Wi-Fi Adapter - internet speed slowness

[GaACETech]

Moved a desktop computer, Windows 11 Pro, to a room without wired ethernet.  Desktop about 5 years old.

Purchased a Wi-Fi Adapter, Nighthawk, to get internet.  Installation was easy.

Using an internet speed program I get 25Mbps download with the adapter. 

My laptop in the same spot gets over 150Mbps.

The USB adapter is plugged into a v3.0 port (blue).

What could be the problem?  USB v3.0 are supposed to be much faster.

Thanks!

[GaACETech · Accepted solution]

With trial and error I figured it out.

The problem was band steering.  I had a 2.5Ghz network only setup just for a pellet grill (smoker).  Connection to that results in >150Mbs (originally <25Mbps).   Decided to setup a 5.0Ghz only SSID.  Connection to that resulted in >300Mbps.  

Very happy now that the client will be very happy.

Thanks!

[michaelkenward]

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@GaACETech wrote:

The USB adapter is plugged into a v3.0 port (blue).

What could be the problem?  USB v3.0 are supposed to be much faster.

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It is the wifi speed that matters rather then the USB.

Which USB adapter do you have?

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Using an internet speed program I get 25Mbps download with the adapter. 

My laptop in the same spot gets over 150Mbps.

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Tested how? A desktop app or through a browser? Tests can be very picky and not that reliable.

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Moved a desktop computer, Windows 11 Pro, to a room without wired ethernet. 

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I would look into Powerline Ethernet. It turns the local mains circuit onto an ersatz wired Ethernet network.  More reliable and, depending on the mains circuit, potentially faster than wifi.

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Just another user with time on their hands.

[plemans]

Like @michaelkenward says, the key is what adapter did you get. 

If you bought the cheapest possible, its not going to be fast. 

You also don't put if you're connecting to the 2.4ghz or the 5ghz for testing. 2.4ghz is slow and sensitive to interference. 

You also don't put what router you have. Another key as if its using bandsteering, the wifi adapter might be on the lower band. 

Or what wireless adapter is in your laptop. 

there's many details with wifi speeds that are need to be known before you can compare speeds. 

[GaACETech · Accepted solution]

With trial and error I figured it out.

The problem was band steering.  I had a 2.5Ghz network only setup just for a pellet grill (smoker).  Connection to that results in >150Mbs (originally <25Mbps).   Decided to setup a 5.0Ghz only SSID.  Connection to that resulted in >300Mbps.  

Very happy now that the client will be very happy.

Thanks!