asked on

Terrible WiFi Connection on Netgear Nighthawk

I am getting terrible download/upload speeds on my MacBook Pro when connect via WiFi. See attached info on my connection. I'm supposed to be getting 50 down and 10 up from comcast, but with a wifi connection I only get 35 up and 3 down. When connected via ethernet I get the maximum speeds. My router is only 10 feet away from the laptop.

I have 2 routers (and a cable modem) in my setup. The modem goes directly to a Netgear Nighthawk R8000, and then extends the network to a Netgear Nighthawk R6700.
info.jpg

John

Try replacing your Wi-Fi driver with a newer driver. That often works within Windows machine.

I understand from an earlier post that some versions of Mac Book Pro (2015 vintage) put battery life ahead of Wi-Fi and there is apparently not much you can do with the existing card.

Are you able to try a newer wireless card or possibly a USB wireless card?

hypercube

goes directly to a Netgear Nighthawk R8000, and then extends the network to a Netgear Nighthawk R6700

Is the extension done using Ethernet cable or with wireless? Check QoS?

baadayakazi

ASKER

ethernet. how do i check QoS?

hypercube

Good that it's Ethernet!
The Netgear devices have QoS settings in the controls. Page 42 in the manual. I would check the settings for Downstream QoS rules that follow. Just in case that there is some limiting set up. Not likely but in view of the issue...

Ramin

and then extends the network to a Netgear Nighthawk R6700

Go to Wireless setup on Netgear Nighthawk R6700 and try different channels with 5GHz frequency, then Test the speed.

You can also try it with 2.4GHz Frequency:
802.11 Mode: 802.11 N
Frequency: 2.4 GHz
Band Width: 20 MHz
Wireless channel: CH11

masnrock

You never mentioned how things work when you are connected directly to either the modem or first router. Please answer for that.

baadayakazi

ASKER

The connection direct to modem is way better

John

Did you try another Wi-Fi card?

masnrock

And if you connect directly to the R8000 by cable, not wireless?

baadayakazi

ASKER

I didn't try another wifi card. I didn't have this issue until I changed to this router. I had an Apple Airport Express before.

My intial post says,

When connected via ethernet I get the maximum speeds. My router is only 10 feet away from the laptop.

Is that what you were referring to?

John

I didn't have this issue until I changed to this router

Did you try a firmware update on the router?

baadayakazi

ASKER

yes - updated firmware

masnrock

Thanks. Forgot that it would be the first router based on the short distance to your modem. Have you checked for wireless channel interference in you area?

Found an article with an odd solution: enabling IPv6. https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-WiFi-Routers/Problem-with-Wifi-on-all-Apple-Devices-on-my-Network/m-p/513243#M16030

masnrock

I didn't have this issue until I changed to this router. I had an Apple Airport Express before.

Did you get both of these routers to replace the Airport Express or just one of them?

Does the problem happen if you only have the R8000 running? (Completely power off the R6700) Could come down to an issue of how things are implemented. Depending on how recently you bought the router(s), an exchange for another unit might a worthwhile option.

Craig Beck

To confirm, you mean 35 down and 3 up, not the other way round, yes?

That's just interference, I'm sure. If it wasn't but something else was the cause, I'd expect you to be able to top-out on your upload. It may be worth setting the wireless mode to it's lowest setting as it's probably doing channel-bonding at 2.4GHz.

Is it the same at 5GHz?

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