This topic has been marked solved and closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one.
Replaced old router with Nighthawk AX6(RAX48) router. I have ATT fiber feeding the router. When wired to the router I get between 750 and 900 mbps speed(as expected). However, the wifi speed seems slow. The 2.4 channel give me between 40 and 60 mbps. I've tried setting the channel to 1, 6, 9, and 11. This did not help. My 5G channel is getting me between 150 to 300 mbps. These speed seem slow. Are my expections too high? What speeds should I be getting over wifi?
I haven't seen any devices hitting 80% throughput. its usualy that 55-65%. I've seen the occasional one hitting the 75% ish.
If you're trully wanting faster speeds, you could see if you can swap out your wireless card for a better one. I upgraded my intel 8260 to an intel ax210 (AX) for around that $30. Again, you'd have to check if its compatible with your device.
An example is that my AX210 card will connect around that 2000mbps and just breaks 1000-1100mbps. And thats within 10ft of the router. And I've tried it on arris and netgear routers.
Everyone's is going to be a bit different though. And if you're needing faster speeds than 400mbps, I'd go hardwired anyway. Its basically when you're moving massive amounts of data that you need fast speeds. Gaming/streaming doesn't usually hit >40mbps.
If you recently purchased the device I would recommend contacting our support team as newly purchased devices are provided with 90 days of complimentary support. You may open a ticket by registering your device using the link below.
Thanks for the reply Christian. I’m on my 3rd router and about 10hrs with 4 different “specialist”. I’m hoping someone on here is smarter than their “specialist”
also, what devices are you testing on? this is another key as a 1x1 devices isn't going to have the same speed at a 2x2 device.
something else to keep in mind is the 2.4ghz is much much slower than 5ghz. Especially if you live in a congested area like apartment, condo, town home, or even homes close together. I've got a cax80 and RAX200 (and other brand routers) and my 2.4ghz will hit peaks of 90-100mbps but its average throughput is more along the lines of 50-60mbps because of congestion.
What is the home environment?
And what is it made of? (certain materials block wifi better than others)
I'm ok with the 2.4 ghz network. All our efforts are on the 5ghz network. Below are the changes I made with Netgear support.
confimed that my network adapter will accept the speed. My network adapter speed is 866.1
changed the mode to "up to 1200 mbps" and set to channel 161,157, and 153. currently on mode "up to 4800 mbps" channel 44
tried turning off "Enable AX" currently its on
tried turning on QoS. currently it off
In the WAN Setup tried changing the MTU size to 1476, 1484,1486, 1492. It's currently back on its default of 1500.
I have not made any changes to the ATT Gateway
I was testing on my laptop sitting in the same room as the router(5 ft away).Laptop never got higher than 400mbps. I was also testing on my son's XBox in the next room.20ft away. XBox never got more than 150mbps on the 5G network. Those 2 devices were the only things connected during testing. I'm in a single family home on a half acre lot. Not much network congestion. Wall are made of sheet rock(drywall).
I'm ok with the 2.4 ghz network. All our efforts are on the 5ghz network. Below are the changes I made with Netgear support.
confimed that my network adapter will accept the speed. My network adapter speed is 866.1----so maximum link speed is 866mbps at the best.
changed the mode to "up to 1200 mbps" and set to channel 161,157, and 153. currently on mode "up to 4800 mbps" channel 44
tried turning off "Enable AX" currently its on
tried turning on QoS. currently it off
In the WAN Setup tried changing the MTU size to 1476, 1484,1486, 1492. It's currently back on its default of 1500.
I have not made any changes to the ATT Gateway
I was testing on my laptop sitting in the same room as the router(5 ft away).Laptop never got higher than 400mbps.----Link speed 400mbps or actual throughput speed 400mbps? Throughput is usually around 55-65% of what link speed is. I was also testing on my son's XBox in the next room.20ft away. XBox never got more than 150mbps on the 5G network.---what link speed did the xbox have? not sure of if its a 1x1 or 2x2 wireless device. Those 2 devices were the only things connected during testing. I'm in a single family home on a half acre lot. Not much network congestion. Wall are made of sheet rock(drywall).
Thanks for all your help!
a couple things. Like I said, link speed isn't the same as actual throughput speed. And you're using a wireless ac device. it won't hit AX speeds even though you have an AX router. 400mbps is close to max for many AC adapters. I've see upwards of 600mbps but those are under optimal conditions, with efficient wireless adapters, and no interference.
The site goes over many of wifi's misunderstandings of actual speed versus advertised speeds.
something else to keep in mind is gaming needs very little actual throughput. its more about latency with gaming. throughput at max is usually 10-25mbps thats needed. potentially a bit more if streaming 4k videos.
What are your expectations with your setup? Like I mentioned prior, 400mbps out 5ghz is pretty reasonable in a home environment for most wireless adapters.
My expectations for the router was that I would get 80% throughput on the 5G network(per Netgear specilist) of my linked(wired) speed. My linked speed to the Nighthawk router is on average ~800 mbps. So my expectation was ~600 mbps. The Netgear Nighthawk specialist was the one who had me return the router when it was getting ~400mbps on the 5G network. Are my expectations too high? Was Netgear incorrect on the 80%? Is this router preforming correct?
As far as the XBox I'm not sure what the linked speed is. I'll have to check. I don't have CAT5 running to my son's room.
Thanks again for all your help and information. Greatly appreatiated!
I haven't seen any devices hitting 80% throughput. its usualy that 55-65%. I've seen the occasional one hitting the 75% ish.
If you're trully wanting faster speeds, you could see if you can swap out your wireless card for a better one. I upgraded my intel 8260 to an intel ax210 (AX) for around that $30. Again, you'd have to check if its compatible with your device.
An example is that my AX210 card will connect around that 2000mbps and just breaks 1000-1100mbps. And thats within 10ft of the router. And I've tried it on arris and netgear routers.
Everyone's is going to be a bit different though. And if you're needing faster speeds than 400mbps, I'd go hardwired anyway. Its basically when you're moving massive amounts of data that you need fast speeds. Gaming/streaming doesn't usually hit >40mbps.
