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Wifi speed on iPad Pro

aevan

aevan

macrumors 601
Original poster
Feb 5, 2015
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Serbia
I never understood wifi networks or networks in general. I know how to change channels and frequencies on my router, but that's it.

Anyway, I have a 50Mbps connection at home - however, I never get those speeds on my iOS devices. On my iMac, I get around 40Mbps on wifi and full 48-50Mbps when I hook the LAN cable. However, on my iPhone 6 and now iPad Pro, I get 30Mbps tops, usually around 25Mbps.

I'm not sure why it works better on my iMac, but I'm guessing the iPad pro should be able to hit these maximum speeds as well. I'm using some Cisco router that was installed by the cable provider. It doesn't support 5Ghz, only 2.4Ghz, and is probably not a great router.

Do you think a better router would help these things? Any suggestions?
 
Better router will probably help, but you are traditionally not going to get the 50 over wifi. You should be able to get the same as the iMac is getting though.
 
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Better wifi access point might help, most "free" routers that providers use are cheap and crappy. but are there any other signals that interfere? I understand you don't like it, but it looks like your only solution is to get more knowledgable or find help.

I have a huge interference in my neihgboorhood combined with heavy insulation in every ceiling so the only solution is to have have a wifi ap on every floor. And my Mac mini and thunderbolt screen are wired. My internet connection at home is a 500/500 fibre and I can get that without trouble via Ethernet cat6 and somewhere between 350/450 via wifi on my iPhone 6s or iPad pro. Indisabled the wifi on the router I got from my provider and only use it to login and then use 3com Ethernet splitters and ruckus wifi ap's.
 
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I get great wifi from Comcast.
 

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aevan said:
I never understood wifi networks or networks in general. I know how to change channels and frequencies on my router, but that's it.

Anyway, I have a 50Mbps connection at home - however, I never get those speeds on my iOS devices. On my iMac, I get around 40Mbps on wifi and full 48-50Mbps when I hook the LAN cable. However, on my iPhone 6 and now iPad Pro, I get 30Mbps tops, usually around 25Mbps.

I'm not sure why it works better on my iMac, but I'm guessing the iPad pro should be able to hit these maximum speeds as well. I'm using some Cisco router that was installed by the cable provider. It doesn't support 5Ghz, only 2.4Ghz, and is probably not a great router.

Do you think a better router would help these things? Any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Your issue is your router. 2.4ghz depending on obstructions will see 30-40 5ghz however will allow access to your full 50 that you pay for.
 
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alecgold said:
Better wifi access point might help, most "free" routers that providers use are cheap and crappy. but are there any other signals that interfere? I understand you don't like it, but it looks like your only solution is to get more knowledgable or find help.
Click to expand...

I don't mind learning more stuff, but I am not sure where to look for it - or help. The thing is, servicemen from the cable company seem to know even less then me. To be honest, I'm not even sure what to Google for - as the topic seems to be a complex one.

Either way, thanks for the advice everyone, at least I know it should be possible to reach the speeds I have on my Macs. I will explore more.
 
the problem is your router, you need at least an 802.11ac 2*2 (i.e. 1200m) router to take full advantege of ipad.
my connection is comcast 150mbps, so the max i got on my ipad/ipone is ~180 (guess you already know how comcast is so fast during off-peak hours, and during peak hours, i only got <20mbps.... shame on you comcast!), there is little to no difference between full 3*3 imac and ios devices.
and internal LAN speed, the max i got on my ipad was 500-600mbps, and on imac sometimes 900+mbps (i have a time capsule)

change your router, you will see a huge boost. especially internal LAN speed (i.e., imac <--> ipad)
 
so basically how your network is like this


comcast server ------1------- your cable modem ------2------- your (wireless router) ------3------ your devices (wired/wireless)

the cable company only take cares of 1 and 2, that is saying as long as your cable modem is getting the right speed, they dont give a s*** to what speed you get on your devices.

and for your, your bottleneck is 3, because you are using a weak router, so your router is not capable to deliver full 50 mbps speed to your devices wirelessly. so replaceing it with a better, premium router will solve your network speed.


aevan said:
I don't mind learning more stuff, but I am not sure where to look for it - or help. The thing is, servicemen from the cable company seem to know even less then me. To be honest, I'm not even sure what to Google for - as the topic seems to be a complex one.

Either way, thanks for the advice everyone, at least I know it should be possible to reach the speeds I have on my Macs. I will explore more.
Click to expand...
 
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digitalcuriosity said:
The Netgear nighthawk 1900 really works great.
http://www.netgear.com/home/products/networking/wifi-routers/R7000.aspx
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I was literally going to recommend the same router. I've had this router for a while now and it is amazing. I kept killing routers, bad throughput and always dropping signal. I gave up, did some research, and landed with the nighthawk ac1900. Best damn router for under 200 bucks I'd say, all the linksys routers have pretty bad reviews.
 
iPad Pro screams on Verizon Fios with the "FIOS Quantum Gateway" router (their new 802.11AC router). I'm signed up at 75Mbps bi-directional... and I get it....

image.png
 
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Little late to the party but found this image. I notice I get about 300 Mbps down on mine. I have three apple extremes (1 for every floor) connected at 5ghz
 

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alexgarlock said:
Little late to the party but found this image. I notice I get about 300 Mbps down on mine. I have three apple extremes (1 for every floor) connected at 5ghz
Click to expand...
My experience with Apple extreme routers is that they deliver solid connections, fast speeds, average range and do not break down even after many years of use.

The latest model with Wifi AC delivers 100% of my cable bandwidth (60Mbps)
 
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Did something change in this in 9.3? On my Air 2, I'm suddenly getting 87Mbps on my Comcast link here at home when last I tested - under 9.2.1 - I was seeing about 56Mbps. My other machines - Windows boxes and Galaxy Note 4 phone - are still getting in the 50-60Mbps range. The only new element in all of this is 9.3. I'm using the Speedtest utility everywhere, running all against the same server, all on 2.4GHz.

edit - Scratch that as apparently it is an improvement from the Comcast side as I am now getting the same 80+Mbps on my Note 4 phone.
 
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I get just over half my paid for speed on average over wifi.

BUT...

image.jpeg


I pay for 300 down/20 up. I get over 300 over Ethernet. On wifi, I lose quite a bit, but I live in a crowded NYC apt building with tons of interference, and my speeds are still higher than my iPad knows what to do with, so no complaints.

As others have mentioned, an AC router will help, but getting 25-30 on a 50 connection is pretty darn good for wifi.
 
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i pay for 75Mbps through Comcast and i bought the modem they recommend from Best Buy and then purchased a Nighthawk X4 AC2350 and I am getting 90Mbps DOWN and between 12-18Mbps UP. I think the router definitely does make a difference with controlling and processing bandwidth.
 
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Still need to figure out why upload is slower. Not quite sure there. Not like 80mbs isn't enough though haha
 

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I solved my issue by getting an Asus RT-AC66U router. Now I get full speeds over wifi but only when using a 5Ghz network.
 
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