This topic

Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

RDowson — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 18:25:46 GMT

I've just upgraded from 300Mbps to gigabit.

Speeds via ethernet are bang on but the Smart Hub 2 WiFi speeds are terrible. I'm on 5Ghz on a channel where there is no congestion and I'm close to the router. I'm getting a max speed go 400Mbps.

Is this what others are getting?

I assume I'm going to need to look at a WiFi 6 access point?

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

gg30340 — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:02:07 GMT

What device/make/model/operating system are you measuring your wireless speed on? It is often the device that can not deliver the throughput speeds that people think it should.

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

Les-Gibson — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:20:11 GMT

Most people probably associate IEEE 802.11n with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi but it is in fact dual band, i.e. it's used on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz.

The SH2 is one of those routers that uses 802.11n (as well as 11a 11ac) on the 5GHz band and so you will never see more than maximum speed of the slowest standard (802.11n).

Although the theoretical maximum speed of 802.11n is in the region of 900Mb/s the practical maximum is more like 400Mb/s.

Hence 400Mb/s is the most you can expect to get from the SH2.

https://www.bt.com/help/broadband/learn-about-broadband/different-types-of-bt-hub

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

licquorice — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:31:05 GMT

Really?

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

Les-Gibson — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:42:53 GMT

@licquorice

Yes really.

866 is the speed of IEEE 802.11ac but the SH2 is handicapped by including IEEE 802.11 in its 5GHz band.

If you check the link I posted, you will see the standards for both bands and that .11n is one of the 5GHz standards.

You can imagine the error rate if the SH2 attempted to use the .11n standard at .11ac speeds

Edit: It clearly shows that the protocol used in your screenshot was .11ac

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

licquorice — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:42:53 GMT

So how am I seeing 866?

I'm not following your logic, if both devices support 802.11ac they will connect using 802.11ac not 802.11n

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

Les-Gibson — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:44:22 GMT

As I just added by way of an edit, your screenshot clearly shows that you are measuring the speed of the .11ac protocol

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

licquorice — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:46:15 GMT

Exactly, so if the OP has an 802.11ac device, which virtually everything will be, you will get 866M and the 802.11n is a red herring.

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

RDowson — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:47:23 GMT

Testing on an M1 MacBook Pro, iPhone 12 Pro and a 8th gen iPad.

All but the iPad will do WiFi 6.

Not too fussed about my landline so happy to drop Digital Voice support and go with a good WiFi 6 router instead.

Is there anything as good as the Asus RT-AX88U, speed wise, for less than the £300 price tag?

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

licquorice — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:49:08 GMT

Probably not, the Asus seems very popular.

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

RDowson — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:57:37 GMT

Here's some stats from my Mac to show what's happening.

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

licquorice — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 22:03:10 GMT

So its not a wifi problem, its a throughput problem. Don't forget FTTP is a contended service.

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

RDowson — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 15:22:14 GMT

It's not a throughput problem because I can get over 900Mbps on Ethernet.

It's a WiFI bandwidth issue due to using the WiFi 5 standard.

No contention issues on the WAN for me.

Speed test on Ethernet to back this up:

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

licquorice — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 16:07:49 GMT

I don't know where the throttle is, but it isn't a wifi5 bandwidth problem as your wifi sync speed is 866M.

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

RDowson — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 23:48:02 GMT

Bought a Ubiquiti WiFi 6 AP and I'm now getting real world WiFi speeds of over 720Mbps on devices with WiFi 6 support at 80MHz with 2x2 MiMo.

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

thossain — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 17:29:48 GMT

@RDowson hi, can you give me a link of the product which you purchased ? I am having similar issues and planning to buy a new router. Thanks.

Re: Smart Hub 2 WiFi Speed

licquorice — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 17:34:52 GMT

As @RDowson hasn't been on the forum for 2 years, you may not get a reply.