Slow wifi since upgrading to 7.6.4

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Slow wifi since upgrading to 7.6.4

I have experienced very slow wifi speeds on my Time Capsule (4th generation) 802.11n Airport network since upgrading the firmware to 7.6.4. Since reading many of the discussions on this forum I have downgraded the firmware to 7.6.1, but that hasn't fixed it. None of the fixes in any of discussions I've seen have fixed it.

I'm getting speeds of only about 1 to 2 Mbps. I've checked for other local networks using iStumbler, and have manually selected a 2.5 Ghz band channel that doesn't overlap with the 3 other wifi networks in my neighbourhood. But network interference doesn't seem to be the problem, because I'm also only getting 1 to 2 Mbps on the 5 Ghz band network, and there are no other 5 Ghz networks in the neighbourhood (according to iStumbler).

I'm connecting with a 2013 Macbook Air. iNet reports a Signal Level for the wifi connection to be about -39 dBm, and the Noise Level to be about -90 dBm, and the S/N Ratio fluctuates around -50 dBm, which I understand to be a very strong signal.

I've done multiple resets and reconfigurations of the Time Capsule, but it hasn't helped. It's definitely a wifi issue, as if I connect directly to the ethernet port on the Time Capsule I get speeds an order of magnitude better.

What could I be overlooking?

Posted on Oct 4, 2013 10:42 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 5, 2013 12:48 AM in response to emheenan

There are a number of reports now of this problem.. I am not sure but it is poor that you cannot actually downgrade the firmware to get out of it..

What is the link speed in the computer??

So while this file transfer is happening what does the link speed show??

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Answer 2

emheenan Author

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Oct 5, 2013 3:04 AM in response to LaPastenague

If I transfer a large file over the wifi to the Time Capsule's hard disk by rsync, the fastest file transfer I can get is about 8 MB/s, but it varies.

By "link speed" do you mean the Transmit Rate? That is reported to be 300.

My Time Capsule is presently creating a wireless network and is connected to a modem via its WAN ethernet port. If I connect a computer directly to the modem (i.e. no via the wireless network), then speedtest.net reports WAN speeds of about 10-11Mbps, but connecting via the Time Capsule's wifi network I get only 1-2 Mbps.

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Answer 3

Oct 5, 2013 3:44 AM in response to emheenan

If I connect a computer directly to the modem (i.e. no via the wireless network), then speedtest.net reports WAN speeds of about 10-11Mbps, but connecting via the Time Capsule's wifi network I get only 1-2 Mbps.

I don't have a fix but it is not uncommon problem.. I will continue to investigate.

Since you do get reasonable speed on internal LAN then lets blame the WAN port..

Load 5.6 utility into your computer and set the WAN port down to 100mbit full duplex and then 100mbit half duplex.

You can do it thusly.

How to load 5.6 into later Lion & ML

1. Download 5.6 for Lion.

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482

Click to open the dmg but do not attempt to install the pkg.. it won't work anyway.

Leave the package open on the desktop so you can see the file. AirportUtility56.pkg

2. Download and install unpkg.

http://www.timdoug.com/unpkg/

Run unpkg on the desktop.. If your Mac refuses to run the software, because it wasn’t downloaded from the Apple store, go to security in preferences and allow other software to work.. this is limitation of trade methinks. You can set back later if you like.

Now drag the AirPortUtility56.pkg file over to unpkg.. and it will create a new directory of the same name on the desktop.. in finder, open the new directory, drill down.. applications, utilities .. there lo and behold is Airport utility 5.6 .. drag it to your main utilities directory or just run it from current location.

You cannot uninstall version 6 (now 6.3 if you updated) so don't try.. and you cannot or should not run them both at the same time.. although I have had no problems when doing so.

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Answer 4

emheenan Author

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Oct 5, 2013 4:17 AM in response to LaPastenague

Changing the WAN port speed isn't an option when I go to that window:

User uploaded file

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Answer 5

Oct 5, 2013 4:21 AM in response to emheenan

Are you using 5.6 utility?

Did you downgrade to 7.6.1 at least.. if not more.. 7.5.2 being excellent.

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Answer 6

emheenan Author

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Oct 5, 2013 4:19 AM in response to emheenan

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Answer 7

emheenan Author

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Oct 5, 2013 4:23 AM in response to emheenan

Yes it's running firmware 7.6.1. 7.5.2 isn't an option. As you can see from the above screenshot, I'm using Airport Utility 5.6 as you suggested.

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Answer 8

Oct 5, 2013 4:24 AM in response to emheenan

Sorry my mistake.

The control is only when in router mode.

I am using the TC in router mode.. Please put the TC in router mode for the test even if you double NAT.. if the test works then you can get a switch or something to control port speed.

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Answer 9

emheenan Author

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Oct 5, 2013 7:50 AM in response to LaPastenague

I don't seem to be able to configure that. When I try to set it up in router mode it keeps giving me an error that my "DHCP starting address" and "DHCP ending address", ie the "DHCP range" conflicts with the WAN IP address of the TC.

If I by-pass the modem entirely (i.e. set it up in bridge mode) and set up the Time Capsule as the PPPoE connection point then I don't have an option to configure the WAN speed. When I change to using the modem in bridge mode and using the Time Capsule to connect via PPPoE, for about 10 minutes I get an increased connection speed with speedtest.net, up to around 4-5Mbps (still less than the 10+ Mbps I get connecting directly to the modem via ethernet cable), but strangely, after about 10 minutes it drops down to 1-2Mbps again?

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Answer 10

Oct 5, 2013 1:35 PM in response to emheenan

That proves the ports are not negotiating speed correctly.

Please reset TC to factory.. you cannot use the bridge to router setup because it has setup from the modem.. you need to start fresh.

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Answer 11

emheenan Author

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Oct 5, 2013 5:35 PM in response to LaPastenague

Sorry, I don't understand what you meant in your last post. What are you suggesting I should try next?

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Answer 12

Oct 5, 2013 7:48 PM in response to emheenan

Full factory reset of the TC.. put it in router mode.. it will work fine from a full reset.. then control the WAN speed which is then possible..

It is only for a test as you are double NATting but it is to prove which is the issue.. but it is looking to me very strongly as a wan port not handling the connection properly.

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Answer 13

emheenan Author

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Oct 5, 2013 9:58 PM in response to LaPastenague

Ok, I've done a couple of things, including what you suggested, and am getting very odd results.

I did a full factory reset of both my modem and my Time Capsule. First I set it up so that the modem was managing the PPPoE connection, and the Time Capsule was in router mode. I limited the WAN bandwidth first to 100Mbps/full duplex, then half duplex, as you suggested. This didn't make any significant difference to the speed. Speedtest.net was giving me between 1.5 and 2.5 Mbps.

Then I put the modem in bridge mode and had the Time Capsule manage the PPPoE connection. This is how I always had the network running without problems until 7.6.4. (The major problem I had with 7.6.4 was that I couldn't manage a stable PPPoE connection for more than 10-15 minutes. I've only recently realised 7.6.4 was the problem, and I had "solved" this problem for the last few weeks by reverting to having the modem manage the PPPoE connection).

With the Time Capsule managing the PPPoE connection and the modem in bridge mode, the very first time I tried speedtest.net (about 1 minutes after setting it up) I got a result of 8.5Mbs. Voila I thought. But it hasn't lasted. Everytime I've tried since I get between 4.5 and 5.5 Mbps.

Does that shed any light on what might be wrong, or just more darkness?

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Answer 14

Oct 5, 2013 11:42 PM in response to emheenan

It is all darkness I am afraid.

I cannot figure out why the trip to 7.6.4 should be irrevocable. Even if you have issues with that firmware.. which would not at all surprise me.. why reversion doesn't fix it.

There is another setup..

Put the modem back to full router.

What we are going to do is called Wan Bypass.

I will give specifics as it is easier to explain but you will need to figure it out yourself from your own values.

Lets say modem is 192.168.1.1 and passing IP addresses 100-200 .. that would be a common modem setup.

Set the TC to 192.168.1.254 . .try it this way.

We are going to remove routing from the TC.. so select the distribute a range of IP addresses.

Then set the IP of the TC.

Then set to dhcp range .. you can use just one address if you want. Outside the modem range.

Now try plugging the LAN port of the TC to the modem, instead of WAN.. and see how the computer goes.. it should pick up IP address not from the TC but from the modem.. and basically the TC should act as if bridged.. if it does get the IP you assigned .. that is still fine.. see how it goes.

You will of course be on 7.6.1 firmware.. nothing later.

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Answer 15

emheenan Author

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Oct 7, 2013 5:39 AM in response to LaPastenague

I haven't had a chance to try the WAN bypass you suggested above, but after reading your comments on this thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5215864 I tried again to limit the WAN port speed, but this time to 10 Mb/s (rather than the 100Mb/s you suggested above) and have had some success. For the last 24 hours I have consistently been getting speeds from speedtest.net in the range 8.5-9.5Mbps.

I also retract what I said above about being able to maintain a stable PPPoE connection from the Time Capsule since downgrading to 7.6.1. I checked my connection history with my ISP and found that the PPPoE connection (not the ADSL one, which maintained sync) was dropping out every 5-15 minutes.

So whatever installing 7.6.4 broke (which includes at least the ability to maintain a stable PPPoE connection and WAN port speed negotiation), downgrading to 7.6.1 has not unbroken.

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