Macbook Pro 2020 not using Wifi 6?

Thanks for providing those values ... and happy T-Day to you too!

For Wi-Fi, the following four things have the most affect on throughput performance:

1. The wireless standard deployed: Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), & Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
2. The number of MIMO chains
3. The channel width
4. The signal strength

Let's see how those values fit in as related to the above items:

1. PHY Mode: 802.11ac - Currently the wireless connection established between your Mac & your wireless router is Wi-Fi 5
2. NSS: 2 - This would indicate that the connection is using 2 x 2 MIMO. 2x2 MIMO devices with dual antennas and radios will be able to communicate via two streams of transmit and receive. Standard notebooks & laptops, and Chromebooks fall into this category.
3. Channel: 52 (5 GHz, 80 MHz) - To get better throughput performance, connecting at a higher number channel on the 5 GHz band would be desirable.
4. RSSI & Noise - Signal "Strength" Quality (SNR) = RSSI - Noise. In this case, SNR = -37 - (-93) = 56. This represents an "excellent" signal quality.

The MCS Index represents the overall wireless signal connection configuration. "9" here represents the best possible connection for 802.11ac with the current hardware configuration. As far as your Mac is concerned, it is "seeing" a wireless connection with a maximum throughput rate of 866 Mbps far exceeding your Internet connection. Why the connection is not at Wi-Fi 6 would have to be further investigated.

Ref:

• How to troubleshoot Wi-Fi connectivity - Apple Support
• Test Wi-Fi networks with Apple Network Responsiveness - Apple Support
• What is MU-MIMO and why you need it in your wireless routers - NetworkWorld
• Understand RSSI - metageek
• Understanding WiFi Signal Strength - metageek
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and wireless signal strength - Cisco Meraki

Intel MacBook Pro 2020 is what I assumed. you posted the tech specs for the Apple-silicon M1 model, also released in 2020.

The intel model is here:

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Two Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications

MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports) - Technical Specifications

¿which do you actually have? M1 or Intel?

Let's start by getting a baseline of your MacBook's wireless connection, with the laptop near your wireless router.

To do so, hold down the <option> key, and then, click on the Wi-Fi icon on the macOS menu bar. Please provide the values for the following items:

• Security
• Channel
• Country Code
• RSSI
• Noise
• Tx Rate
• PHY Mode
• MCS Index
• NSS

There may be an error in the Apple tech specs.

The two major services that track such features report that the 2020 model feature 802.11ac.

(Everymac and MacTracker)

The information I posted saying that the MacBook Pro 2020 models supported 802.11ac and two antennas came from this Apple Platform Deployment guide:

MacBook Pro Wi-Fi specification

2020 models of MacBook Pro feature 802.11ac (Wi-Fi-5) and two antennas, so that part of your results are as expected.

2021 and later models feature 802.11ax (Wi-Fi-6) and two antennas.

I said:

"2020 models of MacBook Pro feature 802.11ac (Wi-Fi-5) and two antennas, so that part of your results are as expected."

That Transmit Rate is as expected.

We have not begun to discuss your measured download speed.

I suggest you restart in Safe Mode and run your speed test while in Safe Mode, where no third-party add-ons are run automatically, and see if the results in regular mode and safe mode are comparable.

stevenjo57 wrote:

Thanks for your help!

According to Apple:

MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) - Technical Specifications

This MacBook Pro has 802.11ax, which I believe is Wi-Fi 6 correct?

Hmm. Yes, you are correct 802.11ax = Wi-Fi 6 (new standard designation).

Two questions:

1. What are you using to measure "speed?"
2. What it the make & model of the wireless router/gateway/access point that is creating your wireless network?

earlier, you said:

Tx Rate: 866 Mbps

PHY Mode: 802.11ac

MCS Index: 9

NSS: 2

The Eero shows 595/down and 24/up.

what is that is that Eero number?

is that the only Router, connected directly to broadband cable? or is it part of a multi-node Mesh?

Ah, that would explain it. Thanks!