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Slow AC86U wireless

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bertilak

Regular Contributor
I recently upgraded my CenturyLink internet to 1Gbps. If I plug their ethernet cable directly into my laptop I see very high speeds: (846 down, 902 up), very close to the advertised speed. About the same if I go through the router via wired ethernet.

Using wireless from the AC86U to my Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Yoga 3rd (2019 vintage) I only get about 25% of that speed at 5GHZ wireless --212 down 240 up. Device Manager shows Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265, dated 1/10/2021. Intel's specs show max speed of 867.

Is the wireless bottleneck likely to be on the router or the laptop end? My guess is the laptop.
 

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Most likely the laptop WIFI. The Intel adaptor is likely a 2x2 while the router is a 4x4 radio on 5 GHZ. That will limit the bandwidth.
Make sure your 5 GHz on the router is set to a fixed channel at 80 MHz. 149 is good. Get the Intel driver checker and make sure the adaptor driver is up to date.
 
80 MHz is how it is configured. I suspect 1/10/2021 driver data is latest but will hunt down that Intel checker -- perhaps there was a more recent update.
 
So, there IS a more recent update, dated 3/21/2021. I installed that and things do look a little better, but still a long way from what the router can deliver. New speed test shows 319 down, 250 up but could be normal run-to-run variation although download speed improvement does look significant.

Windows report of link speed is improved as well. See attached. 650/650 vs 585/585.
 

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Buy a $20 Intel AX210 Wi-Fi card and upgrade your laptop to see (slightly) higher speeds with your RT-AC86U.

Buy the Wi-Fi card above and an RT-AX86U to see the highest speeds possible in your network today.
 
Buy a $20 Intel AX210 Wi-Fi card and upgrade your laptop to see (slightly) higher speeds with your RT-AC86U.

Buy the Wi-Fi card above and an RT-AX86U to see the highest speeds possible in your network today.
I didn't think things like that were easily replaced in a laptop. Is it a DYI thing? I did replace a laptop keyboard once. It went OK but was a delicate operation. There were torque specs for the tiny screws involved and I just did what felt right.
 
Depends on the laptop, of course, but it is possible.
 

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