1.5Gb fiber connection with 3 mesh nodes. Clients getting ~500Mbps. Setting or nature of AIMesh?

[Ripshod]

The first test is a client using wifi

Nuff said.

 

[neil0311]

how do you do 2.5G connection on RT-AX88U? Please a schematic pic would be helpful. Thanks.

RT-AX88U Pro not the older model. Has two 2.5Gb ports, one for WAN and one for LAN, and when using AIMesh, the WAN port is the backhaul port.

 

[neil0311]

Nuff said.

Meaning what? That's the entire problem. Clients that say they're connecting with 160MHz bandwidth (I'm in a semi rural area without DFS interference) and with 2Gb+ port speeds are barely getting 500Mbps to the Internet.

 

[neil0311]

And then this happens. There are 16 devices connected to the network, a mix of IOT, phones, laptops, and A/V. Most aren't doing anything and not using much (if any) bandwidth. So why are downloads seemingly hitting a wall at 500Mbps?

 

[tgl]

Those ping numbers are crazy high (and even more so in your previous ookla screenshot). I suggest worrying less about the throughput and more about why that's happening. If you can fix the ping problem the throughput may take care of itself --- and in any case, RTT that awful will have obvious impact on everyday activity like web browsing, whereas frankly the difference between 500Mbps and 1000Mbps speedtests will not.

I share @Ripshod 's suspicion that there's some sort of forwarding loop or similar issue in your LAN. Could you show us a full diagram of exactly what's connected to what? And make doubly sure that wireless backhaul is off?

I suppose a more mundane explanation is that speedtest.net randomly chose a server that's far away from you --- but that idea doesn't explain the one within-reason result of 4ms in your second screenshot.

 

[neil0311]

Those ping numbers are crazy high (and even more so in your previous ookla screenshot). I suggest worrying less about the throughput and more about why that's happening. If you can fix the ping problem the throughput may take care of itself --- and in any case, RTT that awful will have obvious impact on everyday activity like web browsing, whereas frankly the difference between 500Mbps and 1000Mbps speedtests will not.

I share @Ripshod 's suspicion that there's some sort of forwarding loop or similar issue in your LAN. Could you show us a full diagram of exactly what's connected to what? And make doubly sure that wireless backhaul is off?

I suppose a more mundane explanation is that speedtest.net randomly chose a server that's far away from you --- but that idea doesn't explain the one within-reason result of 4ms in your second screenshot.

The ping is 4ms. The others are higher during data transfer. Jitter is also low.

This is a test I just took on my phone. What do you believe the ping times should be?

 

[tgl]

6ms is OK for a ping from a wireless client, but that wasn't what you showed in the first screenshot. Also I think you're too quick to dismiss the numbers "during upload/download" as being OK. The version of speedtest.net that I have doesn't show those stats, but I tried to simulate it by running a ping to my ISP's nearest router while doing a speedtest run, both from my macbook laptop. I saw typical ping times of about 7ms while idle and 15ms during the run. So your values of 25-50+ ms don't look good. They might be explainable if speedtest was saturating the ISP link or the wireless link ... but we started with your complaint that it isn't. So there should be plenty of room to squeeze the occasional ping packet in edgewise.

 

[bbaz]

And then this happens. There are 16 devices connected to the network, a mix of IOT, phones, laptops, and A/V. Most aren't doing anything and not using much (if any) bandwidth. So why are downloads seemingly hitting a wall at 500Mbps?

View attachment 58210

I've encountered this same issue multiple times with RT-AX88U Pro and non-pro hardware. Have you reviewed the settings under Wireless/Professional? Specifically, I would suggest you try disabling both Airtime Fairness and Roaming Assistant (2.4 and 5 bands need to be adjusted separately!), Save, and then click the Reboot button at the top center. It'll take a couple of speed tests before it fully flows at max speed, but I think this might be your issue.

 

[JEofMPK]

I have AT&T fiber 1G but it tests at 1.3G. With XT9's I can get 800-900 mbs on 5Ghz WIFI from a node with a years old Samsung Note 8. I use wirless backhaul (2nd 5Ghz channel).

 

[JEofMPK]

Also try the AUS Speed Test. It is from the router though. See if you test at 1.5G. This rules out the gateway.

 

[neil0311]

Also try the AUS Speed Test. It is from the router though. See if you test at 1.5G. This rules out the gateway.

Yes, I test from the router and get the full provisioned speed. 1.6Gbps up/down.

 

[neil0311]

I have AT&T fiber 1G but it tests at 1.3G. With XT9's I can get 800-900 mbs on 5Ghz WIFI from a node with a years old Samsung Note 8. I use wirless backhaul (2nd 5Ghz channel).

My backhaul is all wired over cat 6 and 2.5Gb ports and an unmanaged switch.

 

[neil0311]

I've encountered this same issue multiple times with RT-AX88U Pro and non-pro hardware. Have you reviewed the settings under Wireless/Professional? Specifically, I would suggest you try disabling both Airtime Fairness and Roaming Assistant (2.4 and 5 bands need to be adjusted separately!), Save, and then click the Reboot button at the top center. It'll take a couple of speed tests before it fully flows at max speed, but I think this might be your issue.

Airtime Fairness is default disabled and still set that way.

If Roaming Assistant is disabled then wouldn’t that disable or cripple Smart Connect?

 

[bbunge]

My backhaul is all wired over cat 6 and 2.5Gb ports and an unmanaged switch.

Did you or a contractor run the Ethernet. Were the cable runs tested for more than continuity?
I have had occasional issues with 2.5 GB backhaul. Move the connections on the nodes to the 1 GB WAN port and test again.