Why Is My WiFi So Bad ??

Question

Level 1

24 points

Why Is My WiFi So Bad ??

So I currently have an Apple Airport Extreme 5th Gen being used as my wifi router running all my apple devices.

My internet speed is fine around the house until I go up the stairs.

I pay for 100mbps and im usually around 110mbps.

When I go up the stairs in my house it drops to below 30mbps so I have extended my wifi network using another airport extreme but this is a 1st Gen, Even when doing this is only around 25/30mbps and its around 10feet from the airport extreme 1st Gen.

Now I know apple stopped supporting the AirPort Extreme around 2018 and there is no more help or support but im wondering if the speed is still so slow because im using a 5th Gen to a 1st Gen.

I have been thinking about buying a Apple airport extreme 6th Gen to place down the stairs and run the 5th Gen up the stairs and completely do away with the 1st Gen.

Otherwise im looking at getting two long distance routers that work with apple equipment -

Macbooks , Iphones , Ipads & Watches

Posted on Nov 7, 2021 10:39 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

LaPastenague

Level 9

67,262 points

Nov 7, 2021 12:51 PM in response to Trophy376

wondering if the speed is still so slow because im using a 5th Gen to a 1st Gen

Yes.. although it is not ideal setup no matter what you do.

Ist Gen is 2.4ghz only or 5ghz only.. but it will default to 2.4ghz .

For high speed your devices need to connect to 5ghz. The limit on the 2.4ghz channel actual throughput is around 70-80Mbps.

Using a mix of old and new is really not going to work well.

And Apple uses Extend Wireless method which slows network connections down dramatically.

Both your routers are really old and you will find buying a modern set of mesh devices works much better.

Or run an ethernet cable between your floors so that each router can be set to create a wireless network not extend it.

Apple is mostly OK with most 3rd party wifi these days.. there can be issues with bonjour but that is router problem more than wifi.

If you want to buy another Airport router then I am half inclined to just buy another Gen5. You will not get internet speed advantage with the Gen6 AC model because it must link to the Gen5 using N wireless at max speed of 450Mbps.

There is a bit more info to be had out of your airport utility if you wish to investigate further.. I will have to dig around the archives to find the screenshots for you.

Reply

Why Is My WiFi So Bad ??

Similar questions