Third Party Router = Slower Speeds?

[JonesT0108]

Hi all, first post 👋

I'm on a Full Fibre 500 plan and I recently switched to a TP Link Archer AX50 expecting a bit more control of the network, which I now have, and the same or higher speeds over WiFi, which I don't.

Before moving to the AX50, the HomeHub was providing, in some instances 300mbps or more over WiFi, so I had anticipated with an all singing third party router, the same speeds more reliably.

Now I've switched I can't seem to get 250mbps in most cases, stood right beside the router on 5GHz.

I have ensured QoS is off and Internet negotiation is at 1000mbps full duplex, but no luck.

Is this normal? Am I expecting too much? 

Many thanks 

[naylor2006]

Have a look at what bandwidth you are using on the 5Ghz

40Mhz, 80Mhz or 160Mhz

80Mhz can get you 800+Mhz depending on factors not worth going into now.

160Mhz is usually useless given the interference it is subject to whilst it crosses so many channels.

Speaking of channels you could be on a congested one so you can change that also. 

[JonesT0108]

Hi, thanks for the suggestion.

I already have the channel width at 80mhz and the channel as 100DFS. I have tried other channels but all provide the same result unfortunately 😕 

[naylor2006]

Do you get 500 via an ethernet cable?

Sorry I also mis-wrote Mhz instead of Mbps after 800+ in my original reply, sorry, I assume you figured it out.

[JonesT0108]

Hi there, no I haven't tried over ethernet. But thats one of my issues, if I was getting ~300mbps over WiFi with the HomeHub, I'd have expected at least the same or better with a third party router, not less. 

Given the location the engineer put the Fibre modem, in the kitchen, the router isn't in a position to be used over ethernet for any device unfortunately.

As far as I can tell I have set it up correctly, I will try over ethernet as a test though with a laptop 🙂

[naylor2006]

Testing with an Ethernet cable is going to help rule out any other underlying issue.

BTW, just to be sure, the new router is connected directly to the ONT, the BT hub is switched off right?

[JonesT0108]

Hi again, yes, connected the AX50 direct to the ONT 🙂

I have IPV6 enabled too and working too, I don't know if that makes any difference to speed.

I am getting the guaranteed upload speed over WiFi though.

[naylor2006]

Upload speed is far easier to achieve when you’re on Openreach Fibre because it’s always under 110 for us residential customers.

But before continuing too much further you do need to see what you are getting with Ethernet.

Also you probably don’t beed to use a DFS channel if you only have one AP in your house, DFS channels can help when you have multiple AP’s that you don’t want their radios to overlap, but I wouldn’t use them on a single AP, even in a built up area you should be okay with the normal ones.

Antenna gain can help sometimes with speed if you are able to increase it on that AP. 

[JonesT0108]

Good morning.

I tested with a Cat5E ethernet case this morning and the results were dreadful. 36Mbps download, 61Mbps upload.

Is ot possible that the connection is being throttled by BT due to third party router? Should I restart the OTP and router to rule that out? 🙃

[licquorice]

Of course it isn't being throttled by BT for using a third party router. BT don't care one jot what router you use.