PCE-AC88 with AC86U router only 3 spatial streams (1300/1300 max)

[winters2k1]

Hello everyone, I am trying to figure out why my PCE-AC88 is only showing 3 spatial streams when connected to my AC86U router? Maxing out at 1300/1300 speed. I have latest windows 10 drivers along with Merlin 384.17 FW on router. Showing a solid -40dbm connection to the router

 

[OzarkEdge]

Hello everyone, I am trying to figure out why my PCE-AC88 is only showing 3 spatial streams when connected to my AC86U router? Maxing out at 1300/1300 speed. I have latest windows 10 drivers along with Merlin 384.17 FW on router. Showing a solid -40dbm connection to the router

Thinking out loud...

My 2x86U AiMesh 5.0 4x4 wireless backhaul can get closer to 2100 over a short distance. I don't configure anything special to enable 4 streams, but maybe AiMesh does.

If you assume the router is ok...

Maybe you can detect a failed 88U stream/antenna by disabling one antenna at a time. Disabling the failed stream/antenna might show no speed change. Cycle power and try again for repeat findings.

Frankly, I'm not sure if this is valid troubleshooting... but maybe it will reveal a clue.

OE

 

[winters2k1]

It has to be something on my router side as my girlfriend has the exact same PCE-AC88U adapter and shes getting the same issue of only showing 3 spatial streams at 1300/1300

 

[OzarkEdge]

It has to be something on my router side as my girlfriend has the exact same PCE-AC88U adapter and shes getting the same issue of only showing 3 spatial streams at 1300/1300

That makes sense. How do you determine 3 streams vs 4 streams throttled somewhere?

Have you tried resetting the router and configuring it minimally to test?

OE

 

[winters2k1]

I can see it under my system log/wireless log. I have attached a screenshot of the info. I don't think I ever did a speed test or looked around at my connection on my routers stock firmware. I immediately switched over to Merlin. Will have to test stock firmware at some point but wouldn't think Merlin would cause this issue

 

[whitey019]

How do you distinguish the difference between losing a stream or dropping to 64-QAM?

 

[winters2k1]

How do you distinguish the difference between losing a stream or dropping to 64-QAM?

I am just going off of the information from my wireless log showing only 3 streams connected, not sure how to tell if the QAM is dropping

 

[whitey019]

Sorry, missed that part of your message. My PCE-AC88/RT-AC86U combo says 4(ac) on the wireless log, but the link rate is still limited to 1300/1300 at best.

 

[winters2k1]

I am guessing i have a hardware issue and one of the streams is borked

 

[MarkyPancake]

Do you have to have NitroQAM modulation enabled to achieve a higher link rate with this hardware?

 

[whitey019]

On the router yes, but I can't seem to find the setting on the PCE-AC88U properties.

 

[winters2k1]

So i just got time to flash back to stock firmware and check and low and behold the router is now showing 4 streams! For some reason the Merlin firmware seems to have been the issue? Contemplating flashing back to merlin just to see if it drops back to 3 streams

 

[OzarkEdge]

Contemplating flashing back to merlin just to see if it drops back to 3 streams

That's the spirit!

OE

 

[whitey019]

I'm using Merlin's 384.17 and get 4 streams.

 

[indark]

you might just need to reboot it. it sometimes will cache and report weird stuff utill you reboot.