Advice for New Router for 1000/50 Plan

Ljt1997 on 16/05/2024 - 16:14
Last edited 16/05/2024 - 16:34 by 1 other user

Hi all. Just after some advice for a new router.

I have recently upgraded to FTTP and decided to try the Leaptel 1000/50 plan. I purchased the ASUS XD4S 2 pack to go with this, but turns out it’s not great. Here are my speeds:

  • Laptop to NTD: 950/50
  • Laptop to router via Ethernet: 600/50
  • Laptop via wifi: 400/50

The NTD is placed in my garage. The wifi speeds drop off to 200/50 as soon as I enter my house from my garage. When I reach my room it’s about 100/50. I’m wondering if this is something a better router can improve.

So, any suggestions for a new router? I figure the current one can’t handle a gigabit connection. I don’t need anything advanced. Price range is 500-750 for a 2 pack at least. I was wondering if getting something capable of 6 GHz may be beneficial too. My desktop’s wifi adapter can handle 6 Ghz.

I don’t need the gigabit plan, I just wanted to try it out. But at the moment seems like I need to keep it adjust for the drop in speed by the time I reach my desktop. I assume if I had a 250/25 plan I’d get 25 Mbps download in my room - happy to be corrected if this is false.

The best upgrade regardless of which router I get would be to get Ethernet running through my house. I am exploring options before doing that. Powerline is another consideration.

Thanks.

Internet Broadband FTTP nbn Wireless Router

Comments

  • geekcohen on 16/05/2024 - 16:34
    +1

    I don’t need the gigabit plan, I just wanted to try it out. But at the moment seems like I need to keep it adjust for the drop in speed by the time I reach my desktop. I assume if I had a 250/25 plan I’d get 25 Mbps download in my room - happy to be corrected if this is false.

    Yes, it is false. If you had 250/25, you would get 100/25 (since you are dropping the upload from 50 to 25).

    • jt1997 on 16/05/2024 - 18:05
      -1

      Can you explain this? If I currently have a 1000/50 plan that slows to 100/50 in my room, wouldn't changing the plan to 250/25 also reduce that proportionally?

      • OMGJL on 16/05/2024 - 23:06
        +2

        your wifi being the bottleneck.

        if it drops to 100, then no matter 1000/500/250, it'll all be bottlenecked to 100. simple logic.

        and yes 250 will also be reduced to 100. But if there's other devices needing the internet too they can still use the spare 150 that you aren't using.

  • geekcohen on 16/05/2024 - 16:48
    +2

    Have you checked that you aren't connected to 2.4ghz? Have you set separate SSIDs and got a 2.4ghz and a 5GHZ network?

    If it is still in Dual Band Band Steering mode, it could be driving devices to 2.4ghz over 5GHZ. My sisters router is doing that.

    • jt1997 on 16/05/2024 - 18:03

      The wifi tests have been while I have been conncted to the 5 GHz network. But regardless of wifi, the router causes a drop in speed of about 350 Mbps once I use via ethernet versus connecting directly to the NTD. That seems excessive to me.

    • rumblytangara on 16/05/2024 - 19:29

      Have you checked that you aren't connected to 2.4ghz? Have you set separate SSIDs and got a 2.4ghz and a 5GHZ network?

      If he wast testing against 2.4, I don't think he'd be hitting 600mbps… doesn't 2.4 max out at something like 54mbps? At least, it does for .11g. I don't know if the later protocols use 2.4 more efficiently.

      • geekcohen on 17/05/2024 - 05:44

        More checking that it isn't band steering and some devices are going to 2.4ghz over 5ghz. Whilst he is getting 600mbps on one device, which could be 5ghz, his other devices could be on 2.4ghz, so hence a lower speed.

        But, the OP seems to have separate networks with band steering off.

  • Twix on 16/05/2024 - 16:54
    +1

    Don't stuff around with powerline if you stay on Gigabit. Use ethernet. Is the Asus router located in your garage next to the nbn NTD?

    • jt1997 on 16/05/2024 - 18:06

      Yes the router is located in the garage next to the NTD. Another option is to get longer cabling and have the router inside the house at least.

      • Twix on 16/05/2024 - 19:44

        Get the router moved inside your home. Do you want to stick with Asus or don't care?

        • jt1997 on 16/05/2024 - 20:01

          Happy with any brand.

          • Twix on 17/05/2024 - 12:16

            @jt1997: Netgear Orbi RBK762S is capable of Gigabit wired and the fastest Wi-Fi 6 speedtest I've seen for it is 760Mbps but your mileage may vary. It has a dual-core processor.

            For $50 more you can get the TP-Link Deco XE75 Pro with Wi-Fi 6E and a quad-core processor.

            • jt1997 on 18/05/2024 - 14:03

              @Twix: Ok, thanks for the suggestion.

  • OverburdenedWarrior on 16/05/2024 - 19:10
    +1

    Powerline Adapters are a mixed bag, but even in the best scenario you’d be lucky to hit a fourth of the speed you’d get if you were connected directly.

    I recently ran into this issue, and came across a technology I hadn’t seen used here before: a MoCA Adapter. It uses the coaxial connections that old HFC or Foxtel connections used to rely on, and is capable of transmitting gigabit speeds. It’s not cheap though. Here’s the one I used: https://www.asus.com/au/networking-iot-servers/wired-network…

    You can use it to wire up a mesh network and broadcast a new wifi spot elsewhere in your house. I use this: https://www.tp-link.com/au/home-networking/range-extender/re…

    • jt1997 on 16/05/2024 - 21:37

      Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately I don’t have coaxial connections I can use.

  • rumblytangara on 16/05/2024 - 19:26

    The NTD is placed in my garage. The wifi speeds drop off to 200/50 as soon as I enter my house from my garage. When I reach my room it’s about 100/50. I’m wondering if this is something a better router can improve.

    Where is the router- also in the garage? If the signal is going through concrete walls, I would expect a huge speed hit. Even more so if it's structural- thick concrete + rebar. There is bugger all you can do about it (I have casually compared home wifi routers with enterprise stuff, doesn't make much of a difference to wall penetration).
    6GHz isn't going to help- that gets blocked even worse by anything than 5Ghz, which in turn is worse than 2.4. 6GHz is only really going to help with line of sight, at fairly close ranges.

    Laptop to router via Ethernet: 600/50

    This is a bit weird… routers should be able to handle gig speeds unless they are particularly gimped. How're you testing? Would be worth just googling what the real world max throughputs are for your model of router as a sanity check.

    • Twix on 16/05/2024 - 19:46

      Their router is located inside the garage. Asus don't even mention the XD4S processor on their website like they normally do. I assume it's a dual-core which can sometimes struggle on Gigabit Ethernet.

      • rumblytangara on 16/05/2024 - 19:51
        +1

        Fair point- I just tried looking up the specs and it's very sparse, it must be pretty gimped to not even mention the processor.

        Router inside garage = just asking for trouble. Not even worth considering any router upgrades unless a wire is run into the main house.

        • jt1997 on 16/05/2024 - 20:06

          I thought the router upgrade would be reasonable given the current one cannot handle gigabit speeds via ethernet. I can do both in any case.

    • kiitos on 17/05/2024 - 12:07

      Our house is double brick, with single brick interior walls. Wifi is pretty average, especially 5GHz. I bought a stronger router and it helped somewhat, but parts of the house are still patchy.

      What options would I have to fix this? Would I need to go to a mesh?

      • rumblytangara on 17/05/2024 - 13:08
        +2

        What options would I have to fix this? Would I need to go to a mesh?

        That would help. Better yet would be to run a bit of ethernet to connect a second wifi access point.

    • jt1997 on 16/05/2024 - 20:08

      I assumed my Macbook Air M1 would be able to handle gigabit speeds and have been blaming the router so far. I'll move the router inside my house.

      • bazingaa on 16/05/2024 - 20:51

        +1 to @Axelstrife

        any decent AX router should be able to do around 1 Gbps. I use a WiFi back haul link from Netgear WAX206 -> Netgear WAX 202 over 5 GHz AX and running around 1 Gbps (due to not having Ethernet cabling in the house), which is connected to my 2.5 Gbps switch for NAS, PC etc. I have 250/25 NBN and currently getting ~265 Mbps over this link. WAX 202 (2nd radio) is running at 2.4 GHz / 40 MHz AX as the main AP for other WiFi devices and getting ~ 200 Mbps.

        Laptop to router via Ethernet: 600/50

        This should be 950/50, do you use an USB-C Ethernet dongle? Looks like that or the max USB speed on the laptop is the limitation

  • Wiadro on 16/05/2024 - 20:43

    i use a gen3 telstra modem. i have wired it smartly
    cat6 from ntd to modem in middle of house (kitchen) then cat 6 from modem to the switch which is in the cabinet with the ntd, then the switch goes to the rooms with ethernet plugs

  • vince088 on 16/05/2024 - 21:01
    +1

    Make sure your ethernet cable is up to spec also… Cat 5e and above

    • jt1997 on 16/05/2024 - 21:03

      Yep, I am using Cat 6 cables.

  • closed on 16/05/2024 - 22:38

    this deal just got posted for deco x50, $299 but can also use bunnings 10% price beat or OW 5%

    wifi6, gb ports, ethernet backhaul option, 3 pack to cover over 700m2, upgradable buy adding more mesh units

    I upgraded to these a few months ago with 250/25 plan and couldn't be happier as it has fixed a lot of coverage issues for me

    • Christoshizz on 16/05/2024 - 22:49

      Will this work with a mixture of Ethernet and wifi backhaul?

      • Twix on 16/05/2024 - 22:56

        Yeah you can use both.

        • Christoshizz on 16/05/2024 - 23:03
          +1

          Thanks mate! Hoping this is decent. Replacing a 4 year old orbi system which I hate

          • closed on 16/05/2024 - 23:35
            +1

            @Christoshizz: x50 has 3 ports which is more than the 2 most models have, you can also run switches off them as well to increase ports

  • jv on 17/05/2024 - 10:00
    +2

    Get one that will support the new 2000/200 plans that @Twix informed us about yesterday…

    https://www.whistleout.com.au/Broadband/News/New-NBN-2000-pl…

  • GordonD on 17/05/2024 - 12:57

    Anyone with a gigabit internet connection needs to invest in a 2.5GbE ethernet backbone in their house so they aren't hitting gigabit ethernet's limits. Its bit rate is a gigabit. It can't transmit data between devices at the full gigabit. Everything it goes through slows the throughput down a bit further.

  • KaTst3R on 17/05/2024 - 15:59

    I have powerline adaptors. They operate no where close to the advertised speeds and they are very finicky, i.e. ideally you dont want to mix and match different speed of powerline adaptors as the entire network will run at the lowest speed of the adaptor used. I would only use them if I need stability over speed.

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