Nighthawk X10 R9000 currently does not properly support 1Gbps ISP

[Iluv2PCgame]

Model:  Netgear X10 R9000 AC7200

Firmware:  1.0.2.32

OS:  Windows 10 Professional

The R9000 not able to properly support gigabit ethernet.  I recently upgraded to Comcast XFINITY 1 gigabit service.  I own a Netgear CM1000 DOCSIS 3.1 modem and Netgear X10 R9000 router.  Both devices have the most current firmware installed.  Upon conducting multiple bandwidth tests with the router, my PC was able to attain a maximum bandwidth of 880Mbps, nowhere near the 960Mbps threshold that is supposed to occur.  I then ran several bandwidth tests without the router and just the modem and the PC and was able to achieve 940-960Mbps consistently.  This is definitely a router issue.  I have attempted several different router configurations that were recommended by some top tier technical forum posters and none of them worked.  I also attempted a full factory reset of the router.  Nothing has worked.

After some research with regards to router support for gigabit ethernet, I think I may have found the problem.  A friend of mine works with networks and when I told him that the R9000 can't support MTUs larger than 1500, he immediately gasped and said that the MTU value needs to be adjustable up to 3000 in order to properly support gigabit network traffic, especially if jumbo packets are used.  He said 1500 is not a large enough value for true gigabit ethernet to be supported correctly.  Needless to say, Netgear engineers may have their work cut out for them.  In order to add larger MTU capability, a significant rewrite of the firmware will most likely be required.   I could be wrong here, but I won't be surprised either if we don't see a new firmware update to fix this issue anytime soon.

[FURRYe38]

Most home class routers only support MTU values up to 1500. There isn't any home class router that supports any MTU over 1500. ISP support Gb speeds however use modems/ONTs to handle that. We've only seen a few routers that get around 940Mb on the down. This is approching the 1Gb threashold anyways. No router can do much over 940Mb let alone 1Gb since the connection rate is 1000Mb considering there is CPU processing and handling of the data at those speeds. There is HW accelerations that need to happen to get 9##Mb speeds in routers. Not all routers can do that. I've only seen others report that the R7800 and the R8500 or R8000 have seen speeds around 940Mb. Honestly, to get true 1Gb speeds or over, we don't see this until we get 10Gb supporting HW. We went thru the same growing pains when 100mb was the norm and when 1000mb supporting HW just came out. Same thing here. 

Good Luck. 

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-WiFi-Routers/Nighthawk-R9000-X10-Poor-Wired-Performance/m...

[Iluv2PCgame]

Regardless of the cause and effect, this issue needs to be resolved with the R9000.  You said it yourself that the R8000 can achieve 940Mbps.  So what exactly are we not ready for 1Gbps ISP service?  The services of this kind have been around for a couple years now.  No excuses, just solutions!

[FURRYe38]

You can contact ElaineM and see if you can get help and information on this. 

When the powers at be finally get 10Gb for the consumer, then all of this will be history. It's still mostly Enterpise level. 

Good Luck. 

[Iluv2PCgame]

Never mentioned 10Gbps, so not sure what you are getting at here?

[FURRYe38]

When 100Mb was the norm on RJ45 ports ISP speeds were not seen over 100Mb either. 80-90Mb speeds were about it. Once we got HW that supported 1000Mb then ISP speeds were seen over 100mb. Same issue here. To get any true 1000Mb or 1Gb speeds, now need 10gb supporting RG45 ports, NICs, switches and routers. Same thing happend several years ago when we finally got 1Gb supporting HW at the consumer level. We are limited by the 1000Mb connection rate that RG45 currently supports at the consumer level. Routers are reaching near 800-900mb however with CPU speeds, processing and HW design, were are reaching the over head and threashold limit of the 1000Mb connection rate. We need 10Gb connection rated HW to truely attain 1000Mb speeds and over going in to the next phase of networking speeds. 

[Iluv2PCgame]

Not concerned about the past, only now and the future.  This issue needs to be resolved.  Stay on track.

And actually, you are incorrect about >1000Mbps (1Gbps) bandwidth adoption.  Comcast has had 2Gbps fiber for consumers for well over a year now and no issues whatsoever providing the bandwidth.  Heck, my motherboard has a 5GBASE-T NIC port and fully supports up to 5Gbps bandwidth.

[FURRYe38]

Maybe in the next 5 years...It's the networking powers that will have to approve 10Gb use for all the Mfrs. I presume since ISP are pushing more the more for 1Gb speeds, they may play a roll in getting those that be to approve ~10Gb HW use. Who knows. 

Have you tried using the 9000 in AP mode instead of router mode to see if speeds are more year 900Mb? 

[Iluv2PCgame]

It won't take 5 years.  Maybe another year.  I never thought I would see gigabit service in my area for another 2-3 years, yet here it is and I have it now.

As for changing the mode from router to access point, sure I'll give it a try.  Why not - nothing to lose at this point ;-)

[FURRYe38]

Maybe, however there HW supports those speeds and probably mostly for business class services with business class HW. 2Gb will need the use of link aggregation with two RG45 ports or if there HW supports LAN ports speeds 5-10Gb then sure. Again. Most home class ISPs are mainly at 1Gb and limited by the 1Gb RG45 port. 

Just guestimating on time frame of 10Gb support. Took several years before we saw 1000Mb, may take similar time frame or maybe longer. Who knows. Only the networking gods have the know. We can only hope for sooner. I know I'm set up for it as I installed CAT6A in my new house addition. Just need the HW now. 

[Iluv2PCgame]

"Most homes"...but not mine

There are alternatives for now, but at the cost of compromising the full potential/bandwidth available.  Sad days indeed.

[FURRYe38]

The market is not driven my just one. 

[Iluv2PCgame]

Truth

[FURRYe38]

Again, this is all historical and again, were going thru the growing pains. Just have to wait and see what transpires with the HW for consumers as time goes on. You might check with smallnetbuilders for router testing results. 

Let us know what you see when in AP mode with you ISP modem/ONT. 

[William10a]

Home routers are not design to match a business class router the hardware and software is different so a simple firmware update may not solve the  speed issue you have and I remember when 10mbs lan ports were the only game. Remember the BBS's and the 54k dial up modem and  the Timex Sinclair computer with the Z80 8mhz cpu. As time goes the problem never changes just the details how know one day 100 gb could be a standard speed for the internet and speed will still be a issue.

[netwrks]

Lots of routers running gig services with MTU of 1500 on the WAN. It's about the carrier signalling and the amount of traffic the Gig service can support, not the MTU.  It's the LAN side where Jumbo frames are supported / enabled, for local stuff (Server Farms etc).  It's another story as to whether the router can process at close to wire speed on the CPU, or through a proprietary means. There a few inexpensive wired routers on the market than can support gig symetric.

[Iluv2PCgame]

Name one router and provide proof.

[Iluv2PCgame]

I don't care what routers "are supposed to do".  I don't need a history lesson either.  My fact is point on, and the title of this thread is correct.  I don't care about explanations are excuses.  I just want Netgear to acknowledge the issue and fix it.  What I don't need is a bunch of people trying to provide excuses why the router can't do it.  How about providing solutions so that it can properly support gigabit eithernet?  Hmmm, now that's an idea!

[FURRYe38]

You'll need to contact ElaineM. Again try the R9000 in AP mode to see if speeds get you the last 150Mb of speed your lookng for...this seems to be a processing and data thruput and HW accelleration issue in router mode. Nothing can be done here in the forums accpet to bring NG supports attention to it. A fix will probably not be seen for a while. It took NG months and months before QoS feature was finally added to the FW. 

Overall there maybe a problem with your unit and may need to be replaced and someone at NG will need to address this. The closest your going to get on any current home class router is around 900-950Mb. Nothing more then that. Were hitting the limits with HW, CPU and design and RG45 max connection rate of 1000Mb. 

There were others here in the forum that mentioned there R7800 doing 950Mb. Regardless of any mfr or model router, true 1Gb and beyond speeds won't be seen until we get 10Gb supporitng HW at the consumer level as a mass market. 

[Iluv2PCgame]

Thanks Furry - I know you actually did provide several recommendations.  Something that others could learn from ;-)  And actually, I would be quite happy with bandwidth in the mid-900s.  That's a dream for now if you are an owner of a X10.  For now, the best you will see is 840-880Mbps.  I don't think it's a defective router after all as I have yet to see a single person show or prove they can attain anywhere near the ~960Mbps mark using an X10 in combination with an ISP's gigabit ethernet service plan.  Bottom line, it looks like we are at the mercy of the Netgear engineers to develop a solution.

[FURRYe38]

Ya we are. 

If your in the return time frame with Amazon, You might return it and get something else. I'd have to search for it, however someone here in the forums said there R7800 was working in the mid 900's with QoS disabled. Something you might try and find at a local store with a good refund policy. I'm enjoying mine and use myopenrouter FW on it. However I don't have 1Gb ISP service. No need for it as of yet. 

ALso check out the AP mode before you send the unit back as well. 

[janthony6]

Asus has jumbo frame support in their routers.

[netwrks]

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@Iluv2PCgame wrote:

Name one router and provide proof.

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ubiquity, pfsense, mikrotik. If you want gig symetrical.

[Fury161]

I also have Comcasts 1 gig service with a CM100 moden and a R8500 router and I achieve 930-960 Mb range consistentley.

[Iluv2PCgame]

*CM1000   *modem   *consistently

While I'm waiting for a firmware update from Netgear to fix the X10's ~860Mbps bandwidth limitation, I'm going to try out the link aggregation as a possible solution.  I have a Netgear S8000 gaming smart switch that supports LAG.  I had to buy a second 50ft CAT7 online, which arrives tomorrow.  Once I have it in hand and connected with the switch and router, I'll re-run the bandwidth tests.  I am really hoping this provides an acceptable solution until a firmware fix is released.