This topic

Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

Silasophie — Sat, 14 Nov 2020 15:22:30 GMT

Hi, I have recently upgraded to Fibre 900. The speed was definitely better than my old plan. But from my laptop, connecting by wifi, the download speed is usually only 200MBps, while upload about 100MBps.

I called up BT hotline (again waiting for almost an hour), the lady mentioned it is a known issue in the BT hub 2 whereby they are expecting to "upgrade" the firmware to fix the issue. And she explained that the current issue is that, it is "not" that you get your speed, but it is the hub2 where the problem is that hub2 sends out the wrong speed data, hence the speed test I run is not correct.

Honestly, I am still very confused after back and forth conversation. Although she did confirm from BT end test that the incoming signal that she tested is 980MBps to the white box into the house, for whatever hub2 problem, i could only get 200MBps when I tested from my laptop with wifi connection. Isn't it the loss from transmission too big to be true?

I bet the hub2 must have some problems. So it is not really the speed test data misread whatever signal coming out from the hub2 to my laptop where I did the testing, it has to be some problems with hub2 not really distributing the speed of 900MBps.

So I took a refund for the month, hoping they are to "upgrade" the hub2 firmware by December. If BT is not really showing that hub2 is up running to provide the right speed for my 900 fibre package, I would simply downgrade or cancel my contract to somewhere else.

Is that what other users encounter the same problem?

Cheers

Michael

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

SuperFlyGuy — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 18:23:58 GMT

It's very doubtful that you will get close to 900Mbps over wifi with current wifi technology.

When I test using my phone, my speeds vary between 200 and 350Mbps.

Our 2 main computers are desktop machines connected directly to the Smarthub with Cat 7 cables and we always get 900Mbps on both of those computers (or within 10-15 Mbps).

I don't believe a firmware update will fix this issue. BT should probably make sure that customers are aware that if you're only using wireless devices, then there's currently little point in signing up for the 900Mbps package.

If you have a spare ethernet cable, connect your laptop directly to the hub and see what speed you get.

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

dclong — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 14:34:32 GMT

I had the same problems and 'story' from BT , also I found the SH2 to regularly drop connections -particularly to Apple devices / Sonos and Sky Q. With four of us WFH we couldnt tolerate this & wait for the promised firmware update so we changed the SH2 to an ASUS RT-AT86U which has so far provided fast ( up to 500 Mbps) and stable wireless connections

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

SuperFlyGuy — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 15:13:18 GMT

Asus do make good routers. I've had 2 over the years, but I have to admit, I find the SH2 rock solid in terms of speed and connections.

I guess my point above was that if you're only going to be exclusively using wifi, then it makes little sense to opt for the 900Mbps package. the 300 or 500Mbps packages would be more suitable.

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

Silasophie — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 16:48:54 GMT

Thanks. But after some testing myself or by BT remotely, the BT hub itself only got 420Mbps despite white box signal in the house was 980Mbps. I called up BT again after reading the Community forum as some others got 500+. So hopefully BT engineer could figure out if it is to do with the hub2 problem. If it really cannot accommodate it, it is no point to stick to 900, probably downgrade to fibre 500 plan.

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

Silasophie — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 16:51:36 GMT

Thanks. I am more than happy if BT hub 2 could achieve 500Mbps+ speed. After a few tests myself and BT remotely, max I could get is 420Mbps, not far off though, but got to see if they could get the hub 2 up to speed. By the way, I am using Cat 6 cable connecting between the white box to the hub2. I tested with Cat5e and Cat6 cable though, not much a difference from speed perspective.

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

Silasophie — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 16:53:38 GMT

Thanks for the advice. BT engineer will be here to test if the hub2 may be faulty or max speed I could really get is 420Mbps to the hub 2 (despite they confirmed the incoming speed to the white box is 980Mbps). Again. if they could not get this up to speed, I would consider to downgrade to fibre500, provided that they can really give what the speed I should get for a fibre500 plan.

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

OneManTagTeam — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 22:32:32 GMT

I was always getting between 350-400 with SH2. Changed my router to the ASUS AX86U and get 800-850 on the Fibre 900 package through Wi-fi and about 920 through ethernet

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

Silasophie — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 22:38:26 GMT

Thank. I should buy the same router.

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

ch — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 09:16:26 GMT

It's worth pointing out that you'll only get those speeds on Wifi 6 compatible devices (i.e.devices that support AX - not just AC).

I have an AX router (the Orbi RBR850) and I only get about 480Mbps max on my non-AX iPhone.

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

busterboy1 — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 09:48:03 GMT

@Silasophie

If you want to maximize your 910 / 110Mbps package then yes get a router that WILL work and supply your needs.

@OneManTagTeam Was getting this this speed over WiFi 6 with an Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max and an Asus AX86U router.

Why have the highest tier and not get the best out of it.

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

SuperFlyGuy — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 11:18:39 GMT

I guess that's the issue though. A lot of people don't want to have to spend more money on a 3rd party router and have the latest wireless devices that support WiFi 6.

For most people, I don't think they understand that current (none-WiFi 6) technology won't support the higher speeds.

My main PC is a desktop and so I connect directly via ethernet. My iPhone XS never manages more than 350Mbps, but that's fine as I need faster download speeds when working on my main PC.

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

Silasophie — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 16:15:28 GMT

Thanks, I want to taste the fast speed and not really intended to downgrade back to 500 or 300 fibre. So I am actively looking for a router. Thanks for the advice.

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

Silasophie — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 17:37:28 GMT

Thanks. And probably a final update here.

Openreach engineer visited as scheduled by BT. So I realize that Openreach is wholly owned subsidiary of BT so under the same umbrella. BT is service provider while Openreach more on the network side.

The engineer changed the name of the router such that all other devices were disconnected (also unplug all ethernet cables for wired connection). So based on the fast.com speed test based on the engineer single access reading. Wifi was bad in his device of 86Mbps, and wired connection of 1gb Mpbs. So it proved the hub did have the full speed from ONT, however issue in wifi.

Both of us did test based on our mobiles though, and both mobile phones connect wifi could achieve 200Mpbs.

After he left, the BT new hub2 delivered. I replaced with this new hub2. Without reconnecting to the BT wifi discs, etc, the new hub2 was even worse with only 86Mpbs from my mobile. I didn't bother to get the new hub2 settled for a few hours or so. As it is pretty sure hub2 could not get the wifi speed that matched with 900 fibre plan.

Options are clear:

1. downgrade the plan if I don't need that fast, and/or don't want to invest my own for a new router to enhance the wifi

2. keep the plan as fibre900, but I ought to find myself a good wifi router

3. keep the plan as fibre 900, keep using BT equipment only. I still get 900Mpbs for wired connected to my PC and TV box. But I won't be able to get anywhere wifi max of 200Mbps - 250Mbps based on my real experience.

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

busterboy1 — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 18:21:41 GMT

@Silasophie

3. keep the plan as fibre 900, keep using BT equipment only. I still get 900Mpbs for wired connected to my PC and TV box. But I won't be able to get anywhere wifi max of 200Mbps - 250Mbps based on my real experience.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

You have answered your own question really.

900Mbps via a wired connection proves there is nothing wrong with the feed to your premises.

As being said many times before how bad do you want the higher tier, the supplied router is not up to the job without constant updates / work behind the scenes.

Probably not want you want to hear but to me it's a no brainer, get a third party WiFi 6 router and forget your problems and enjoy the product you are paying for.

It's been proved it works via this method, the decision is up to you. 🙂

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

Silasophie — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 10:34:48 GMT

Another update here. I have bought Asus ax88u dual band router. And tried the following lazy setup:

1. Connect the Asus router to BT hub

1.1 connect by cable from Asus router to my PC

Result: speed was halved to 450MB. If connect to BT hub directly, it was 900Mb or even 1Gb sometimes.

2. Tried to combine or not combine 2.4 and 5gHz, Result: the WiFi output of 60MB. If connect back to BT hub WiFi, it was 230MB.

I did try to figure out how to improve the WiFi output but in vain.

Given the above, with my new but mid range mobile phone without WiFi or whatsoever, I got to be happy with my hub 2 and WiFi discs WiFi setup.

As I could not get this WiFi signal up by Asus ax88U.

Nonetheless, my BT TV box, TV and PC disc which are connected by cable enjoyed the 900 fibre mostly.

And I won't downgrade to 500 as the wired or WiFi speed would be lower.

Re: Fibre 900 - download speed only 250

busterboy1 — Sun, 22 Nov 2020 10:50:35 GMT

@Silasophie

Another update here. I have bought Asus ax88u dual band router. And tried the following lazy setup:

1. Connect the Asus router to BT hub

______________________________________________________________________________________

You need to take the BT Hub out of the equation altogether and try again, it is not needed if you are using the Asus AX router.

Connect your Asus Router direct to the ONT that is fastened to your wall.

Try these settings as posted by jedpause earlier, they work perfect.