SR-71
Regular Contributor
Wondering if someone can help explain this to me. No problem to report as I'm pleasantly surprised by the results. I'm just not understanding the speed behavior (speeds much faster than expected):
Setup:
It's my understanding that when wireless backhaul is used, the speeds should be roughly half (similar to repeaters, due to the relaying of packets). However, all of the speeds above are more than half, and when using ethernet into the AX3000 node, I'm getting virtually full speeds.
Again, I'm not complaining at all, but just not understanding why. All I can think of is that when the laptop is wired into the AX3000, it's cutting out part of the WiFi transmissions (to/from the laptop to the AX3000 node). That said, the AX3000 still has to relay the packets to the AX86U though, so shouldn't I be seeing some drop off in speed even over ethernet into the AX3000 due to the meshing backhaul over WiFi?
Thanks in advance, just trying to educate myself on how this works since it's my first ASUS AiMesh setup.
P.S. Several weeks back I tried substituting a second AX86U Pro (I posted here when it was on sale) for the AX3000 AiMesh node in my office. Guess what -- I was definitely getting slower speeds by at least 100-200 mbps. This was regardless of how the laptop connected to it and after orienting the new 86U and its antennas in a variety of positions. So I sent it back and put the AX3000 back into service.
Go figure, I thought the second 86U Pro with its 4x4 5Ghz spec and faster CPU would be superior for this use over the AX3000's 2x2, but it wasn't. Maybe the 4th internal antenna wasn't as effective as the AX3000's all external ones? I have the AX3000's two outer antennas oriented straight up for the first floor coverage, and the two innermost at 45 degrees for angling toward the basement 86U for meshing, which is working well. The original 86U is placed high up in the basement, with its antennas angled halfway up (45 degrees) to get the most out of that location. I also tested them being flat and fully vertical, and got the best performance at 45 degrees.
Setup:
- AX86U Pro main router in basement with AX3000 (v1) as AiMesh node in my home office on first floor. All on current stock firmware.
- Office is not wired for ethernet or coax, so AX3000 is using WiFi backhaul out of necessity.
- Have laptop connected via ethernet to the AX3000 LAN port 1 in home office.
- Have Comcast 1GB service (1 gig down, 40 mbps up)
- Coax comes in via the basement > connected to Arris SB8200 modem > AX86U Pro's 1-gig WAN port) as you'd expect (Comcast lists the SB8200 as approved up to 957 mbps, close enough to what I need for gig service).
- My office is somewhat close over where the AX86U sits in the basement (1 floor and 1 wall apart, one small room over, maybe 20-25 ft diagonally between the two routers).
- When laptop is connected via ethernet to the AX3000 node: repeated speed tests show my laptop is getting ~918 down and ~42 up -- so virtually full speeds for the ISP plan given the above setup
- When laptop is connected to the AX86U Pro via WiFi, getting ~770 down and ~42 up.
- When it's connected to the AX3000 via WiFi, getting ~600-700 down and ~42 up.
- AX86U's internal direct speed test is ~952 down, 42 up with QoS disabled, which shows the max coming in -- very close to the 957 rating by Comcast (it hit 961 one time).
It's my understanding that when wireless backhaul is used, the speeds should be roughly half (similar to repeaters, due to the relaying of packets). However, all of the speeds above are more than half, and when using ethernet into the AX3000 node, I'm getting virtually full speeds.
Again, I'm not complaining at all, but just not understanding why. All I can think of is that when the laptop is wired into the AX3000, it's cutting out part of the WiFi transmissions (to/from the laptop to the AX3000 node). That said, the AX3000 still has to relay the packets to the AX86U though, so shouldn't I be seeing some drop off in speed even over ethernet into the AX3000 due to the meshing backhaul over WiFi?
Thanks in advance, just trying to educate myself on how this works since it's my first ASUS AiMesh setup.
P.S. Several weeks back I tried substituting a second AX86U Pro (I posted here when it was on sale) for the AX3000 AiMesh node in my office. Guess what -- I was definitely getting slower speeds by at least 100-200 mbps. This was regardless of how the laptop connected to it and after orienting the new 86U and its antennas in a variety of positions. So I sent it back and put the AX3000 back into service.
Go figure, I thought the second 86U Pro with its 4x4 5Ghz spec and faster CPU would be superior for this use over the AX3000's 2x2, but it wasn't. Maybe the 4th internal antenna wasn't as effective as the AX3000's all external ones? I have the AX3000's two outer antennas oriented straight up for the first floor coverage, and the two innermost at 45 degrees for angling toward the basement 86U for meshing, which is working well. The original 86U is placed high up in the basement, with its antennas angled halfway up (45 degrees) to get the most out of that location. I also tested them being flat and fully vertical, and got the best performance at 45 degrees.
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