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Max WiFi connection on 2020 MacBook Pro
- Thread starter citivolus
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WiFi makers add up the sum of the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bandwidth when giving speed. Which I think is disingenuous. That's the norm at any rate. It can handle a total of 1300 Mb/s. In this case 867 Mb/s via 5Ghz and 433 Mb/s via 2.4 Ghz. So, if you have 2.4Ghz and 5 Ghz connected. You can theoretically hit an aggregate speed of 1300 Mb/s.
Even worse are MIMO makers who add the sum of all units. Like the Linksys Velop AC6600 units. Which is actually three AC2200. Which are further broken down to 400 Mb/s 2.4Ghz, 867 Mb/s 5Ghz and 867 MB/s 5Ghz (Backhaul). So, the maximum potential speed of any WiFi device is 867 Mb/s on an AC6600 unit.
Even worse are MIMO makers who add the sum of all units. Like the Linksys Velop AC6600 units. Which is actually three AC2200. Which are further broken down to 400 Mb/s 2.4Ghz, 867 Mb/s 5Ghz and 867 MB/s 5Ghz (Backhaul). So, the maximum potential speed of any WiFi device is 867 Mb/s on an AC6600 unit.
Thanks but my router does specify the bandwidth separately. I have the Asus RT-AC66U and its specs are:
- Data Rate
802.11n : up to 450 Mbps
802.11ac : up to 1300 Mbps - Antenna
Detachable antenna x 3 - Transmit/Receive
MIMO technology
2.4 GHz 3 x 3
5 GHz 3 x 3
So I am assuming that if my MBP supports 3x3 and I connect to the router via 5Ggz using 802.11ac, I should get a reported Tx Rate of 1300Mbps, but I am only seeing 867. That's the mystery.
I am not an expert in Wifi technologies but as far as I know you should check the channel your router is using for 5Ghz. It should be at least a 80Mhz channel if you want to achieve a better throughput.
If it's any use, my Macbook AIR maxes out at around 866 too which is the same as my late-2013 Pro. I've no idea if that's a router limitation or a device one, as my router is just a combined modem/router that my cable company provides.
Thanks, I am specifying a channel width of 80Mhz.
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Anyone with a MBP who is getting a higher Tx Rate than 866Mbps? You can press Option and click on the WiFi logo in the menu bar to see your connection details.
I’m getting 1300Mb/s if I connect directly to my broadband provider’s router. This is the 4 Thunderbolt model.
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Yes thanks.
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I hope you’re wrong too ?
I have a 16" MacBook Pro with i7 6 core, but that isn't important. Your router configuration is important, the interference and the distance from the router. Try experimenting with various channels and try to use higher channels if possible (but that isn't a guarantee for more throughput). Avoid all channels below channel 52, otherwise you will be getting less throughput.
I just upgraded from the 2 TB model but it was 2016 non touch bar. I know for sure that one was 2x2 as my wife's 2015 model was 3x3 and I could see speed difference side by side. Hopefully someone with the base model can test this. My 10th gen comes in Wednesday so not able to test.
Were you able to find anything out? I got my 10th gen model in and was able to get 1170 next to the router.
If you are only getting 867Mb/s on a router you know supports 1.3Gb/s then it’s likely that it’s 2x2. That would be consistent with the base 2019.
I’m guessing the 2 port TB3 (1.4Ghz) model is 2x2 and the 4 port (2GHz) model is 3x3. If people post their results then we’ll know.
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This makes sense.
I’m guessing the 2 port TB3 (1.4Ghz) model is 2x2 and the 4 port (2GHz) model is 3x3. If people post their results then we’ll know.
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This makes sense.
Don’t expect to hit a theoretical max of your AC router. SNB tested it several times and as far as I can tell, 1300 on AC is off the table.
ASUS RT-AC66U Second Wireless Retest - SmallNetBuilder
http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/forumdisplay.php?f=37
www.smallnetbuilder.com
Don’t expect to hit a theoretical max of your AC router. SNB tested it several times and as far as I can tell, 1300 on AC is off the table.
ASUS RT-AC66U Second Wireless Retest - SmallNetBuilder
http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/forumdisplay.php?f=37
No, it’s off the table for throughput, but as a connection rate it is relatively easy to achieve.
Is that true? I thought the base 2019 teardown confirmed it was 3x3.
Agreed. Can anyone else with the base model post if they are able to get a connection rate of greater than 867Mbps?
I don't know if it's true, that's why I'm suggesting people post and we can figure it out.
Do you have a link to the teardown please?
EDIT: Sorry, I thought you were referring to a teardown of the 2020. The 2019 1.4Ghz is 2x2 for sure.
I think you're right. I haven't found a teardown yet of any 2020 MacBook Pro model, but in this video at 11:07 you can see the 3 antenna connections in the 4 port model whereas the wifi connections in the base model are covered by a bracket. Assuming the 2020 base model is the same as the 2019 base model with 2 antenna connections, this would suggest the base model is 2x2 and the 4-port model is 3x3. Oh well, I guess I'll have to live with the "slow" wifi in my base model
Oh well, I guess I'll have to live with the "slow" wifi in my base model
Yep. And to be fair, it doesn't suck, it's still a great amount of bandwidth. If you're just surfing the net and have a 25Mb/s connection at home it's largely irrelevant.
For those of us with faster connections and/or using NAS etc., it's a bit more material.