.) For example, Ethernet is limited to 100BASE-TX. And that's top whack for the specifications. Real life probably won't get near that. It certainly won't get 100 Mbps.
This is why your router is showing a 100 Mbps link. IThe router is just reflecting the extender's Ethernet specifications.
So your wired connection with the EX6120 is slower than your 360 Mbps Internet service.
The wifi through that repeater may be faster internally, on your local network, but it won't beat that for an Internet connection in AP mode.
Seems like time to buy something designed for the speed of your Internet service.
- Thank you for the reply. I had a feeling that this would be the case in the end that it simply cannot output the high speeds in AP mode. Is there one you would recommend which can?
I don't have an ex6120 to test or a reviewed test on one but the EX6150 is fairly similar in hardware/performance and hits better speeds hardwired/ap mode than what you're currently getting.
NETGEAR EX6150 AC1200 WiFi Range Extender Reviewed - SmallNetBuilder
So while I feel the extender you're on is a little older, its not necessarily the extender holding you back. I'd try testing with different wireless devices or connected to a different router. When more than 1 extender is having the same issue, it tends not to be the issue of the extender.
plemans wrote:
I don't have an ex6120 to test or a reviewed test on one but the EX6150 is fairly similar in hardware/performance ....
There is an important difference between these two devices where they are by no means "fairly similar".
The EX6120, as I reported, has 100BASE-TX as the wired "interface" specification. For the EX6150 it is 1000BASE-T.
Because of that, I would expect to see large differences in AP or wired speed tests.
1000BASE-T is faster than the Internet Chris9393 reports whereas 100BASE-TX is slower.
- Except that in testing the 5ghz uplink was 80mbps and downlink was 135mbps. So the uplink isn't bottlenecked at the ethernet connection except for a little on the downlink. When it bottlenecks it should still be a faster than the 40mbps the OP is hitting.
Again, i don't have one to test so I can't attest to the actual speeds on it hardwired. I'm just going off similar tested devices. michaelkenward do you have one to test to check the actual speeds? - On looking at the side of the box it does state the following:
One (1) 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet Port with auto-sensing technology.
Now I'm assuming that this explains it and it simply cannot output more than 100Mbps via ethernet port.
Chris9393 wrote:
Now I'm assuming that this explains it and it simply cannot output more than 100Mbps via ethernet port.And that is probably with the wind behind it. These speed promises are measured in idealised conditions. Real life usually doesn't get that good.
So, as I understand it, which may be wrong, if the wifi bit can handle a gazillion bps between AP and client, there is a bottleneck back to the router.
