Performance issues on AX88U

[Srinivasan Ramamurthy]

Hello All,

Please help! I have a RT-AX88U as my main router. Using AiMesh, I have my RT-AC88U as an AiNode. Both running the latest Merlin firmware as of today (01-Apr-2021).
There are 2 issues I'm facing:

1. OpenVPN Performance Issues:
   1. Up until now, I had a 100 MBPS connection and using ExpressVPN, I had configured my OpenVPN and was getting a very cool 90 to 95 MBPS when connected to VPN via OpenVPN.
   2. I recently changed my ISP and now I have a 300 MBPS connection. By default I can see that I'm getting anywhere between 335 to 370 MBPS (without VPN).
   3. But the moment I connect to my OpenVPN, it drops to a max of 135~ MBPS. Why isn't it giving me atleast 80% to 90% of what my original speed is?
   4. I had purchased this AX88U under the impression that when my internet speeds increase, it'll still be able to handle the higher speeds. This comes as a shocker to me.
   5. What can I do to improve this?
2. AiNode Performance issues:
   1. My main router (AX88U) is connected via Ethernet to my AiNode (AC88U). But note that this ethernet connection is using TP-Link's Powerline Adapter (9020P model, supposed to be top of the line).
   2. Advertised speed is 2000 MPBS.
   3. But using the tplink utility I see that it hovers around 400 to 500 MBPS between my 2 routers.
   4. But when I am connected to my AiNode (AC88U) and I use speedtest to check the speeds, I only get around 135 MBPS & this is without using OpenVPN client.

Not sure what's wrong or what I can do. Tried doing a factory reset. Kept QOS disabled. None of these helped either.
Please help how I can improve my speeds, especially with Point #1 above - OpenVPN Performance issues.

 

[Srinivasan Ramamurthy]

FYI - Just upgraded both my routers half an hour back to Merlin firmware 386.2.

Still no luck.

 

[Yooshaw]

Hello All,

Please help! I have a RT-AX88U as my main router. Using AiMesh, I have my RT-AC88U as an AiNode. Both running the latest Merlin firmware as of today (01-Apr-2021).
There are 2 issues I'm facing:

1. OpenVPN Performance Issues:
   1. Up until now, I had a 100 MBPS connection and using ExpressVPN, I had configured my OpenVPN and was getting a very cool 90 to 95 MBPS when connected to VPN via OpenVPN.
   2. I recently changed my ISP and now I have a 300 MBPS connection. By default I can see that I'm getting anywhere between 335 to 370 MBPS (without VPN).
   3. But the moment I connect to my OpenVPN, it drops to a max of 135~ MBPS. Why isn't it giving me atleast 80% to 90% of what my original speed is?
   4. I had purchased this AX88U under the impression that when my internet speeds increase, it'll still be able to handle the higher speeds. This comes as a shocker to me.
   5. What can I do to improve this?
2. AiNode Performance issues:
   1. My main router (AX88U) is connected via Ethernet to my AiNode (AC88U). But note that this ethernet connection is using TP-Link's Powerline Adapter (9020P model, supposed to be top of the line).
   2. Advertised speed is 2000 MPBS.
   3. But using the tplink utility I see that it hovers around 400 to 500 MBPS between my 2 routers.
   4. But when I am connected to my AiNode (AC88U) and I use speedtest to check the speeds, I only get around 135 MBPS & this is without using OpenVPN client.

Not sure what's wrong or what I can do. Tried doing a factory reset. Kept QOS disabled. None of these helped either.
Please help how I can improve my speeds, especially with Point #1 above - OpenVPN Performance issues.

I also have an AX88U and use OpenVPN, but my provider is Private Internet Access (PIA).

1. OpenVPN performance issues - it sounds to me that the server you are connecting to may not be able to provide anymore bandwidth past 135. Are you able to connect to a different server from Express? You can test different servers to see if they offer greater speeds. For reference, I'm on a 250MBps connection, and am able to get 250 from the PIA server I use, but other PIA servers are far slower.

2. AiNode Performance issue - your issue is using the Powerline adapter. All of them are notorious for underperforming advertised speed claims, by a lot. The 135 you are getting actually sounds pretty good. If possible, I'd do wireless backhaul before powerline, you'll get better results. Ideal would be to run a LAN cable, or use DOCSIS if you have coax cable nearby.

Good luck!