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Trying to understand my router specs (Netgear R6020)
I want to understand what the technical specs numbers of my router mean. I have a Netgear R6020. The technical specs (https://www.netgear.com/home/wifi/routers/r6020/) say the following: Wifi Perfor...
SeanPB wrote:
So if there is a 100mbps bottleneck, I have two questions:
1. Why is the wifi speed mentioned as 300+450mbps? What do these numbers signify?----they're the wireless link speed numbers. If you think about distance/interference, if you start your wireless connection out at a link speed of 100mbps and then with distance/obstructions that connection drops, you're much lower. But if you're starting point is higher for wireless, you can still max out the 100mbps with some distance/interference.
2. Why do I get max speeds of 94mbps and not 100mbps?---Overhead. Wired has less overhead than wireless but its still there.
For instance, the R6080 (https://www.netgear.com/home/wifi/routers/r6080/) has a wifi speed of 300+700mbps but the same 10/100mbps ethernet speed. So essentially, the R6020 and R6080 would have the same wifi speed (94mbps) despite advertising different wifi speeds and having different prices, correct?----from a close range, sure they'd be the roughly the same. but with the r6080 having a stronger 5ghz connection, it could hold those speds further away.
Basically, if you want to use the bandwidth you're paying for, you need to upgrade routers. And even when looking at routers theres a few things to take into consideration.
1. link speed isn't the same as actual throughput. Its roughly 55-65% because of overhead, device differences, etc.
2. Your initial speeds. 400mbps is a fast speed. Most Wireless AC devices won't max out 400mbps until you get a decent spec'd router. Not just a base model gigabit device
3. the device you're testing on. Most laptops/computers/phones/tablets are either 1x1 antenna devices or 2x2. Meaning even if the router is a AC1900, you're max link speed (close) is going to be either 433mbps or 866mbps. And thats link speed, not throughput. And thats at close range.
4. distance. If you're home is large enough, sometimes its better to go with a mesh system. 5ghz doesn't have the same penetration power as 2.4ghz but its a much faster network. Most 2.4ghz devices are only going to hit 30-70mbps. 5ghz you can hit 400+ with the right devices.
So if there is a 100mbps bottleneck, I have two questions:
1. Why is the wifi speed mentioned as 300+450mbps? What do these numbers signify?
2. Why do I get max speeds of 94mbps and not 100mbps?
For instance, the R6080 (https://www.netgear.com/home/wifi/routers/r6080/) has a wifi speed of 300+700mbps but the same 10/100mbps ethernet speed. So essentially, the R6020 and R6080 would have the same wifi speed (94mbps) despite advertising different wifi speeds and having different prices, correct?
SeanPB wrote:
So if there is a 100mbps bottleneck, I have two questions:
1. Why is the wifi speed mentioned as 300+450mbps? What do these numbers signify?----they're the wireless link speed numbers. If you think about distance/interference, if you start your wireless connection out at a link speed of 100mbps and then with distance/obstructions that connection drops, you're much lower. But if you're starting point is higher for wireless, you can still max out the 100mbps with some distance/interference.
2. Why do I get max speeds of 94mbps and not 100mbps?---Overhead. Wired has less overhead than wireless but its still there.
For instance, the R6080 (https://www.netgear.com/home/wifi/routers/r6080/) has a wifi speed of 300+700mbps but the same 10/100mbps ethernet speed. So essentially, the R6020 and R6080 would have the same wifi speed (94mbps) despite advertising different wifi speeds and having different prices, correct?----from a close range, sure they'd be the roughly the same. but with the r6080 having a stronger 5ghz connection, it could hold those speds further away.
Basically, if you want to use the bandwidth you're paying for, you need to upgrade routers. And even when looking at routers theres a few things to take into consideration.
1. link speed isn't the same as actual throughput. Its roughly 55-65% because of overhead, device differences, etc.
2. Your initial speeds. 400mbps is a fast speed. Most Wireless AC devices won't max out 400mbps until you get a decent spec'd router. Not just a base model gigabit device
3. the device you're testing on. Most laptops/computers/phones/tablets are either 1x1 antenna devices or 2x2. Meaning even if the router is a AC1900, you're max link speed (close) is going to be either 433mbps or 866mbps. And thats link speed, not throughput. And thats at close range.
4. distance. If you're home is large enough, sometimes its better to go with a mesh system. 5ghz doesn't have the same penetration power as 2.4ghz but its a much faster network. Most 2.4ghz devices are only going to hit 30-70mbps. 5ghz you can hit 400+ with the right devices.
The router has 100 Mbps ports while your Internet speed is 400 Mbps. You will never reach your Internet speed as you're limited by the port speed of 100 Mbps.
About WiFi speeds, those are supposed to be for wifi device <--> wifi device. Not LAN ports <--> wifi device, since again here you'll be limited by the 100 Mbps port speed
I suggest you get another router with 1 Gbps ports for your 400 Mbps connection
Yup, the R6020 is one of the last Netgear routers with 100 Mbps LAN ports.
It is baffling that Netgear even released something that slow in 2017. It first launched 1000 Mbps Ethernet ports more than a decade ago.
