Just Moved to Vodafone HFC Need Help With Unifi Edge Router X Config

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michaelmurfy

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#2953024 10-Aug-2022 14:25

broonie27:

On the download speed front something has changed since yesterday, when connected to the Vodafone router I am now getting ~700 Mb/s download so that's good but when connected via the EdgeRouter I'm since only getting 275 Mb/s.

The Vodafone routers can handle Gigabit connections totally fine. Like I say, you're better to just turn its WiFi off and just use that over the Edgerouter as it is apparent you're not doing anything complex. I don't personally have any Edgerouters out there in the field anymore but in my past configuration never had any issues with Vodafone Cable.

There shouldn't be any need to reconfigure the Edgerouter every time you reboot anything (this is silly) but if you're really keen to stick with the Edgerouter you're better to investigate the logs to find out why it is doing that, and see if you get the same behavior with the Vodafone router.

Sorry I don't have any other recommendations - I don't personally run an Edgerouter anymore as many of us have moved on from this platform.

Also, how are you testing? Where are you getting these speeds from?

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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broonie27

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#2953039 10-Aug-2022 15:26

Actually, I think the issue is my Unfi APs. I've just connected them to the Vodafone router and I'm getting around 260 Mb/s download. If I move my PC over to the Vodafone AP I'm getting 700 Mb/s.

I have a UP-AUC-LR meshed to two UP-AUC-Lites in other parts of the house. I realise you lose throughput on the downstream APs in a mesh but shouldn't I expect the UP-AUC-LR at the "root" of the mesh to get full speed? I'm connect to the UP-AUC-LR when I'm doing my speed tests.

michaelmurfy

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#2953044 10-Aug-2022 15:40

Always test over Ethernet, not WiFi...

Mesh on the UniFi access points isn't great. Vodafone offer their own mesh solution now which is actually pretty good: https://www.vodafone.co.nz/broadband/superwifi/mesh-network-technology/

broonie27

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#2953071 10-Aug-2022 17:10

The problem is my laptop has no RG45 port so I can't test over Ethernet. But like i said I'm getting 700 Mb/s over the Vodafone AP but it's obviously not meshed.

I really don't want to pay for a new wireless network as these Unifi APs aren't that old. So am I stuck with what I have?

MaxineN

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#2953129 10-Aug-2022 17:41

You could take up the Super Wifi offer and own them fully after 24 months(they're free unless you break before 24 months). Could also purchase your own gear.

Not to mention if you do use the Vodafone gear we can troubleshoot it and we may ask you to plug it in anyway to diagnose any issues or connect directly to the TC4400 Cable modem(which you can't do at this time because of your laptop lacking a port).

The other thing I'd ask as well is do you really need to saturate the entire link at times? Whilst I realize that we only sell on HFC up to 900/100 you may not see this fully on anything but speed tests?

You are unfortunately seeing the real limiting factors to WiFi especially older gear.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

stick

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#2953131 10-Aug-2022 17:44

MaxineN:

You could take up the Super Wifi offer and own them fully after 24 months(they're free unless you break before 24 months).

Do you get to keep the Deco by sticking with Vodafone for 24 months?

MaxineN

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#2953133 10-Aug-2022 17:46

St1ick:

MaxineN:

You could take up the Super Wifi offer and own them fully after 24 months(they're free unless you break before 24 months).

Do you get to keep the Deco by sticking with Vodafone for 24 months?

They are yours to keep.

If you break before 24 months the remaining balance would need to be paid.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

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broonie27

109 posts

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#2953164 10-Aug-2022 18:55

MaxineN:

You could take up the Super Wifi offer and own them fully after 24 months(they're free unless you break before 24 months). Could also purchase your own gear.

Not to mention if you do use the Vodafone gear we can troubleshoot it and we may ask you to plug it in anyway to diagnose any issues or connect directly to the TC4400 Cable modem(which you can't do at this time because of your laptop lacking a port).

The other thing I'd ask as well is do you really need to saturate the entire link at times? Whilst I realize that we only sell on HFC up to 900/100 you may not see this fully on anything but speed tests?

You are unfortunately seeing the real limiting factors to WiFi especially older gear.

At this stage I'm really not interesting in setting up a new wifi network so I guess I'm just stuck with the speeds I'm getting. I will jump over to the Unifi community and see if there is anything I can do to tweak my settings but yes you are right about the saturation and whether I really need that. After all the Unifi devices are all about continuous speed for multiple devices rather than bursts of throughput on one.

nztim

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#2953264 11-Aug-2022 08:10

What ever "mesh" units you decide to buy/use, make sure you backhaul them with Ethernet, otherwise the performance will be horrible - the only exception to this is if the mesh units have a dedicated backhaul radio

Of course none of this is comparable to a managed AP solution but this is outside the affordability of most people

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

broonie27

109 posts

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#2953605 11-Aug-2022 19:17

nztim:

What ever "mesh" units you decide to buy/use, make sure you backhaul them with Ethernet, otherwise the performance will be horrible - the only exception to this is if the mesh units have a dedicated backhaul radio

Of course none of this is comparable to a managed AP solution but this is outside the affordability of most people

Isn't the whole point of a mesh because you can't can't connect the APs back to the router/switch via ethernet? The APs are connected to each other over WiFi and while I understand that means slower throughput for the downstream APs I'm willing to take that hit for the coverage I gain throughout the house.

michaelmurfy

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#2953641 11-Aug-2022 22:25

@broonie27 Incorrect. "Mesh" can either use Ethernet or WiFi for backhaul. If you can you should always use Ethernet as the access points will be able to camp out on different WiFi channels. If you're meshing with for example UniFi all the meshed access points camp out on the same channel reducing performance.

Because Vodafone provide WiFi 6 mesh gear I've found performance to be pretty good - I've helped somebody install one. It is super simple to install and if you keep your same WiFi SSID / Password then all your devices will just work. If you're planning on being on Vodafone for 24 months it is a very good deal (Free!).

With UniFi Mesh you're always going to be limited. In my test installations I've found WiFi speed nearly halves with each access point. If the UniFi access points have Ethernet backhaul (not meshing with one another) then performance is much better. If you've got UniFi AC access points expect a maximum throughput of around ~300Mbit.

The Vodafone router you've got is a 4x4 Wireless AC access point with beamforwarding. If it covers your house, it'll actually provide better WiFi than your UniFi access points (meshed). Using their TP-Link mesh offering I've seen around 800Mbit on a WiFi 6 device.

Where possible however, always use Ethernet. This includes to access points / mesh nodes and to other devices in your house.

A very good article on WiFi: https://www.duckware.com/tech/wifi-in-the-us.html

broonie27

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#2954029 12-Aug-2022 18:42

Thanks Michael and everyone else, appreciate all your efforts on this.

I'll try the Vodafone AP signal strength around the house and make a call. I really thought when I was investing in Unifi I was getting (nearly close to) enterprise level kit and matching performance. Seems I was wrong.

broonie27

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Master Geek

#2954345 13-Aug-2022 17:54

Update on the Vodafone AP coverage. My son's PS5 downstairs wouldn't even connect to the SSID as the signal was too weak. Looks like I may have to stick with the Ubiquiti APs after all. But I will take the advice here and use them with the Vodafone router.

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