WAX206 used as AP doesn't put through data speed higher than 100 mbps. How can i change this?

[TimoG]

Hi community,

I use a WAX206 as an Wifi Access Point in my living room. The data speed arriving at the AP from my router is lower (100 mbps up/down) than it should be (400 mbps up/down). I would like to know what I have to do to increase the data speed at my WAX206.

The AP is connected via a cat-6 cable to my router, which I received from the provider. that's a Zyxel Fiberglass router (model EX5601-T1). My internetconnection speed is 400 mbps. I use the wax206 as the wifi access point, while at the router wifi is disabled.

I have tested the connection speed at my router: it's about 400 mbps (my laptop connected directly to the router via the same cat-6 cable). but at the WAX206 seem to only 'arrive' 100 mbps. This is shown bij the WAX206-internal speedtest, as well as in the speedtest via wifi on smartphone.

So at the routerside of the cat-6 cable seem to go 'in' 400 mbps, but the WAX206 uses of can use 100 mbps only...

Can someone help me to increase the data speed at my AP?

[plemans]

It wouldn't be the first time an ethernet run through walls/jacks had an issue. 

To test it, move the WAX to where the router is and use a 6ft cable that is known good (try more than 1) and then test the speeds. I've frequently found jacks or pin issues that cause it to drop from gigabit to 100mbps link speds. 

[TimoG]

Thanks for your answer.

But unfortunately I already did that:

- tested the direct connection between the source (router) and my laptop via a cat6 cable. result: 400 mbps speed on my laptop

- tested the direct connection between the router and the Netgear AP with the same cat6 cable. Result: 100 mbps on the AP (outgoing cable connection as well as wifi connection)

- tested again the direct connection between the router and my laptop via a cat6 cable. result: 400 mbps speed on my laptop again.

Couldn't it be something in the AP's settings?

[plemans]

did you try a different cable? Some devices (laptops/pcs) are more tolerant of cabling issues than routers/switches are. 

are you able to log into the WAX and check its link speed between router/wax?

[schumaku]

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@TimoG wrote:

I have tested the connection speed at my router: it's about 400 mbps (my laptop connected directly to the router via the same cat-6 cable). but at the WAX206 seem to only 'arrive' 100 mbps. This is shown bij the WAX206-internal speedtest, as well as in the speedtest via wifi on smartphone.

So at the routerside of the cat-6 cable seem to go 'in' 400 mbps, but the WAX206 uses of can use 100 mbps only...

---

Before investing further: Assuming we talk of a WAX206 in AP mode-

Have connected the AP on it's WAN port (which is a 2.5 GbE port), or using one of the four LAN ports (which are GbE).

For the LAN ports check the WAX206 Ethernet / LAN Link LED in case. Unfortunately, the Netgear UM does not have any hint if the LED is refelecting the link speed, or not. Unfortunately, I have my WAX206 on storage, so can't compare and test (eg. using an Ethernet cable with just two pairs). 

Not sure the ZyXEL EX5601-T1 has Ethernet link speed indicators.

[TimoG]

Hi again,

I'll try to answer to you both at the same time. 

@plemans 

I tried different cables in a direct connection between router and WAX and found one that works (see below). Which means that it established a link speed of 400mbps (up/down) between router and wax. But then still a wifi-speed of 100 mbps at the WAX remained.   

(Whilst the wifi-speed of the routers wifi - when enabled - did reach 400 mbps up/down.) 

About the good cable: 

The imprint on it says 'UTP CAT.5e 100Mhz 24AWGX4P PATCH ISO/IEC 11801 & EN 50173 verified'. Which of the information do I have follow when searching one that would be long enough to connect WAX and router at their actual position?

@schumaku 

Yes, I'm using the WAX in AP-mode. Because the router itself is in my understanding still the router and both in router-mode would disturb eachother.

I have connected router+WAX:

- OUT @ router using 2.5 GbE LAN poort

- IN @ WAX using 2.5 GbE WAN poort

With this connection, and using the correct cable as described above in direct connection to the router, the LAN-leds indicate a LAN-speed of 100 mbps (indicated in orange led-colour). But this doesn't surprise me, as the wifi-speed still reaches 100 mbps only. Even if the link speed between router and WAX is 400 mbps (as described above, too).

So I guess the connection issue and the wall-plug could be solved, by searching and using the right cable type.

But the wifi-speed issue remains: it seems that some setting or issues in the WAX causes it to send out Wifi-signals with 100 mbps only, even if the incoming link-speed is much higher. Do you have any further ideas where to search?

PS:

- When setting the WAX-wifi to sending with 5 Ghz only I don't 'see' it on my laptop or mobile. So at the moment I seem to not be able to connect to a  5 Ghz-signal of the WAX. Connecting to 2,4 Ghz is no problem. Sending in both frequencies isn't either, as my devices connect in 2,4 Ghz-mode then.

- when connecting to the routers Wifi, I can connect to both frequencies, but the 5 Ghz reaches 400mbps only, the 2,4 stays around 200mbps.

At the WAX the Wifi 'mode' of

• the 2,4 Ghz is set to 'up to 800 mbps (11ng, HT40, 256-QAM)'
• the 5 Ghz is set to 'up to 2400 mbps (80 MHz)(11ax, HT80, 1024-QAM)'

[TimoG]

Hi guys,

maybe something went wrong and my previous post wasn't announced of published correctly.

Can anyone take a look at my answer, please? I'm still looking for a fix

thanks 🙂

Timo

[Sjtester]

What do you get when you use the wired bridged port

Router===Long Cat5E cable==uplink port==WAX206===downlinkWired port===Laptop  ?

If your issue is just on wireless side,

Can you also check if 5Ghz Channel Radio setting.  The channel width should be 80 Mhz or 160Mhz to get higher speeds.  on the downside, you need find less crowded channel.

You can find a good channel by using any of free wifi analyzer on Android phone/tables.