Optimizing internet speeds on 802.11ac

Your wi-fi network speed can't make your internet connection faster. You need a faster plan from your ISP.

Gigabit Wi-Fi: 802.11ac is here: Five things you need to know

As always you should remember that any network is only as fast as its slowest link. For instance, if you're buying 802.11ac to improve your Netflix viewing experience and your Internet connect is 10Mbps, it won't do you a darn bit of good. 802.11n, or even 802.11g, is all you'll need.

Click to expand...

If you wireless download speed, matches your LAN wired speed.
You've done basically all you can.

Akuratyde said:

I understand that if my average DL speed is 32 Mbps having a laptop and router that support 802.11ac won't increase that.

What I'm asking if there's anything I can do on my end, outside of purchasing a faster plan from my ISP, that could boost the speed. If not, that's fine. I just wanted to know.

Click to expand...

No, there's nothing else you can do, short of buying a faster plan from your ISP.

Akuratyde said:

Thanks for the replies. Just wanted to check and make sure there wasn't anything else I needed to do.

Click to expand...

Yes, there could be. I've just invested in a new AE and a few AC-compatible devices. Those that connect to the standard 2.4GHz network do pretty well. Those that connect to the not-enabled-by-default 5GHz network often see much higher network and internet speeds.

Enable the 5GHz network, using a different name, and connect to the 5GHz network with your compatible devices. We always realize higher network speeds when connected to our 5GHz network.

campyguy said:

Yes, there could be. I've just invested in a new AE and a few AC-compatible devices. Those that connect to the standard 2.4GHz network do pretty well. Those that connect to the not-enabled-by-default 5GHz network often see much higher network and internet speeds.

Enable the 5GHz network, using a different name, and connect to the 5GHz network with your compatible devices. We always realize higher network speeds when connected to our 5GHz network.

Click to expand...

That'll do nothing to speed up the OPs ISP bottleneck. The OP will need to upgrade their ISP package, there are much faster options available depending on provider. The SB6121 is a very fast DOCSIS 3.0 modem with GigE (OP make sure you're running Cat5e or 6 Ethernet to your AEBS).

Worse yet is even though you might have an uber fast ISP that'll do nothing to speed up sites hosted on a slow network.

blueroom said:

That'll do nothing to speed up the OPs ISP bottleneck. The OP will need to upgrade their ISP package, there are much faster options available depending on provider. The SB6121 is a very fast DOCSIS 3.0 modem with GigE (OP make sure you're running Cat5e or 6 Ethernet to your AEBS).

Worse yet is even though you might have an uber fast ISP that'll do nothing to speed up sites hosted on a slow network.

Click to expand...

Thanks for pointing out the *really* obvious.

I have a Comcast 50/10 Business Internet plan - no having to deal with all of those slowdowns on residential accounts. I see 26-30 down on 2.4 regularly, 50-52 down on 5 on the same network. No conflicts with neighbors. CAT 5e cables. No ISP upgrade necessary - see this all of the time on Win 7/8, iOS, and Mac OS. Same with the network extender that has disks attached via USB 3 - switching to 5GHz speeds things up almost all of the time here in Snarkyland.

OP, Arris/Moto cable modems don't get along all of the time. Lots of posts online about this about issues with Moto cable modems and Airport units going back years. I have an SB6141 and an AE. Consider a different cable modem - again, lots of posts elsewhere about this; I'd switch but I have only 3 other approved options: 2 suck, and the other is the SB6121.

From my home office. My ISP is Comcast, cable modem is a Motorola Surfboard SB4161, router is an Airport Extreme 802.11 AC. I've got a 2nd AE Time Capsule in my home office which extends the wireless networks.

Wired:


Wireless 2.4 ghz:


Wireless 5 ghz:

I'm using the last generation TC and a generation 5 AirPort Extreme. I have a very fast BB connection, but found that by changing channels on the TC's broadcast made one heck of a speed difference.

Set to auto, my 2.4 GHZ speeds ( which I only actually use for an internet radio that can't see 5GHZ) we're around 49MBPS

Setting to channel 6 on the TC now gives me wifi speeds almost exactly the 160 I get over Ethernet on my iMac....

The 5GHZ channel runs on 44.


It's worth changing until you find the best traffic free channel for your area...the SS is from my iPad Air.

I want your connection, Macman.

You really had 2 questions: (1)Speed from the Internet (as mentions, the bottleneck is your ISP); and (2)Your Time Capsule speed. This you maybe able to optimize since this is all INSIDE, what techies call LAN speed.

WIFI speed, lots of time has to do with how noisy your neighbors are. WIFI is radio, and your neighbors WIFI do affect you. 802.11n and 802.11ac takes advantage of unused WIFI channels and are able to use multiple channels (more lanes) for added throughput, but what if all the lanes are already in used by your neighbors? So... don't expect miracles from ac.