Guidance needed re max rates

[kosymodo]

I'm running my Archer D9, which theoretically has max rates of 600Mbps (2.4GHz) and 1300Mbps (5GHz). However, looking at inSSIDer, my max rate on 2.4GHz is 216.7Mbps and on 5GHz is 600Mbps. Can someone explain to me in basic terms why this might be?

I also have a Linksys RE6400 range extender, which theoretically has max rates of 300Mbps (2.4Ghz) and 867Mbps (5GHz), which inSSIDer shows as such.

InSSIDer also shows my neighbours' routers, most of which are reported as 1,733.3Mbps max rate, so I'm suffering from a case of 'max rate envy'!

 

[WJA96]

Actual data rates are half the quoted speeds because the transmission method is half-duplex ie. the access point sends then receives then sends then receives. So the marketing department adds the send and receive together to get the claimed speed. It’s nonsense.

If you’re getting anything like half the claimed rate you’re doing really well.

 

[kosymodo]

Actual data rates are half the quoted speeds because the transmission method is half-duplex ie. the access point sends then receives then sends then receives. So the marketing department adds the send and receive together to get the claimed speed. It’s nonsense.

If you’re getting anything like half the claimed rate you’re doing really well.

OK, I understand what you’re saying. However, it’s not a question of the speed I’m getting, more of why the speed reported by inSSIDer for my Archer is so much slower than for the range extender (or my neighbours) even though the theoretical max rates are higher on the Archer (certainly compared to my range extender, I wouldn’t know compared to my neighbours)

 

[Caged]

The 1300Mbps headline 5GHz figure will be done by combining 3x 433Mbps streams (The MCS9 802.11ac data rate on 80Mhz channels). If your client only supports two spatial streams (by far the most common arrangement) then you will be instantly limited to a maximum PHY throughput of 866Mbps. Local congestion could require a drop to 40Mhz or 20Mhz wide channels, and the RF environment could cause the client and AP to negotiate at a lower MCS index as the higher QAM rates are very hard to achieve outside of optimal conditions.

In short, if you have a 3x3 AP but only a 2x2 client you will never ever see a PHY rate of what the AP is advertised at. And this only covers the physical connection, as WJA96 said above there are other factors that will influence the actual performance you get - bear in mind the available bandwidth is shared with every single connected client and it's only half duplex.

I'm not familiar with inssider but I would assume that you're getting a report from your neighbours devices based on their advertised capabilities, not what you can actually connect at.

 

[WJA96]

OK, I have news that will probably make you less envious.

Inssider knows your speed (because it can measure it) but it doesn’t know the speed of your neighbouring access points so all it can do is show you a theoretical figure. Make sense?

 

[kosymodo]

OK, I have news that will probably make you less envious.

Inssider knows your speed (because it can measure it) but it doesn’t know the speed of your neighbouring access points so all it can do is show you a theoretical figure. Make sense?

Ah, now this makes sense! Thanks for clarifying, maybe this will also be helpful to someone else in the future

 

[bledd]

Cable up any static machines or devices, use WiFi for low throughput items like laptops and phones.