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Odd speed tests
My ISP is Cox, and I'm on the 500 Mbps/10Mbps plan. When I run a speed test on the 2.4 band, it shows only about 50 Mbps d/l. If I check the d/l speed with the Nighthawk app on my Android phone, it shows 300 Mbps. I did the usual modem/router resets with no improvement. My firmware is current at V1.3.1.64_10.1.36. The 5.0 band is considerably faster, but well short of 500 Mbps. Despite the above, I have no trouble streaming TV and browsing. Cox is going to send out a tech, but I wondered whether anyone in the community has an explanation. Thanks.!
You'll not see speed on 2.4Ghz anywhere near 500Mpbs. Due to limitation of the frequency and configuration and design of wifi devices, most you may see is around 200-300 depending on wifi device design and support.
https://www.increasebroadbandspeed.co.uk/realistic-speeds-wi-fi-5-and-wi-fi-6
https://www.duckware.com/tech/wifi-in-the-us.htmlThat's good speed on 5Ghz though.
20 Replies
You'll not see speed on 2.4Ghz anywhere near 500Mpbs. Due to limitation of the frequency and configuration and design of wifi devices, most you may see is around 200-300 depending on wifi device design and support.
https://www.increasebroadbandspeed.co.uk/realistic-speeds-wi-fi-5-and-wi-fi-6
https://www.duckware.com/tech/wifi-in-the-us.htmlThat's good speed on 5Ghz though.
JimmyW wrote:
When I run a speed test on the 2.4 band, it shows only about 50 Mbps d/l. If I check the d/l speed with the Nighthawk app on my Android phone, it shows 300 Mbps.
The Nighthawk app may be connected to the router by wifi, but the app's speed test does not use wifi.
The app tells the router to run a speedtest between it and the Internet through your router. It just reports the results back you over the wifi connection.
If you pay for 500 Mbps, I'd expect to see something nearer to that than 300 Mbps.
Thanks very much, but I'm a little confused. Then is the router basically a "dumb" terminal that just delivers at the speed it receives? If so, would my speed improve with a Wi-Fi 6 or any router? The Cox tech is coming tomorrow; and probably blame it on my equipment and try to rent me a Cox router/modem. It seems that my speed decreased when Cox bumped me to 500 from 250 (at no cost).
JimmyW wrote:
Then is the router basically a "dumb" terminal that just delivers at the speed it receives?
The speed on your worked network depends on what comes out of the modem between it and the Internet. If you have any doubts about the speed you get out of the router, then you should test the speed that comes out of the modem, before it gets anywhere near the router. That should reflect what you paid for.
If the router delivers a lot less than you get out of the modem, then check the wiring and the setup of the router.
If so, would my speed improve with a Wi-Fi 6 or any router?We are talking about wired speeds here.Wifi is always slower than wired. Getting a WiFi 6 router will do nothing on that front. Nor will it do anything for your wifi devices unless they support WiFi 6.
You would do well to read the articles at the end of the links that FURRYe38 provided, especially this one:
Understand Wi-Fi 4/5/6 (802.11 n/ac/ad/ax)
The Cox tech is coming tomorrow; and probably blame it on my equipment and try to rent me a Cox router/modem. It seems that my speed decreased when Cox bumped me to 500 from 250 (at no cost).There is no point in talking to Cox about wifi speeds when you need to sort out the wired speeds.
When Cox upgraded your service – this is the first time that you have revealed this important detail – did you reset the router and set it up for the new service? This is the first step that anyone should use when changing their Internet service, be it a new ISP or a new connection with an existing supplier.
You might even need to reset the modem, but that is for Cox to advise.
As it is, we have no idea which modem you are using. You should have been asked about that earlier.
Step back from your wifi fixation and first confirm that your wired connection is as expected.
