Netgear Nighthawk X6 R8000 - Cannot get more than 100Mbps speed when connected to ISP router/modem!

[Taztaztic]

Hi all,

I have Hyperoptic Fiber Broadband - 1Gbps package and the most I am getting wired is 950Mbps and wirelssly (wifi 5) is between 300-350Mbps.

I have purchased a Nighthawk X6 R8000 router to boost my wifi speeds as it is very poor for the package I have purchased.

As I use the ISP's VOIP phone service, I have to use their modem/router (Model: ZTE H298A) they provide and connect my Nighthawk router to their Modem/router via Ethernet ports (LAN).

However, after I do this and use the Nighthawks wifi signal, the signal is worse! I don't get above 100Mbps.

I've attached some speedtest photos below; 1st photo is using the ISP's modem/router and the 2nd photo is the wifi speed using the Nighthawk

Any suggestions why this is? How do I rectify this?!?! 

ISP's (Hyperoptic) Modem/Router (Model - ZTE H298A)Nighthawk x6 R8000 Router

[plemans]

photos can take a bit to appear as they have to be approved by a moderator. 

are you testing over 2.4ghz or 5ghz?

What wired speeds do you get from the r8000? 

also, usually the bottleneck with wifi isn't with the router but with the device you're testing on. 

What device are you testing on? 

Another issue, the gateway, is it setup in passthrough/modem only mode? or the netgear in access point mode. 

otherwise you're in a double nat. 

A double nat happens when you cascade more than 1 router.
https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
Fixes? There’s 3 options but only use 1.
1. Put the modem/gateway in modem only/pass through mode. This disables its routing functions.
2. Leave the modem/gateway in router mode but put the Netgears IP address into its DMZ. This forwards the data to the netgear. You can either leave the modem/gateway’s wireless enabled or disabled. Just make sure its using a different wifi channel to prevent interference
3. Put the Netgear into access point mode. This disables its routing functions. Wifi/ethernet still works but it does disable some features.
https://kb.netgear.com/26765/Which-features-are-disabled-on-my-NETGEAR-router-when-it-is-set-to-AP-M...

[Taztaztic]

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@plemans wrote:

photos can take a bit to appear as they have to be approved by a moderator. 

are you testing over 2.4ghz or 5ghz?

What wired speeds do you get from the r8000? 

also, usually the bottleneck with wifi isn't with the router but with the device you're testing on. 

What device are you testing on? 

Another issue, the gateway, is it setup in passthrough/modem only mode? or the netgear in access point mode. 

otherwise you're in a double nat. 

A double nat happens when you cascade more than 1 router.
https://kb.netgear.com/30186/What-is-Double-NAT
Fixes? There’s 3 options but only use 1.
1. Put the modem/gateway in modem only/pass through mode. This disables its routing functions.
2. Leave the modem/gateway in router mode but put the Netgears IP address into its DMZ. This forwards the data to the netgear. You can either leave the modem/gateway’s wireless enabled or disabled. Just make sure its using a different wifi channel to prevent interference
3. Put the Netgear into access point mode. This disables its routing functions. Wifi/ethernet still works but it does disable some features.
https://kb.netgear.com/26765/Which-features-are-disabled-on-my-NETGEAR-router-when-it-is-set-to-AP-M...

---

Hi,

Thanks for this

Test was done on 5ghz (wifi 5); I haven't done a wired test on the netgear and thats because I am not planning on using it wired as my main aim is using it wirelessly; but thinking about it, its probably worth checking. 

The speed test photos that I uploaded are done on my Iphone 13 but I do get very similar speeds when I run the test on my Macbook.

I'm not that techie, so I haven't set anything up in 'passthrough/modem only mode'. I literally took it out of the box and stuck it on.

I'll have a go at the options you suggested; hopefully one of them should work! 

However, will any of the options you have provided stop my VOIP phone working? My ISP said that we need to use their router/modem if we want to continue to use their VOIP service (which I have to as I am paying for this).

Thanks again! 

[plemans]

You could put the R8000 in access point mode. That'd preserve the function of their gateway