Wifi Connection For Two Identical Routers - WNR2000v5

I have two identical WNR2000v5 routers, both have an identical config file loaded (which has the access point turn on, SSID name change etc.), both have the most recent firmware (V1.0.0.74), both are being tested with a laptop about 10 ft. away (only one router turned on at a time). Router-A's connection between the laptop and the router is consistently at 72.0 Mbps, but the second router, Router-B (not pictured), can't seem to do any better than 54.0 Mbps, and sometimes slightly worse than that.

Is this just some anomaly that is to be expected between identical routers? I can't think of any setting I can adjust given they are using identical config files and firmware.

It's a weird one but any suggestions would be appreciated.

antinode
Nov 12, 2020
> [...] Not sure why this worked when I have the same config file, [...]

   On my D7000[v1] (V1.0.1.78_1.0.1), not all settings are saved in its
configuration file. The one which I noticed was:
      ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > LED Control Settings

   With Netgear's generally low router firmware quality, I would not be
amazed if other fine-print options were similarly ignored in any other
model/version. Trust no one, I always say.

> Thanks again [..]

   I live to serve. And sometimes even a little bad advice can be
helpful.

5 Replies

antinode
Guru
Nov 11, 2020
> [...] I can't think of any setting I can adjust given they are using
> identical config files and firmware.

   I can. If they're set to "Auto", then the radio channels could (and
probably should) be different. BASIC > Wireless : Channel. Different
radio channel, (potentially) different interference or propagation
characteristics.

   A client device should be able to tell you which radio channel it's
using.

   If you swap the hardware (and control for the radio channel), does
the problem stick to the hardware or the environment? You could try
manually setting the channel(s), too.
- Hesso
  Aspirant
  Nov 11, 2020
  Wow! Thanks Antinode, I definitely wouldn't have caught that auto channel feature. Using a little utility called 'Wifi Info View' I was able to see that both routers were choosing Ch-4 in Auto Mode. I'm only showing the faster router on Ch-4 below and then I manually change the channel to 11 on Router-B (slower router). Also tried Ch-6.
  
  I'm still not all together clear on why I'm seeing the Maximum Speed difference - where the red arrow is (that assumes Ch's 6 & 11 might be better). So Router-B was about the same using the Auto Channel 4 and manually setting it to 6 & 11 (my router goes to 11) :smileyvery-happy:
  
  Some other oddities too (like the wifi type-PHY Type 802.11g/n vs 801.11g only - also auto feature?) and weird that the faster router seems to have a slightly lower signal quality and a higher Detection Count, which I'll have to school myself on.
  - Hesso
    Aspirant
    Nov 11, 2020
    Huh, in another topic thread, someone mentioned checking the WMM to on. Not sure why this worked when I have the same config file, but it did enable both 802.11b 'and' g which has correct the speed for the connection to the second router.
    
    Thanks again Antinode, it would have taken a LOT of time stumbling around had I not started at the channel issue.

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Wifi Connection For Two Identical Routers - WNR2000v5