Solved Can someone explain the ins & outs of router speeds to me?

louwin

Member
Member
Messages
69
Location
Perth, Western Australia
I have an N600 gigabit modem/router at the moment. I also have an iPad Air, iPhone 5S, new desktop with inbuilt Wifi, a laptop, a 3Tb NAS and a new Smart 3D TV. My desktop is currently wired into the modem. The laptop is wireless and the TV is wireless. Both the laptop and the desktop are Windows 8.1 Pro.

If I try to watch a large 3D video file(over 12Gb) on my TV, off my desktop or my NAS, the movie constantly "buffers". This suggests to me that the TV can't stream fast enough from the shared folder on the desktop/NAS. Right? :geek:

So I bought a new super duper 3200AC Tri-Band Wifi Router. It does N600(2.4GHz) and 2 X 1300AC(5GHz) Wifi bands. I have read extensively about wireless speed comparisons etc but I still have a couple of questions?

I assume 1300AC is faster than a wired gigabit connection? So if I go "wireless" from my desktop it should be faster than "wired"? Right? :p

The NAS is gigabit "wired" so no improvement there? Right? :rolleyes:

The Smart TV is currently limited by the N600? Right? :p So the AC1300 SHOULD vastly improve it's streaming? Right? From the desktop AND from the NAS? Right? :p

Assume that when I'm watching TV the desktop is switched on, obviously the TV is switched on, the laptop is switched off, the iPad maybe on and the iPhone is basically off. Assume that everything is new enough to use the "AC" band :D

So the 2 X AC1300 should be a vast improvement on the N600? Right? :geek:

I would appreciate an answer from a "Wifi expert". :dinesh:

Thanks in anticipation..... :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7 Pro & 8.1 Pro & 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built & self built
    CPU
    i7 870 & i7 4771 & i7 HP Laptop
    Motherboard
    GA-P55A-UD7 & Asus Z87 Deluxe/Dual
    Memory
    8Gb & 16Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD5770 & None
    Sound Card
    inbuilt & inbuilt
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32' LED TV
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    About 40Tb
    PSU
    Antec TP-750C & Ditto
    Case
    Antec DF-85 & Antec Nineteen Hundred
    Cooling
    7 fans & 6 fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX5500 Combo
    Mouse
    Logitech MX5500 Combo
    Internet Speed
    Naked DSL
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
Your best resource will be smallnetbuilder.com.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Mint 17.2
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satellite C850D-st3nx1
    CPU
    AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon (tm) HD Graphics 1.40 GHZ
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon™ HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M500 240GB SSD
    Mouse
    Logitech M525
    Internet Speed
    45/6 - ATT U-Verse
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    None needed. It is Linux.
    Other Info
    Arris NVG589 Gateway; Router - Cisco RV320; Switch - Netgear GS108 8-Port Switch & Trendnet TEG-S50g 5-Port Switch; Access Points - Engenius ECB350, Trendnet TEW-638APB; NAS - Lenovo ix2-4; Printer - Brother HL-2280DW; Air Print Server - Lantronix XPrintServer

    A/V UPS - Tripp-Lite Smart 1500LCD 1500 Va/900 W.
I assume 1300AC is faster than a wired gigabit connection? So if I go "wireless" from my desktop it should be faster than "wired"? Right? :p
Theoretically yes, however you have to be very close to approach those types of speeds and not have any issue with interference.

So the 2 X AC1300 should be a vast improvement on the N600? Right? :geek:
Do you have any client devices that have wireless AC cards? Without the client's having 802.11ac cards, you most likely won't see any change.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
I also have an iPad Air,
Unless you have the very newest model just released, that doesn't support 802.11ac.


iPhone 5S,
doesn't support 802.11ac


new desktop with inbuilt Wifi,
But is it 802.11ac? Probably not. Probably 801.11n



a laptop,
Again, is it 802.11ac?

Assume that everything is new enough to use the "AC" band :D
Oh, that is a very bad assumption to make. My late 2013 MacBook Pro includes it, but nothing prior to that did.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
I THOUGHT the iPad Air and iPhone 5S were 802.11ac enabled but if you say not then I accept that. I am sure they ARE 5GHz though. I suspect I wrongly(?) associated 5GHz with 802.11ac. :confused:

The laptop I know isn't 802.11ac, in fact, I doubt it is 5GHz either.

But I am sure my new desktop IS 802.11ac. I have checked the motherboard User Guide and it does confirm 802.11ac :D

So are you saying a device can be 5GHz enabled without being 802.11ac? :sick:

Are you also saying that the 1300ac bands cannot be used by non-802.11ac devices? :sick::sick::sick::sick::sick:

Sorry, I'm totally confused now :eek:

Looks like I have to go back to the drawing (reading?) board :think:

BTW thanks for your responses :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7 Pro & 8.1 Pro & 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built & self built
    CPU
    i7 870 & i7 4771 & i7 HP Laptop
    Motherboard
    GA-P55A-UD7 & Asus Z87 Deluxe/Dual
    Memory
    8Gb & 16Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD5770 & None
    Sound Card
    inbuilt & inbuilt
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32' LED TV
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    About 40Tb
    PSU
    Antec TP-750C & Ditto
    Case
    Antec DF-85 & Antec Nineteen Hundred
    Cooling
    7 fans & 6 fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX5500 Combo
    Mouse
    Logitech MX5500 Combo
    Internet Speed
    Naked DSL
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
G - Single band 2.4 GHz
N - Dual band 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz, or could be Single Band 2.4 GHz most current cheapo Laptops/Smart TVs have a Wireless Card like that.
ac - 5 GHz (Dual band + 2.4 GHz because devices with this standard are generally backward compatible with N and G).

G uses 1 channel.

N and ac use MIMO i.e. multiple channels.

That is the outline position (there is lot in the finer detail, look it up...) though you have to realise that speed between 2 devices will be at the speed of the slowest device.
IEEE 802.11 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 

My Computer

I THOUGHT the iPad Air and iPhone 5S were 802.11ac enabled but if you say not then I accept that. I am sure they ARE 5GHz though. I suspect I wrongly(?) associated 5GHz with 802.11ac. :confused:
Yeah, 5ghz doesn't indicate 802.11ac. The 5.0Ghz band is also used in 802.11n.

So are you saying a device can be 5GHz enabled without being 802.11ac? :sick:
Yes, exactly.

Are you also saying that the 1300ac bands cannot be used by non-802.11ac devices? :sick::sick::sick::sick::sick:
Correct, you will NOT get anywhere near 802.11ac speeds unless your devices all have 802.11ac network cards.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
Are you also saying that the 1300ac bands cannot be used by non-802.11ac devices? :sick::sick::sick::sick::sick:
Correct, you will NOT get anywhere near 802.11ac speeds unless your devices all have 802.11ac network cards.

Sorry to stress this....

Are you saying that NON 802.11ac devices WILL work with 1300ac BUT not as fast????

As I said - my motherboard in the desktop PC IS 802.11ac so no problem there.

BUT as you suggested nothing else is definitely 802.11ac. The desktop is wired which was suggested to be as fast if not faster than 1300ac. The TV, even though it accepts 5GHz, MAY not be 802.11ac. The TV is about 2 months old....

If the TV and all my other devices that will accept 5GHz WILL work then I will connect the new router. If they WON'T work at all then it is pointless connecting it :(

I suppose I can "wire" in the TV with a CAT-6 cable across the floor :confused: The TV is about 20 feet away, no walls :)

Will the old modem in "bridge mode" AND the new router be faster than the old N600 modem/router?

I suppose I COULD connect it all and see but my fear of HARDWARE will give me nightmares :(
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7 Pro & 8.1 Pro & 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built & self built
    CPU
    i7 870 & i7 4771 & i7 HP Laptop
    Motherboard
    GA-P55A-UD7 & Asus Z87 Deluxe/Dual
    Memory
    8Gb & 16Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD5770 & None
    Sound Card
    inbuilt & inbuilt
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32' LED TV
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    About 40Tb
    PSU
    Antec TP-750C & Ditto
    Case
    Antec DF-85 & Antec Nineteen Hundred
    Cooling
    7 fans & 6 fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX5500 Combo
    Mouse
    Logitech MX5500 Combo
    Internet Speed
    Naked DSL
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
Existing devices will work with the new router, it will just use the older bands. You can have 802.11g,n,AC all working together.

The top speed will be limited by the slowest device in the chain. For example, if you have a desktop that is AC, and your NAS is gigabit hardwired, you could get gigabit speeds between them (as long as you are close enough to your router to get those speeds. However, if you are transferring between your desktop running AC, and your laptop does 802.11g, you will only get up to 54 megabits between the two of them.

Think of each device as having a garden hose attaching it to the network. Those with very large hoses, can move more water more quickly. Those with smaller hoses can still move water, it will just be limited by the size of their hose.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
Just a quick update....

Yesterday (Sunday) tried the installation....

Did all the right things.

Closed ALL programs that access the net on my "wired" desktop.

Went into the TP-Link N600 modem/router (192.168.1.1) and changed to "Bridge" mode. It released everything but I turned it off anyway. I normally use Firefox but used IE :p

Plugged the yellow ethernet cable into the LAN/WAN port of the modem and the other end into the INTERNET port of the router.

Moved my "wired" cable from the modem to the router.

Tried everything I couldn't get it to work :( (And you wonder why I am afraid of hardware) :(

The "Power" LED would sometimes blink orange (which suggested the firmware was being updated????). The "Internet" LED was first solid white then changed to orange. Then blinked orange :confused:

Tried everything. Even swapped the ethernet cable (used the one off my NAS that has been working for months) - no luck.

Logged into the Wifi with my iPad and logged in with (www.routerlogin.net) the Internet had an "X" on it and the tab was "greyed out".

Gave up and went to play cards for a while.

Tried again later, still no luck.

Then couldn't get the modem/router out of "Bridge" mode, had to do a "Factory Defaults" reset. Did I mention, I hate hardware?

Will give it a try again NOW. In desperation I borrowed an old Netgear DGND3700v2 to try in place of my TP-Link.

Fingers crossed....
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7 Pro & 8.1 Pro & 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built & self built
    CPU
    i7 870 & i7 4771 & i7 HP Laptop
    Motherboard
    GA-P55A-UD7 & Asus Z87 Deluxe/Dual
    Memory
    8Gb & 16Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD5770 & None
    Sound Card
    inbuilt & inbuilt
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32' LED TV
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    About 40Tb
    PSU
    Antec TP-750C & Ditto
    Case
    Antec DF-85 & Antec Nineteen Hundred
    Cooling
    7 fans & 6 fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX5500 Combo
    Mouse
    Logitech MX5500 Combo
    Internet Speed
    Naked DSL
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
After MUCH messing about I got it connected. I tried 2 desktops, 2 modem/routers, 3 cables, an iPad and a temporarily wired laptop, Windows 7 and 8.1(X2).

The final clue was the white/orange blinking power LED. I suspected it was in firmware update mode and it WAS (or whatever?).

Somehow it was stuck in firmware update mode!? :( It kept saying the 'net wasn't there and the ethernet cable was not connected and other misleading errors....

Did a "Factory Reset" on the router and the Genie came up in the browser. From there it was plain sailing.

Just in case anyone else hits the same symptoms :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7 Pro & 8.1 Pro & 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built & self built
    CPU
    i7 870 & i7 4771 & i7 HP Laptop
    Motherboard
    GA-P55A-UD7 & Asus Z87 Deluxe/Dual
    Memory
    8Gb & 16Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    HD5770 & None
    Sound Card
    inbuilt & inbuilt
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32' LED TV
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    About 40Tb
    PSU
    Antec TP-750C & Ditto
    Case
    Antec DF-85 & Antec Nineteen Hundred
    Cooling
    7 fans & 6 fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech MX5500 Combo
    Mouse
    Logitech MX5500 Combo
    Internet Speed
    Naked DSL
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    AVG
Back
Top