Best orientation for mounting/placing Mac Mini M2 for optimum network throughput

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Level 1

8 points

Best orientation for mounting/placing Mac Mini M2 for optimum network throughput

I have a Mac mini M2 and love it. I'm working on configuring my work space and am wondering with the antennas in the bottom of the Mini if placing it on it's side with the bottom facing the router (I have a crappy router) would improve connectivity. The network icon in the top bar shows all its bars so where it is (on sitting next to the monitor on the desk) works fine. I like to think I'm still a system engineer and wish I had more info on signal strength to make my own decision than the icon.

Mac mini (M2, 2023)

Posted on Nov 30, 2023 7:21 AM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,290 points

Nov 30, 2023 7:53 AM in response to BillBingham2

My M2 mini Pro is placed on its side with the bottom facing right at the router in the other room. This Mac is not going to connect and remain on 802.11ax channel 116 (5GHz 160MHz) and deliver 1600 Gbps on Wi-Fi 6 indefinitely. Mine does but it continuously jumps around in a range of 172 Mbps through 1600 Gbps mark fluctuating between 80MHz and 160 MHz. Nothing you can do about that Apple engineering issue even if the router were five feet away. I am using a firmware updated Synology RT6600AX router that is 20 feet away behind dry wall.

I also have a Netgear Nighthawk M6 Pro (MR6550) 5G cellular hotspot with a T-Mobile 5G data plan. The cell tower is uphill about a mile away. This has the same Qualcom radio (X-65) as an iPhone 14 Pro Max. It can produce a Wi-Fi 6 or 6E SSID and with 2 - 3 signal bars, is reasonably quick. Its bandwidth delivery is more stable. Although my iPhone 15 Pro Max can immediately connect to 6E with WPA3 personal, the Wi-Fi 6E ready M2 Mac Mini Pro cannot even detect 6E from the Netgear device. Apple has an explanation of how to connect 6E to this Mac and it is bone-headed. The Netgear MR6550 does not have a combo band of 5GHz/6GHz.

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