Is it just me or is cellular data than wifi?

[C DM]

I don't know if I have the best example here, but I used to be on an N router and it just didn't have the chops for multiple devices. As soon as I upgraded it to AC, I smoked the N and max out my speed on several devices running simultaneously.

Old N:

New AC:

These are also with my 2 kids on the AC using some kind of streaming service, YouTube, Netflix, Vudu..... Something. Same 100/20 fiber connection, just different router.

AC definitely files, but I find the range and signal strength on it fairly lacking compared to N (or G or B). I mean certainly some of that will depend on the equipment in use and where it is being used, but at least in my experience things that are close benefit from it, but things that are even just somewhat further away (where N/G/B still work just fine) don't end up getting a good signal often enough.

 

[rui no onna]

AC definitely files, but I find the range and signal strength on it fairly lacking compared to N (or G or B). I mean certainly some of that will depend on the equipment in use and where it is being used, but at least in my experience things that are close benefit from it, but things that are even just somewhat further away (where N/G/B still work just fine) don't end up getting a good signal often enough.

Alas, you can blame physics for that. AC is 5GHz only while N can be 2.4GHz or 5GHz. The higher frequency (5GHz) attenuates faster.

 

[C DM]

Alas, you can blame physics for that. AC is 5GHz only while N can be 2.4GHz or 5GHz. The higher frequency (5GHz) attenuates faster.

Right, it's basically that. I was hoping it would do at least a bit better than it actually performs in my house as I end up still using N for most devices aside from a few that are close by the router and don't really move around.

 

[cynics]

AC definitely files, but I find the range and signal strength on it fairly lacking compared to N (or G or B). I mean certainly some of that will depend on the equipment in use and where it is being used, but at least in my experience things that are close benefit from it, but things that are even just somewhat further away (where N/G/B still work just fine) don't end up getting a good signal often enough.

What router are you using?

Typically wireless AC even without the range has a higher throughput. Meaning it can drop a higher % of capacity but still be exceeding what wireless N is capable of.

Thats generally not the case since wireless AC standard includes beamforming to help focus its signal strength.

If I move my iPhone as far away from my router as possible when using wifi sweetspots I can get about 50% loss in speed vs 20-30% with wireless N but that is still around 200+ mbps FAR exceeding what I see with wireless N.

It is funny though all the hype over wireless AC. Sometimes I'll browse wifi settings on my iMac and notice its dropped back to 2.4ghz wireless N and I never even noticed, could have been like that for weeks for all I know.

 

[Floris]

T-Mobile 4G+, should go up to 225mbit/sec, I get 65 to 150mbit down and about 60mbit up, depending where I am of course. It's snappy, no issues with it lately.

Wifi is behind netgear r7000 router, on cable 300mbit down and 30mit up, and phone's wifi gets 280mbit average and 29mbit up average. Also no issues with performance.

No issues with either, but wifi is obviously faster.