NWA50AX PRO random download rate limiting

Phil_M
Phil_M Posts: 5  Freshman Member
First Comment
in Wireless

I have a simple setup of 2 x NWA50AX PRO connected via cat 6 ethernet to a Linksys MX5600 router. ISP speed is 900Mbps up and down. Each AP is running standalone, with one 5MHz channel set to ch 120 and the other to ch 36, both at 80Mhz and -20dB output. WiFi speedtest at the router is solid 1Mb/s down and 900Mb/s up. this has never varied over the past 3 months. The same speedtest via the APs occasionally hits 850Mb/s up and down which is obviously good but more often tops out at around 550Mb/s down and 850Mb/s up. 5MHz channels do not change between good and bad results and WiFi analyser confirms optimum channels in use. I have tried setting channel width to 160MHz and increasing transmit levels with no improvement. Rate limit is off. Any ides?

All Replies

  • Zyxel_Melen
    Zyxel_Melen Posts: 3,116  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Nebula Zyxel Certified Sales Associate

    Hi @Phil_M ,

    I think you can check these FAQs first to optimize the WiFi performance:

    https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/14348/nebula-how-to-optimize-wireless-performance-with-wlan-rate-control

    https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/14422/nebula-how-to-optimize-wireless-performance-with-deployment-selection-and-maximum-output-power
    Zyxel Melen


  • Phil_M
    Phil_M Posts: 5  Freshman Member
    First Comment

    Hello, thanks for your response.

    I have checked the adjustments suggested, however I've not achieved any improvement. To summarise I have 2 x NWA50AX PRO APs hardwired (cat 6) to a Linksys 5600 router. AP1 is in the kitchen, AP2 the lounge and the router in a separate room (all ground floor). Concrete walls separate each AP meaning that neighbouring AP's received level is <-70dBm to ensure correct switching between APs when moving from room to room. Note that speed tests at the router all show consistent download of 1Mb/s via its internal wifi. Using the same speed tester (speedtest.net) at the APs shows download of around 550Mb/s, with occasional improvement to 850Mb/s which then reverts to the slower rate after an hour or so. Interestingly, the AP download speeds improved after a recent firmware update only to slow down again a few hours later. There are only two users on the network.

    Summary

    WLAN rate is set to unlimited on both APs (default) I'm not using Nebula to manage at present.

    I have tried both 80MHz and 160MHz channel widths, no change

    5MHz radio output level set to 20dB on both APs, increasing did not help

    AP1 set to channel 120 for 5MHz (fixed)

    AP2 set to auto channel selection for 5MHz AP selects ch 40

    Router channel (auto) is 36

    Is there anything else I can try?

  • Zyxel_Melen
    Zyxel_Melen Posts: 3,116  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Nebula Zyxel Certified Sales Associate
    edited March 10

    Hi @Phil_M

    Thanks for your update. Could you also share some screenshots of the speed test result? Just curious about whether the speed is up and down in one test.

    Zyxel Melen


  • Phil_M
    Phil_M Posts: 5  Freshman Member
    First Comment
    Screenshot_20250310_102301_Speedtest.jpg
    Screenshot_20250310_102332_Speedtest.jpg

    Hi, as requested two screenshots of speed tests done within 2 mins of each other, each was using the same server. The one showing 1.05Mb/s download was at the router, the other at the kitchen AP.

    Rgds

    Phil

  • Phil_M
    Phil_M Posts: 5  Freshman Member
    First Comment

    Hi Zyxel_Melen, any further thoughts on my issue?

    Thanks

  • Zyxel_Melen
    Zyxel_Melen Posts: 3,116  Zyxel Employee
    Zyxel Certified Network Engineer Level 1 - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Switch Zyxel Certified Network Administrator - Nebula Zyxel Certified Sales Associate

    Hi @Phil_M,

    I discussed with our engineer that this issue is more likely related to the environment. Could you help to have some tests so we can identify this issue?

    1. Disconnect the AP and directly connect a PC and test speed test.
    2. Connect the AP and disable the router's WiFi to test again.
    3. Collect the diagnostic file so we can check the WiFi connection status.
    Zyxel Melen


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