Wifi download rates 30-50% of wired

[lindend]

Recently upgraded by internet from 3 down/.256 up to 45 down /6 up (I get 50/5.5 with wired tests on multiple PCs).

Previously, had no issues with my N66U getting max up/down over wifi with the slower connection. However, with the faster connection, I'm getting between 17-27 down and 5.5 up both 2.4g and 5g.

My router is the only router on 5g and the 2.4g band is pretty sparse with no overlap (tried both auto and manual channel selection). I've methodically gone through all 2.4g channels and there's no improvement with any. Router is setup for N only and 20/40 bandwidth and is running Merlin .45.

This is with 4 devices (iPad, Nexus 4, Nexus 5 and a PC) right next to the router.

Also, I've run iXIA endpoint tests and they are in the 35-37mbps range so I don't believe the modem is the ultimate blocker here. Looking through the forum, I've seen a couple similar threads of folks reporting the inability to get max download speeds but no resolution.

Finally, I tried the wireless connection on my modem just to see if it was the N66U. Those numbers were similar if not slightly worse.

I do have QOS active...could that make a difference? I'm skeptical of that given the external modem wifi reported similar performance.

Is there something else I can try?

 

[lindend]

I was relying on WiFi Analyzer on Android to tune my network. Decided to try inSSIDer and discovered my neighbor's router is oscillating between channel 6 & 11, so the default of 6, while appearing free, really wasn't. I moved to channel 7 on 2.4Ghz and things dramatically improved (I may have missed that channel in my previous efforts).

The odd thing is, by doing this, 5Ghz significantly improved also which makes absolutely no sense to me. Right now, I'm seeing 33-37/5.5 out of a potential 50/5.5

Lastly, it sure does seem like download rates are more sensitive to distance from the router. Upload rates are constant throughout the house, but download rates can get cut in half at far distances. I tried the same devices on a different network 100/20 (Cable provider this time) but with the same ASUS router running Merlin f/w and see the same constant upload performance but variable download performance based on distance.

Several others have reported this variable download performance, but is this expected or something that should be investigated.

 

[ChristineBCW]

At this point in WiFi Technology, it doesn't match wired service performance, so "expected" is the correct answer.

There's always environment variables that wireless confronts that Cables exclude - sunspots, your wall-o'-freezers kicking off, my using the Dabney Coleman Memorial Garage Door-Opener to pin Hubby to the wall again... there's always something.