Slow Wifi Upload speeds on 2019 MacBook Pro (Catalina) with Asus XT8 mesh system. Other computers are all fine.

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Slow Wifi Upload speeds on 2019 MacBook Pro (Catalina) with Asus XT8 mesh system. Other computers are all fine.

Having a very strange issue. I've got a 2015 Macbook Pro, and 2021 Macbook Air, a couple Windows 10 systems, and a 2019 MacBook Pro. All get expected good wifi download/ upload speeds from my Xfinity gigabit plan (apx 300-400mpbs down/ 40mbps up) using a new Asus ZenWifi XT8, 3 mesh network. The only problem I'm running into is my 2019 MacBook Pro 16" running Catalina (my main work computer). It gets normal download/ upload speeds when connected to the main router, but when connected to either of the mesh nodes, download speeds are fine but upload speeds drop to around 1mbps. Weird thing is that my 2015 MacBook Pro- also running Catalina, also using a Wifi 5 card, etc.- doesn't have this issue. I've tried an NV RAM reset, SMC reset, dumping preference files, etc. Saw some threads about disabling the Apple Watch wake up setting but I don't have one so that setting doesn't appear on my computer. Nothing has worked. Has anyone had a similar experience and have any solutions?? Thanks!

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Sep 9, 2021 12:57 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 9, 2021 1:34 PM in response to matthew999

Try a network speed test in Safe mode, which reduces internal clutter and add-ons.

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Answer 2

Sep 9, 2021 5:09 PM in response to matthew999

all mesh stations are using the same network-name, right?

Hold down the Option key while you click on the Wi-Fi icon on the menuBar. You get a snapshot of conditions similar to this older one. screenshot or transcribe the values it shows:

also, How many Networks do you see?

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Answer 3

Sep 9, 2021 1:33 PM in response to matthew999

Based on using a mesh system, you may get somewhat slower speeds. The best way to explain is with this graphic:

You can see in this case, the data must go over-the-air to the outlying station, use network over-the-air bandwidth to get forwarded to the WAN-connected station. So it can be slower. It has the same delays in returning and acknowledging.

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Answer 4

matthew999 Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 9, 2021 5:01 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you, Grant. I just tried booting in Safe mode and running a speed test. Same results, unfortunately. What is strange is that I tested one PC, two other MacBooks, and a couple iPhones all sitting on the same desk, connected over wifi to the same mesh node unit as this 2019 MBP and all show similar download/ upload speeds (apx. 300 down, 40 up). The 2019 MBP shows the same download speeds but almost unusable (<1mbps) upload speed. I'm not running any antivirus software or anything else that I can think of that could be causing the problem. And curiously, the laptop shows full upload speeds when it's connected over wifi to the main router- just not when it's connected to one of the two nodes in the mesh system. The other computers all show that they get full upload speeds when connected to the nodes or router, regardless. Very strange... So it seems to be an issue with my Mac and not with the Asus mesh system as far as I can tell. And unfortunately, the router is upstairs from my office and would be a pain to try and run an ethernet cable.

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Slow Wifi Upload speeds on 2019 MacBook Pro (Catalina) with Asus XT8 mesh system. Other computers are all fine.

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