jfowlie

Q: Why is my roaming network losing speed close to the AP express?

I have a roaming network that consists of an Airport Extreme base station, and one Airport Express (2nd generation) that is connected by ethernet.

 

When devices connect to the network close to the Airport Extreme (in the basement, so out of range of the express that is upstairs) they get speeds of about 160Mbps. When they enter the range of the Airport Express, speeds drop to about 55Mbps.

 

To test, I've renamed the 5ghz network on the express to ensure I'm connected to 5ghz and still there is no improvement on the 55Mbps.

 

I have run a scan to determine optimum channels and have set accordingly.

 

Can anyone suggest any fixes that will help get the express speeds in line with the extreme? Or, alternatively, suggest other issues they think may be leading to the drop-off when in range of the express.

 

Thanks,

 

J

Airport Extreme, Airport Express

Posted on Aug 29, 2016 10:46 PM

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Q: Why is my roaming network losing speed close to the AP express?

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  • by LaPastenague,

    LaPastenague LaPastenague Aug 30, 2016 2:03 AM in response to jfowlie
    Level 9 (52,280 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 30, 2016 2:03 AM in response to jfowlie

    Just to make sure you have this setup correctly.

     

    The express should be in bridge and set to create a wireless network of the same name and same security as the Extreme.

     

    To test, I've renamed the 5ghz network on the express to ensure I'm connected to 5ghz

    Is that the same or different name to the Extreme?

     

    What device are you doing the measurements on?

     

    And is the measurement actual speed from speedtest.com etc.. or is this the link speed?

     

    Is the Extreme AC model?

     

    There are multiple major differences.. Just so you do realise there is a huge difference between the AC Extreme and an Express. If you are measuring actual throughput.. the 55Mbps makes perfect sense.. since the Express is a toy router.. it has 100Mbit ports on it.. so absolute max real throughput speed is about 90Mbps on ethernet and perhaps 75Mbps on wireless. Extreme is gigabit ports.. so max throughput speed is about 400Mbps (limited by processor speed WAN to LAN).

    Wireless is also dramatically different.

    On 5ghz Extreme can do 3 stream wireless and up to 433Mbps per stream. And the Express which is 300Mbps N wireless and only capable of 150Mbps per stream.

     

    Depending on the client the link speed will vary tremendously. iPhone for instance is single stream. So it has fairly limited speed cf a computer with a full AC wireless card.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 30, 2016 5:20 AM in response to LaPastenague
    Level 10 (104,968 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 30, 2016 5:20 AM in response to LaPastenague

    LaPastenague has nailed it for you. The Express is not a known for its speed at all, so that is one factor.  Small wireless antenna buried inside the device isn't going to do that much.

     

    Another is that the Express uses 100 Mbps Ethernet ports, so the theoretical maximum speed of the Express in a roaming network with an Ethernet connections would be about 90+ Mbps. So, it doesn't matter that the wireless might do 300 Mpbs,that speed will get knocked down significantly when the signal passes through a much slower Ethernet. port.

     

    On average, I get between 50-60 Mpbs on an Express when it is set up in a roaming network on both an older single port version or the current two port version.

     

    Try an AirPort Extreme, since its Ethernet port will support up to 1,000 Mbps.