HG659 wifi speeds? Gigabit fibre

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › HG659 wifi speeds? Gigabit fibre

actioncam

37 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#269680 1-Apr-2020 17:08

Hi all,

Just had gigabit fibre installed with Spark and I'm trying to work out what's going on with the speeds. Using an HG659 and it's maxing out speedtests around 200mbit down / 100mbit up over 5ghz wifi using an iPhone 11 or a Macbook Pro sitting right next to the modem. I also tried some wifi speed testing tools and similar results although I'm not sure how reliable these tools are. The only device I have currently connected to ethernet is an Nvidia Shield and I ran a speedtest on that and topped out around 250mbit down. Are the speeds I'm getting over wifi pretty normal for an HG659 or is it possible it's the fibre connection?

1 | 2

Mad Scientist
30012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2452463 1-Apr-2020 17:25

Iirc That's the max wifi speed with this modern

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#2452466 1-Apr-2020 17:27

What are your WiFi settings in the router?

If you're running a fairly typical 40MHz channel you should be able to get around 300Mbps on 3x3 devices such as the Macbook Pro.

iPhone 11 is only 2x2 so MCS rates will be lower, and speeds lower at around 200Mbps.

If you move to 80MHz channels your speeds will be faster close to the router may be faster, but your coverage will be around half what it is now due to the way power levels and MCS rates work.

actioncam

37 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#2452492 1-Apr-2020 18:03

sbiddle:

What are your WiFi settings in the router?

If you're running a fairly typical 40MHz channel you should be able to get around 300Mbps on 3x3 devices such as the Macbook Pro.

iPhone 11 is only 2x2 so MCS rates will be lower, and speeds lower at around 200Mbps.

If you move to 80MHz channels your speeds will be faster close to the router may be faster, but your coverage will be around half what it is now due to the way power levels and MCS rates work.

Yep it's already on 80MHz. So with a better router should I be able to achieve faster speeds on the Macbook Pro?

Jase2985

13731 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6202

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2452541 1-Apr-2020 18:31

the question is why do you need higher speeds over wifi?

if you want fast speeds use an ethernet cable

nzlogan

78 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 21

ID Verified

#2452546 1-Apr-2020 18:36

What year Macbook Pro? I'd say you'd get better speeds if you upgraded. For comparison, I use a Fritzbox 7530 and have got 535/394Mbps on my iPhone 7, and 602/400Mbps on a 2014 Macbook Pro (not next to the router either, had to go through one wall).

actioncam

37 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#2452560 1-Apr-2020 18:56

Just tested on my desktop over Ethernet and 280/70 on Speedtest so somethings up. Could be my current hardware setup. I don’t have a switch so I’ve got an HG659 in the data cabinet for the moment with DHCP off. I’m using a Huawei B618 that Spark provided as the modem / DHCP enabled in the living room. And I’ve got another HG659 in my office DHCP off to help extend my Wi-Fi coverage and my PC is connected here over Ethernet. Everything works as expected just slow internet speeds.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

actioncam

37 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#2452561 1-Apr-2020 18:56

nzlogan:
What year Macbook Pro? I'd say you'd get better speeds if you upgraded. For comparison, I use a Fritzbox 7530 and have got 535/394Mbps on my iPhone 7, and 602/400Mbps on a 2014 Macbook Pro (not next to the router either, had to go through one wall).

I think it’s a 2017

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#2452576 1-Apr-2020 19:31

actioncam: Just tested on my desktop over Ethernet and 280/70 on Speedtest so somethings up. Could be my current hardware setup. I don’t have a switch so I’ve got an HG659 in the data cabinet for the moment with DHCP off. I’m using a Huawei B618 that Spark provided as the modem / DHCP enabled in the living room. And I’ve got another HG659 in my office DHCP off to help extend my Wi-Fi coverage and my PC is connected here over Ethernet. Everything works as expected just slow internet speeds.

In all seriousness with such a complex messy setup it's not surprising you're seeing issues.

actioncam

37 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#2452605 1-Apr-2020 20:40

Went back to basics, just running an HG659 as router/modem connected directly to ONT. Have PC connected with ethernet and speedtest 337down / 531up. It bursts up to 900+ down in the first couple seconds of the speed test then rapidly declines to between 200-300. I'm in Christchurch and this is to Spark NZ Christchurch server. Is it just being limited due to the lockdown etc?

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
13036 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3896

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

Subscriber

#2452606 1-Apr-2020 20:43

200mbit is quite respectable for wifi really..

the B618 as the Router will only route about 200mbit over PPPoE, this is why we tend to swap it out with a HG659b or smart modem when customers upgrade.

It sounds like due to the complexity in your setup, the lack of correct hardware to properly utilize the connection to it's full speed you might not experience those massive peak rates.

By your description sounds like your broadcasting atleast 3 80mhz channels, chances are those are overlapping etc.

But realistically that's not what most users switch to gbit rated plans for, it's so multiple users can use the connection at once.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

RunningMan

9185 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4838

#2452608 1-Apr-2020 20:45

This is almost certainly your PC being the limiting factor. Use the search box, there's plenty of people trying to achieve gigabit speedtests and it almost always comes back to the PC, unless they have swapped their router out for something less capable.

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

actioncam

37 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#2452616 1-Apr-2020 20:58

hio77:

200mbit is quite respectable for wifi really..

the B618 as the Router will only route about 200mbit over PPPoE, this is why we tend to swap it out with a HG659b or smart modem when customers upgrade.

It sounds like due to the complexity in your setup, the lack of correct hardware to properly utilize the connection to it's full speed you might not experience those massive peak rates.

By your description sounds like your broadcasting atleast 3 80mhz channels, chances are those are overlapping etc.

But realistically that's not what most users switch to gbit rated plans for, it's so multiple users can use the connection at once.

Thanks yep I disconnected everything and just ran an HG659 and getting 680/580 over ethernet now which is a lot better. You're right about the B618 being limited as I swapped this out with the HG659 to compare and it only managed 300/50 so that's going in the trash.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
13036 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3896

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

Subscriber

#2452619 1-Apr-2020 21:02

actioncam:

Thanks yep I disconnected everything and just ran an HG659 and getting 680/580 over ethernet now which is a lot better. You're right about the B618 being limited as I swapped this out with the HG659 to compare and it only managed 300/50 so that's going in the trash.

Yes, it's not a bad device at all, but past 200mbit it shows it's limits due to not having the hardware to offload PPPoE Effectively, so it becomes CPU bound.

This is all quite clear to our front line should you have called or chatted them :)

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

Jase2985

13731 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6202

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2452641 1-Apr-2020 21:59

so once again the issue was with the customers devices/setup

actioncam

37 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 3

#2452642 1-Apr-2020 21:59

hio77:

actioncam:

Thanks yep I disconnected everything and just ran an HG659 and getting 680/580 over ethernet now which is a lot better. You're right about the B618 being limited as I swapped this out with the HG659 to compare and it only managed 300/50 so that's going in the trash.

Yes, it's not a bad device at all, but past 200mbit it shows it's limits due to not having the hardware to offload PPPoE Effectively, so it becomes CPU bound.

This is all quite clear to our front line should you have called or chatted them :)

Thanks, yeah I signed up online and the rep on the live chat didn't mention anything about the speeds being limited with the B618. I've got it all sorted now. What I did was setup an HG659 as modem/router in the data cabinet with wifi disabled. I've disabled DHCP on the B618 & another HG659 I have and I'm using these as access points around the house. Speed tests over ethernet are 807 / 523 and 2ms latency. Speed tests over wifi are averaging 200/200 so looking solid now.

1 | 2