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Q: 802.11 ac on 5ghz tx rate drops to 7mbps

Hi,

Im using MBP 2014  yosemite + tested on el capitan.

I got new router that supports 5ghz and 2.4ghz. What i noticed is that for some time after connecting to 5ghz network it will work fine but then after few minutes it will suddenly drop the TX rate to 7mbps and internet would be unreachable. While on 2.4ghz network it works fine. When i reconnect it starts working again but it will inevitably drop. Has someone noticed something similar? It makes 5ghz network unusable  to me.

 

I also tested this on windows 10 bootcamp - there it works without flaw.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.5)

Posted on Aug 19, 2015 3:27 AM

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Q: 802.11 ac on 5ghz tx rate drops to 7mbps

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  • by BobHarris,

    BobHarris BobHarris Jan 9, 2016 8:28 AM in response to Googole
    Level 6 (19,597 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 9, 2016 8:28 AM in response to Googole

    Use Wireless Diagnostics to help you resolve Wi-Fi issues on your Mac - Apple Support

     

    Beside actual diagnostics, the Wireless Diagnostics -> Window -> ... has a but of other features.

     

    Scan will tell you about other WiFi base stations near you, and will give RSSI and Noise information for each.

     

    The line in Bold will be your WiFi base station.

    You want to see a strong RSSI signal (-30, -40, -50's)

    You want to see a low Noise signal (-92, -80's)

     

    You also want to check the channels being used by yourself and the other WiFi base stations.  If you are using 2.4GHz, then you want to be 5 channels away from any other base stations (each channel uses 5 channels worth of bandwidth, which is why you need to be 5 channels away to get a clear signal).  If you cannot get 5 channels away, then have your WiFi base station use a channel that is between 2 other base stations with weak signals and where you get low noise and a strong signal for yourself.

     

    If you are using 5GHz, each channel does not overlay, but 5GHz can gang 2, 3 or 4 channels together for faster transmissions.  But 5GHz is also shorter range so there is a better chance you will not see a lot of noise from other base stations.  Of course this assumes you are not far away from your own WiFi base station as you need to get a strong signal.

     

    Other sources of noise are cordless telephones that use 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequences.  Baby Monitors are very bad as they are on all the time.  Microwave ovens operate at 2.4GHz because that is the frequency that causes water to vibrate.  And for that reason putting your WiFi base station behind a fish tank full of water is a bad idea, as water will absorb the signal.  Metal objects between your base station and your Mac, including metal studs in the walls and concrete walls with structural metal rebar in them.  Metal appliances, so do not put your base station where it has to go through the refrigerator, stove, hot water heater, etc...

     

    USB-3 devices with poorly shielded cables or poorly shielded enclosures can cause serious WiFi interference, especially if it is sitting right next to the Mac or the WiFi base station.  intel wrote a white paper on this.

    <https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/io/universal-serial-bus/usb3-frequen cy-interference-paper.html>

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