Degrading 2.4GHz performance on RT-AC56U

[Sky1111]

Folks, I am seeing 2.4Ghz performance degradation on my RT-AC56U and I was wondering if it is me or Broadcom BCM43217 is really not the greatest.

Laptop sitting 2 feet away from the router and with 40MHz channel, N only, no B/G protection (nor that I have any B/G) - and the connection falls from 300 to 100... And I am saying degradation as it was originally not as bad.

Playing TX power does not yield any conclusive results..
- if I reduce to 50mW, close proximity connections seem to be better but long range one are not great
- increase to 180mW - local is bad (see above), remote connections are slightly better
(radio's temperatures are under control - do not exceed 46 degrees)

My trusty old N56U - Ralink RT3662-based - has much better performance....

To be fair, 5GHz seems to be very solid.

 

[Sky1111]

And yet it is rated #1 in it's category - does this mean I have a bad unit?

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/rankers/router/result/1226-asus-rtac56u

 

[jyeah]

I've also been having similar issues with 2.4 GHz. It seems like the connection is very unstable (the admin router page would load very slow), even though it shows a solid 5 bars of connection. I've used Wifi Analyzer on my Nexus 4 to make sure there's no conflicting signals from a nearby router.

I switched the unit with another one and updated to the latest firmware but it didn't seem to improve much. Again, the 5 GHz channel seems to perform normally.

 

[Igb]

Just wondering, 2.4Ghz band is absolutely saturated in most urban areas, Is it possible that the router had chosen a different channel (assuming it is configured in Auto) even more crowded than last time and that's the reason of your performance degradation?

I personally never had very good performance with 2.4ghz band, but my laptop card is not the best anyways so i can't say for sure. Im mostly using 5ghz band on all the devices that support it.

 

[Sky1111]

Just wondering, 2.4Ghz band is absolutely saturated in most urban areas, Is it possible that the router had chosen a different channel (assuming it is configured in Auto) even more crowded than last time and that's the reason of your performance degradation?

I personally never had very good performance with 2.4ghz band, but my laptop card is not the best anyways so i can't say for sure. Im mostly using 5ghz band on all the devices that support it.

Yes, in cities 2.4GHz is jammed badly; but in my area there are only 3 other weak networks, so it should not that bad. However, I see 2.4 connection dropping to G-level speeds where older N56U still hold N-speeds - for example - in my own basement I cannot reliably stream HD movies - even Netflix (which is much lower bitrate) chocks!!

Go back 3 years - I had a Netgear 3700 abck then - 2.4GHz signal was strong enough a house away from my house...

man.. I have a growing feeling that I need to get AC68U if I want decent wifi...

 

[PrivateJoker]

Go back 3 years - I had a Netgear 3700 abck then - 2.4GHz signal was strong enough a house away from my house...

man.. I have a growing feeling that I need to get AC68U if I want decent wifi...

Or just go get your Netgear 3700 back out of the closet.

Not saying your Asus is good or bad, but TX power would probably be the last thing I played around with when testing router stability and speed. I would play around with router placement, channel adjustment, channel width, and just about every setting in my client device (including drivers) and various toggles in the UI for the radios first. Also 2 feet from a modern AP can overwhelm a lot of devices, start your testing at around 10ft. I mean, if it's well within ethernet distance, I'm totally fine with it blowing out the wifi of anything that close, that's a tradeoff I'm willing to make.

If the first things you're doing are testing from 2 feet away and also cranking the power, that would be a difficult method to troubleshoot. At the same time, if you feel you've got a dud or something, get rid of it - return it or ebay or whatever.

I too get good 2.4ghz signal in my entire front lawn and across the street, but that's also in large part because there is only one wall in the path of the RF in that direction to attenuate it, instead of 3,4,5,6+ walls and/or a ceiling or floor inside

 

[Sky1111]

Or just go get your Netgear 3700 back out of the closet.

Not saying your Asus is good or bad, but TX power would probably be the last thing I played around with when testing router stability and speed. I would play around with router placement, channel adjustment, channel width, and just about every setting in my client device (including drivers) and various toggles in the UI for the radios first. Also 2 feet from a modern AP can overwhelm a lot of devices, start your testing at around 10ft. I mean, if it's well within ethernet distance, I'm totally fine with it blowing out the wifi of anything that close, that's a tradeoff I'm willing to make.

If the first things you're doing are testing from 2 feet away and also cranking the power, that would be a difficult method to troubleshoot. At the same time, if you feel you've got a dud or something, get rid of it - return it or ebay or whatever.

I too get good 2.4ghz signal in my entire front lawn and across the street, but that's also in large part because there is only one wall in the path of the RF in that direction to attenuate it, instead of 3,4,5,6+ walls and/or a ceiling or floor inside

thanks - I actually tried to tweak settings on both router and laptop - including (but not limited to) updating driver, clearing NVRAM, flashing the latest ASUS firmware (and setting it up from scratch )

my Netgear is gone long time ago - sold; good thing I kept RT-N56U - which apparently supports beam forming (but cannot do the VPN stuff AC handles with ease)

 

[PrivateJoker]

thanks - I actually tried to tweak settings on both router and laptop - including (but not limited to) updating driver, clearing NVRAM, flashing the latest ASUS firmware (and setting it up from scratch )

my Netgear is gone long time ago - sold; good thing I kept RT-N56U - which apparently supports beam forming (but cannot do the VPN stuff AC handles with ease)

It's the trade off of being a bleeding edge early adopter maybe? Don't worry, I'm sure the new one coming up will answer all of our prayers. The story of my life! ha

 

[jlake]

thanks - I actually tried to tweak settings on both router and laptop - including (but not limited to) updating driver, clearing NVRAM, flashing the latest ASUS firmware (and setting it up from scratch )

my Netgear is gone long time ago - sold; good thing I kept RT-N56U - which apparently supports beam forming (but cannot do the VPN stuff AC handles with ease)

I think you're supposed to clear nvram after you update firmware.

Have you read Merlin's sticky? Are you using 20 MHz ?

 

[RogerSC]

I think you're supposed to clear nvram after you update firmware.

Have you read Merlin's sticky? Are you using 20 MHz ?

Yes, for sure, clear the nvram after upgrading. You can still do it, clear the nvram/reset to factory defaults, then re-enter your settings. You don't have to re-flash to do that.

 

[Sky1111]

Yes, for sure, clear the nvram after upgrading. You can still do it, clear the nvram/reset to factory defaults, then re-enter your settings. You don't have to re-flash to do that.

Guys, of course I cleared NVRAM and the channel bandwith is set to 40MHz - otherwise 2.4 with 20MHz never goes above 144Mbs...

 

[jlake]

Guys, of course I cleared NVRAM and the channel bandwith is set to 40MHz - otherwise 2.4 with 20MHz never goes above 144Mbs...

But haven't you read hundreds of posts on this forum that recommend 20 MHz for 2.4 ghz when you're having wifi problems?

I take it that you didn't read Merlin's sticky since that's one of his tips?

 

[Sky1111]

But haven't you read hundreds of posts on this forum that recommend 20 MHz for 2.4 ghz when you're having wifi problems?

I take it that you didn't read Merlin's sticky since that's one of his tips?

Fine. I set Tx power to 80mW, set channel with to 20/40MHz - which is default value, and "N" only.

Guess what - I moved 4 feet away, signal dropped to 54Mb - and that's direct site! And then it continue degrading to mere 2Mb - man, this just cannot be happening!!! - and there is only 2 other networks detected in the range.

 

[jlake]

Fine. I set Tx power to 80mW, set channel with to 20/40MHz - which is default value, and "N" only.

Guess what - I moved 4 feet away, signal dropped to 54Mb - and that's direct site! And then it continue degrading to mere 2Mb - man, this just cannot be happening!!! - and there is only 2 other networks detected in the range.

I thought Merlins sticky thread said to put it on "20 Mhz" ? I didn't see anything about "20/40". You should consider reading his sticky thread on wireless troubleshooting.


I think you've hinted that you have your eye on that RT-AC68U and maybe are having a little buyer's remorse right now. I gotcha man. I see it happen all the time when a new product is announced.

 

[PrivateJoker]

I think you've hinted that you have your eye on that RT-AC68U and maybe are having a little buyer's remorse right now. I gotcha man. I see it happen all the time when a new product is announced.

Tell me about it. . .who's going to buy this useless piece of junk non fingerprint scanning iPhone 5 off me now?

 

[RMerlin]

When I see some of those reports of signal dropping dramatically as soon they get a few feet away from their routers, the first thing that comes to mind is related to the antennas. In the case of the N66/AC66, it makes me wonder if the antenna cable wouldn't be unplugged inside the router. One user solved his range issues when he replaced his N66U with a new one.

That does not apply to the RT-AC56U however as it uses internal antennas straight on the pcboard. It makes me wonder then if it could be that the radios aren't properly initialized, so the output isn't optimal. Try doing an actual power cycle rather than a reboot. I've solved a few odd issues myself this way, especially after flashing a FW with a new driver, or after having three routers blasting at the same time within a few feet from one another, totally messing up with my laptop's wifi.

All I can say is that my Nexus 7 is able to connect to my RT-AC56U on the 2.4 GHz band from the other end of my apartment. That means going through 3 walls (one of them includes my kitchen closets, so that's an additional obstacle with those doors). And the router isn't even facing that wall, which means it's not in an optimal position either for best coverage, as it's perpendicular to that wall. So this router is definitely able to cover a whole appartment without any trouble.

 

[jlake]

Tell me about it. . .who's going to buy this useless piece of junk non fingerprint scanning iPhone 5 off me now?

lol. Exactly. You know what I'm talking about.

 

[Asusnet]

Are you using any USB 3.0 hard drives with the router? USB 3.0 drives can cause a lot of interference.

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us...al-bus/usb3-frequency-interference-paper.html

 

[Sky1111]

Are you using any USB 3.0 hard drives with the router? USB 3.0 drives can cause a lot of interference.

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us...al-bus/usb3-frequency-interference-paper.html

Yes I am aware - but:
- no, I am not using any disks attached to the router
- RT-AC56U does have special shielding to prevent such interference