Another thread about wireless signal strength

[erduplessis]

Hi guys,

Here goes another thread about this topic...please bear with me...

I have a Asus RT-AC5300 installed. I bought it because the family likes streaming lots of stuff at the same time, and I figured this will do the trick. 50/50 fibre line installed.

I don't get good signal in the garden, where I like to stream music on my outdoor speakers (the neighbours haven't complained yet...).

SO, I have hooked up my old Asus RT-N12HP (configured as an AP) to the RT-AC5300 (the router) via Cat6 cable, about 20m long. All is connected, and everybody is seeing each other fine. I have two different SSID's...but the speed I'm getting on the AP is BAD. Speedtest is telling me 1.5Mbps. If I connect to the wifi of the router...speed rocks. I'm connecting both on the 2.4GHz frequency, and I've separated the channels (AP running on channel 10, router running on channel 1). There is a lot on congestion in the 2.4GHz range around me, but I have tried changing channels, to no avail. Even if I swop them around (put router on channel 10 and AP on channel 1), the router consistently gives me full speed network, and the AP gives slow network.

The router is configured to assign manual IP address to the AP. I'm not sure what other info to give.

Why would the speed through the AP be so much slower?

The router software claims that the LAN connection speed to the AP is 100Mbps, so it is not running a Gigabit connection, but it still doesn't explain the 1.5Mbps throughput I'm getting.

I'm using my home made network cable. Figuring that might be the problem, I've tried a shop bought 1m long cable, but that hasn't helped. There must be a setting somewhere in either the router or the AP that is causing trouble. Does anybody have an idea??

Thanks

Etienne

 

[Capt Haddock]

I had the same problem. Found that the Android device stayed with the router signal, even though the AP was closer with a stronger signal. Installed an app like Smart WiFi Selector to force the Android device to connect to the stronger signal. I also used the same SSID and password on both the router and the AP and disabled DHCP on the AP. Maybe check that your devices are connected to the AP and not the router.
Hope that helps.

 

[Lupus]

Is that an old ADSL router? If so have you got it set to bridge mode? I have the same issue as you, my main router is in the kitchen which covers that part of the house, but my bedroom isn't covered. So I hooked up the Zyxel that mweb gives you with your Fibre and I had to set it to bridge mode. After doing that I also changed the channel and also made sure I'm connecting to that AP in the rooms, where as the other SSID is for the lounge.

 

[erduplessis]

Bruce: I have two SSID's specifically so that I can check which AP I'm connected to. Once I have this issue resolved, I'll clone the SSID's, and then I'll have to monitor which one I'm connected to.

Lupus: I'll check on the "bridge mode" when I get back home. I'll probably have to research that a little, but my gut is telling me this: The "old router" is set up in AP mode at the moment, which, according to the literature, is "to extend wifi via ethernet", and it automatically switches off things like firewall and DHCP, so I presume bridge mode is implied.

Edit: Lupus - bridge mode is only for wireless extensions? I'm trying to not do that, since it reduces wifi capacity, I have the AP connected via cable.

Thanks

Etienne

 

[access]

you sure theres not some ezQoS settings no the old router causing nonsense? increase values and save even though it might be disabled.

what if you swap the routers and their function just to test.

or plug in a laptop at the AP endpoint and test throughput.

 

[erduplessis]

Aaaahhhhh...The cable from the router needs to be plugged into the blue port (not the yellow) of the "router now configured to be AP".

Well, that's what I've done, and now it seems to be working...

Thanks for your guys' help.

Etienne

 

[sajunky]

Aaaahhhhh...The cable from the router needs to be plugged into the blue port (not the yellow) of the "router now configured to be AP".

Well, that's what I've done, and now it seems to be working...

Thanks for your guys' help.

Etienne

Yip, LAN port, not a WAN port. Additionally I would double check whether DHCP server is disabled on the 'old'.

As for connecting 100Mbps it is normal, the 'old' do not support Gigabit Ethernet, AFAIK.

As for using Cat6 cable it is a reason for my post. If it is UTP, disregard. If any type of shielded cable, you must check proper temination of ground on both sides. The old Asus may not have shielded connectors, performance will be affected. Use UTP Cat5e cable if unsure.

 

[access]

it should work in either lan or wan, one just allows a gateway config and the other a switch. you could nat at the second ap again for example or just push dhcp via the switch.

weird that it affects the speed.

 

[Lupus]

Bruce: I have two SSID's specifically so that I can check which AP I'm connected to. Once I have this issue resolved, I'll clone the SSID's, and then I'll have to monitor which one I'm connected to.

Lupus: I'll check on the "bridge mode" when I get back home. I'll probably have to research that a little, but my gut is telling me this: The "old router" is set up in AP mode at the moment, which, according to the literature, is "to extend wifi via ethernet", and it automatically switches off things like firewall and DHCP, so I presume bridge mode is implied.

Edit: Lupus - bridge mode is only for wireless extensions? I'm trying to not do that, since it reduces wifi capacity, I have the AP connected via cable.

Thanks

Etienne

Nope I set it to bridge on the the LAN/WAN port and it worked, there is no reduction in wireless capacity either. You do get wireless bridge mode as well which I think acts as a wireless extension