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N900 Dual Band Gigabyte Router - WNDR4500v3 - Poor speeds
Apologies. The board choices don't have an option for just a plain, non Nighthawk router.
Though this is a Gig 5G router the speeds I get wirelessly are very poor. On my iPhone 14 Pro just a bedroom away I get download speeds of only about 12 Mbps while if I connect with the Verizon extender downstairs I get 300 Mbps. I also get these 300 Mbps speeds if I am hard wired into the router, but not wirelessly. Anyone have any ideas on what I need to do boost speeds from this router? The firm ware is up to date. Thanks.
A couple things.
1. if the wndr4500 is wired into the verizon gateway, put the wndr4500 in access point mode. that fixes the double nat. It also disables some features on the wndr4500 that might take a little load off its cpu. that might help speed a bit. Not to the 300mbps that the extender is getting
2. The wndr4500 was a rock solid router when it was released. Over a decade ago. It was released in 2010/2011. It couldn't max out a gigabit connection at that time and was considered a high performer. Its 2.4ghz *might* hit 30-40mbps. Its 5ghz, maybe 70+ on a good day. smallnetbuilder did a review on it (that I'll post a link to) when it was released. Again, it was solid when it was released but that was for the old wireless N specs. We've had AC, AX, AX 6ghz, and now BE. Multiple generations ago. You wouldn't expect a computer from 13 years ago to perform as the current ones do.
NETGEAR WNDR4500 N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Reviewed - SmallNetBuilder
3. Its long past time to retire that device. I can't tell you what to buy but if you have 1 gig symetrical speeds, its time to upgrade. If you're using 3x different access points right now (verizon gateway, extender, and wndr), I'd be looking at a solid mesh system. Netgear makes some good ones but they're spendy. the TP-Link's get good reviews too. Just make sure to read the tested reviews on them from knowledgeable sources and not just the generic AI/Cnet generated ones. Dong Ngo does a great job and is an honest reviewer. I'd look at a few of his posts.
Dong Knows Tech - And THAT's Good for YOU!
8 Replies
1. Make sure you're connected to the 5ghz for faster speeds. 2.4ghz is a slow network and sensitive to interference.
What is the difference between 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz wireless frequencies? - NETGEAR Support
2. How is the verizon extender connected to the WNDR? Because if its a wireless extender connected to the wndr, the router is putting out decent speeds. But if its connected to something else, what is it connected to?
So I do make sure I'm connected to the 5G on the WNDR. It is in the next room over. My speed is 25 Mbps. The wifi extender downstairs has nothing to do with the WNDR however even though it is downstairs I get 250+ Mbps. The WNDR is supposed to be a gig router so I don't know why the speeds are so slow. The signal strength is good though.
rvs053063 wrote:
So I do make sure I'm connected to the 5G on the WNDR. It is in the next room over. My speed is 25 Mbps. The wifi extender downstairs has nothing to do with the WNDR----Sure does. whats providing the extender with connection? If its the wndr, then the wndr is running fine. If its a different device like a gateway/router from verizon, then the wndr is in a double nat. however even though it is downstairs I get 250+ Mbps. The WNDR is supposed to be a gig router so I don't know why the speeds are so slow.----the WNDR will never hit gigabit speeds over wireless. Maybe wired but even that is doubtful. it was released when gigabit speeds connections were just getting going and most devices couldn't saturate gigabit. its an older N900 device. Its 2.4ghz speed might be around that 25mbps. The 5ghz should be able to go faster though. The signal strength is good though.