How do I get better speeds on my home wifi network?

Question

Level 1

0 points

How do I get better speeds on my home wifi network?

Setup includes; Comcast cable modem, Airport Extreme, Macbook running 10.8.2, AppleTV3, 2 iPhone 4Ss, and 1 iPad 1.

At this point, When I do a speedtest on Comcast's page I get 20 to 25 mbps, but via Speedtest app on iPhone I get only 3 to 5mbps. I have read and tried a few things like changing DNS to OpenDNs and such, but nothing makes much difference. Am I misunderstanding the rlationship between these numbers? Is the Airport Extreme only capable of under 5mbps, or is it the iPhone? Is there a better way to test?

Posted on Dec 4, 2012 4:25 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

Bob Timmons

Community+ 2024

Level 10

159,272 points

Dec 4, 2012 5:34 PM in response to SFMUGPrez

When I do a speedtest on Comcast's page I get 20 to 25 mbps

Is this using the iPhone, or wireless on a Mac computer, or something else?

Typically, the iPhone is quite slow, likely due to the very limited available space for an antenna in the device.

Is the Airport Extreme only capable of under 5mbps

You can check the capability of your AirPort Extreme's current wireless connection with the Mac as follows:

Hold down the option key on your Mac while you click on the fan shaped AirPort icon at the top of the screen.

Look for the Transmit Rate. That is the current capability in Mbps of your wireless network connection.

What number do you see there?

Reply

Answer 2

SFMUGPrez Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 4, 2012 5:49 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thanks!

When I do a speedtest on Comcast's page I get 20 to 25 mbps

Is this using the iPhone, or wireless on a Mac computer, or something else?

This was via Safari, on the laptop, here is the result http://stage.results.speedtest.comcast.net/result/193538592.png

Look for the Transmit Rate. That is the current capability in Mbps of your wireless network connection.

What number do you see there?

Transit Rate: 130

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 4, 2012 5:58 PM in response to SFMUGPrez

This tells you that the AirPort Extreme is capable of delivering 130 Mbps on your wireless network. So, if you have a 100 Mbps option with Comcast, the AirPort Extreme will handle that with room to spare.

Nothing wrong with the AirPort Extreme.

I have a 20 Mbps Internet connection, and my iPhone sometimes will reach 5 Mbps if I place it next to the router. Across the room, it might get 2-3 Mbps on a standard speed test. Nature of the beast with the iPhone, I am afraid.

The iPad should do a bit better since it has a larger antenna.

Reply

Answer 4

SFMUGPrez Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 4, 2012 6:11 PM in response to Bob Timmons

What about the AppleTV?

Reply

Answer 5

Dec 4, 2012 6:44 PM in response to SFMUGPrez

I don't have one handy to test, but do not think that the Apple TV provides a display of the connection speed. You could get a general idea if you locate your laptop very close to the Apple TV and do a speedtest there.

I would connect the AppleTV to your main router using an Etherent cable if at all possible.

Reply