TimTheToolMan
New Around Here
Hi All. So I've been lurking around these forums for 3 weeks or so reading as I slowly set up my new quarantine zone aka home network, and I've finally run into a problem for which the search function hasn't availed me. So figured I should put my hat in the ring, see if anyone might be able to offer some wisdom.
The short version:
My Tv's inbuilt 5Ghz AC wifi for some reason seems to give far lower throughput than my other AC devices, even when connected in the same way, doing the same tasks.
While the router has shown itself capable of happily pushing ~200Mpbs, streaming DLNA media between computers on wifi alone, the TV will only manage 70Mpbs despite being on the same 5Ghz network, manually locked to AC at 80Mhz bandwidth. I would conclude the TV's card just can't process data any faster, BUT when I connect the *computer* to the router using gigabit cable, suddenly the same TV will accept 130Mpbs by wifi ( or even higher, but only if I pause playback).
The long version:
Hardware:
-New smart TV (Hisense 50R7) client. Plays ~80GB 4k HDR files from USB fine.
-Dell XPS 9550 laptop, Ubuntu 1604 client
-Dell XPS 9360 Win10 client
-Old Asus RT-AC66U (_not_ the B1, the 600Mhz original) running Merlins last official firmware (380.70). Mode set on "N/AC", with an 80Mhz band. Hardware acceleration showing as enabled. No other 5ghz nearby. Everything in the same room
What's happening is:
Withough the TV, i.e.
Laptop -> 5Ghz Wifi -> AC66U -> 5Ghz Wifi -> Laptop
I get 170-200 Mpbs thruput, measured with iperf3. Checks out on the media, too - 60gb remuxes play smooth on either laptop, streamed by DLNA from the other. If I put an Ethernet cable on one of the links, the rate boosts to 4-500Mbps, which makes sense due to no router re-transmission. All fine.
BUT,
If I connect as
Laptop -> Gigabit Ethernet via USB C adapter -> AC66U -> 5Ghz Wifi -> TV
I suddenly only get about 120 Mbps of throughput (measured using laptop connection monitor which matches Ipef3). Enough for some movies, not enough for many more. Lotsa buffering. Confusing, as I know the router can do more as above.
Even stranger, if I go
Laptop -> 5Ghz Wifi -> AC66U -> 5Ghz Wifi -> TV
I then only get about 60-70Mpbs. Again, I KNOW the router can serve over double this, even on re-transmit duty. And I know the TV can handle AT LEAST ~120Mpbs...but why only if I use a cable from Laptop -> Router?
Whats odder still, is that in either scenario if I pause the movie, the rate INCREASES by about 70Mpbs! So if the laptop is hooked up with cable to the router (but TV still by wifi) , it surges up to about 200Mpbs, but if it's all on wifi, it jumps to about 140Mpbs...but only for about 30s, then it stops entirely. Either way, I only get get maybe 30s of clean palyback, then back to buffertown
My original theory was that the TV is somehow forcing a lower standard of connection, maybe dropping to 'n' and capping throughput accordingly . But I've locked the settings in the 80Mhz band with no change. Moreover, even with TV on the network, the laptop-laptop speed remain high. So as far as I can tell, the TV should be able to accept speeds just as fast.
I've cross checked this now using diffeent channels, trying both laptops as DLNA servers, other MerlinWRT versions and stock firmware, and even an entierly new router (a newer Sagemcom 4353 bundle-DSL type unit) with similar results. The TV seems to be the problem, I just don't know why.
What have I missed, folks?
Thanks!
The short version:
My Tv's inbuilt 5Ghz AC wifi for some reason seems to give far lower throughput than my other AC devices, even when connected in the same way, doing the same tasks.
While the router has shown itself capable of happily pushing ~200Mpbs, streaming DLNA media between computers on wifi alone, the TV will only manage 70Mpbs despite being on the same 5Ghz network, manually locked to AC at 80Mhz bandwidth. I would conclude the TV's card just can't process data any faster, BUT when I connect the *computer* to the router using gigabit cable, suddenly the same TV will accept 130Mpbs by wifi ( or even higher, but only if I pause playback).
The long version:
Hardware:
-New smart TV (Hisense 50R7) client. Plays ~80GB 4k HDR files from USB fine.
-Dell XPS 9550 laptop, Ubuntu 1604 client
-Dell XPS 9360 Win10 client
-Old Asus RT-AC66U (_not_ the B1, the 600Mhz original) running Merlins last official firmware (380.70). Mode set on "N/AC", with an 80Mhz band. Hardware acceleration showing as enabled. No other 5ghz nearby. Everything in the same room
What's happening is:
Withough the TV, i.e.
Laptop -> 5Ghz Wifi -> AC66U -> 5Ghz Wifi -> Laptop
I get 170-200 Mpbs thruput, measured with iperf3. Checks out on the media, too - 60gb remuxes play smooth on either laptop, streamed by DLNA from the other. If I put an Ethernet cable on one of the links, the rate boosts to 4-500Mbps, which makes sense due to no router re-transmission. All fine.
BUT,
If I connect as
Laptop -> Gigabit Ethernet via USB C adapter -> AC66U -> 5Ghz Wifi -> TV
I suddenly only get about 120 Mbps of throughput (measured using laptop connection monitor which matches Ipef3). Enough for some movies, not enough for many more. Lotsa buffering. Confusing, as I know the router can do more as above.
Even stranger, if I go
Laptop -> 5Ghz Wifi -> AC66U -> 5Ghz Wifi -> TV
I then only get about 60-70Mpbs. Again, I KNOW the router can serve over double this, even on re-transmit duty. And I know the TV can handle AT LEAST ~120Mpbs...but why only if I use a cable from Laptop -> Router?
Whats odder still, is that in either scenario if I pause the movie, the rate INCREASES by about 70Mpbs! So if the laptop is hooked up with cable to the router (but TV still by wifi) , it surges up to about 200Mpbs, but if it's all on wifi, it jumps to about 140Mpbs...but only for about 30s, then it stops entirely. Either way, I only get get maybe 30s of clean palyback, then back to buffertown
My original theory was that the TV is somehow forcing a lower standard of connection, maybe dropping to 'n' and capping throughput accordingly . But I've locked the settings in the 80Mhz band with no change. Moreover, even with TV on the network, the laptop-laptop speed remain high. So as far as I can tell, the TV should be able to accept speeds just as fast.
I've cross checked this now using diffeent channels, trying both laptops as DLNA servers, other MerlinWRT versions and stock firmware, and even an entierly new router (a newer Sagemcom 4353 bundle-DSL type unit) with similar results. The TV seems to be the problem, I just don't know why.
What have I missed, folks?
Thanks!