WiFi 6E upgrade underperforming, am I expecting too much or did I get a dud?

[Mnky313]

I recently upgraded the router I use as an AP from a WiFi 5 Asus (RT-ACRH17) to a Wifi 6E TpLink (AXE95) and am getting weird results especially with 6ghz.

Speeds are better when within ~5ft but quickly fall off...

<3ft - 800-900mbps
~5ft - 750-850mbps
~10ft - ~400mbps
~15ft - ~350mbps
~20ft - ~220mbps
~25ft - 50-100mbps, sometimes disconnects or reports 'no internet, connected'
>~35ft - no signal

(Speedtests are local to the router using iPerf)

I assume this isn't expected for 6Ghz/6E, 5ghz seems to work fine and has MUCH better speeds at range, where I'm getting barely 100mbps on 6Ghz I can get 500-600mbps on 5GHz...

These are all from my ZFold 3, testing with a Z13 that also supports 6E gives better results across the board but speeds still tank, <3ft I can see ~1.4gbps and ~20-25ft It's ~250-300mbps. I haven't noticed disconnection issues on the Z13 (though I also haven't used it on wifi as much).

Any recommendations before I just return this one and pick up a different device (probably an ROG Rapture AXE11000)?

I've tried changing a number of settings in the current TPLink router including setting static channels, disabling 2.4/5ghz, OFDMA, TWT, WMM. with no real changes.

The router is in AP mode, connected to an unmanaged switch at 2.5g which has a 10g link to the router. Other devices has no issues saturating their 2.5g links so I doubt it's a switch issue.

[TimedPing]

First of all, I never personally tested your exact router and phone combination, so I'm sorry if there's missjudgement abt the situation.

 

You can try upgrading your AP firmware, if thats doesnt work, you can scan existing 6GHz signal around your area (which is pretty rare atleast for now, both in commercial and home environment) using your ZFold 3, and try changing 6GHz band from auto to less crowded band.

 

Also, this is happened many times for me personally, if I use the same AP SSID for 2.4, 5, and now 6GHz, all my device will be confused and constantly giving network stutter and packet loss, worse thing happened if I sit further than 5m from the AP, all my 6E capable device will constantly disconnect and switch to other frequency randomly. The solution is just naming my SSID to:

1. xxxxxxx_2.4G
2. xxxxxxx_5G
3. xxxxxxx_6G

I hope its helping in some ways or another.

[Eigenvektor]

23 minutes ago, Mnky313 said:

I assume this isn't expected for 6Ghz/6E, 5ghz seems to work fine and has MUCH better speeds at range, where I'm getting barely 100mbps on 6Ghz I can get 500-600mbps on 5GHz...

Higher frequencies generally have lower range and are worse at penetrating through obstacles (such as walls), so at least somewhat expected. 2.4 GHz -> Best range, worst speed, 6 GHz -> Worst range, best speed.

 

Wi-Fi 6 has other advantages, and you don't need to use the 6 GHz band to get them. Wi-Fi 6E is mostly just Wi-Fi 6 + 6 GHz. 6 GHz helps in cases where the 5 GHz band is too crowded and to get the most speed at close range.

[Mnky313]

12 minutes ago, TimedPing said:

First of all, I never personally tested your exact router and phone combination, so I'm sorry if there's missjudgement abt the situation.

 

You can try upgrading your AP firmware, if thats doesnt work, you can scan existing 6GHz signal around your area (which is pretty rare atleast for now, both in commercial and home environment) using your ZFold 3, and try changing 6GHz band from auto to less crowded band.

 

Also, this is happened many times for me personally, if I use the same AP SSID for 2.4, 5, and now 6GHz, all my device will be confused and constantly giving network stutter and packet loss, worse thing happened if I sit further than 5m from the AP, all my 6E capable device will constantly disconnect and switch to other frequency randomly. The solution is just naming my SSID to:

1. xxxxxxx_2.4G
2. xxxxxxx_5G
3. xxxxxxx_6G

I hope its helping in some ways or another.

I've already updated to the latest firmware,
nothing else in my area is 6Ghz,
Networks already have different SSIDs for each frequency.

Thanks for the suggestions though.

[BillBill]

54 minutes ago, Mnky313 said:

I recently upgraded the router I use as an AP from a WiFi 5 Asus (RT-ACRH17) to a Wifi 6E TpLink (AXE95) and am getting weird results especially with 6ghz.

Speeds are better when within ~5ft but quickly fall off...

<3ft - 800-900mbps
~5ft - 750-850mbps
~10ft - ~400mbps
~15ft - ~350mbps
~20ft - ~220mbps
~25ft - 50-100mbps, sometimes disconnects or reports 'no internet, connected'
>~35ft - no signal

(Speedtests are local to the router using iPerf)

I assume this isn't expected for 6Ghz/6E, 5ghz seems to work fine and has MUCH better speeds at range, where I'm getting barely 100mbps on 6Ghz I can get 500-600mbps on 5GHz...

These are all from my ZFold 3, testing with a Z13 that also supports 6E gives better results across the board but speeds still tank, <3ft I can see ~1.4gbps and ~20-25ft It's ~250-300mbps. I haven't noticed disconnection issues on the Z13 (though I also haven't used it on wifi as much).

Any recommendations before I just return this one and pick up a different device (probably an ROG Rapture AXE11000)?

I've tried changing a number of settings in the current TPLink router including setting static channels, disabling 2.4/5ghz, OFDMA, TWT, WMM. with no real changes.

The router is in AP mode, connected to an unmanaged switch at 2.5g which has a 10g link to the router. Other devices has no issues saturating their 2.5g links so I doubt it's a switch issue.

Make sure you are not using any overlapping channels. Overlapped channels can cause interference. 

[Mnky313]

1 minute ago, Eigenvektor said:

Higher frequencies generally have lower range and are worse at penetrating through obstacles (such as walls), so at least somewhat expected. 2.4 GHz -> Best range, worst speed, 6 GHz -> Worst range, best speed.

yeah, I just didn't expect it to be this bad.

 

those speeds were with line of sight (until the 35ft one).

rn I'm 5ft away and getting almost double the speed on 5Ghz compared to 6Ghz...
5Ghz:

6Ghz:

[Mnky313]

9 minutes ago, BillBill said:

Make sure you are not using any overlapping channels. Overlapped channels can cause interference. 

6Ghz is completely empty here, funny enough 5GHz is pretty congested.

[ItTakes2ToMango]

Idk, I get about 800+ from my 6GHz band pretty much anywhere I can stay connected to it. Ubiquiti stuff. I'm gonna blame tplink on this - not that I have any real idea

[BillBill]

2 minutes ago, Mnky313 said:

6Ghz is completely empty here, funny enough 5GHz is pretty congested.

Check Device Manager to see what Wireless Mode is enabled for your Wi-Fi adapter and also you preferred band.   

[Lurick]

Why not get a dedicated AP instead of a router put in AP mode?

I wouldn't be surprised if the SoC couldn't handle it or was being power limited somehow.

 

2 minutes ago, BillBill said:

Check Device Manager to see what Wireless Mode is enabled for your Wi-Fi adapter and also you preferred band.   

It's a phone being tested....

[BillBill]

Just now, Lurick said:

Why not get a dedicated AP instead of a router put in AP mode?

I wouldn't be surprised if the SoC couldn't handle it or was being power limited somehow.

 

It's a phone being tested....

Oh sorry 

[Lurick]

Just now, BillBill said:

Oh sorry 

No need to be sorry, all good, just pointing it out as it was mentioned briefly in the OP but easy to miss

[Mnky313]

1 minute ago, Lurick said:

Why not get a dedicated AP instead of a router put in AP mode?

I'm thinking about it.

I was looking at getting a U6 Enterprise but that would require a 2.5g capable PoE injector which is another $50 at least on top of the AP which makes this solution even more than that asus router...

though at this point that seems like a better option, I just didn't want to deal with their app but at least their APs can be setup locally without an account...


 

[Mnky313]

It seems to be a mix of the radio in my phone, that tpLink router and 6GHz range being NO WHERE CLOSE to 5ghz....

got a pretty good discount on a ROG GT-AXE16000 and it's better, there's significantly less dropouts and range is better but still not even comparable to 5GHz (I can get 200+mbps on 5ghz w/ 3/4 bars in areas I barely have a connection <10mbps  on 6ghz), at least it covers pretty much everywhere I need unlike the tpLink one.

Range is a little better on the Z13 but overall the 'slightly worse' range is more like 1/2 the range for me xD