Question WiFi Router Integrated Switch vs Stand Alone Switch Speeds

[RhoXS]

A week or two ago I posted a number of questions about a TP-Link AC5400 router I was trying to install. My only goal was to put the Comcast Xfinity gateway in Bridge mode, use it as a modem only, and use a much more competent WiFi device to eliminate long time connectivity issues with door locks, remote controlled blinds, and a garage door opener. I did indeed succeed with this goal using the TP-Link router and all these devices now remain reliably connected. However, I discovered something unexpected that now presents no consequential problem but I would like to understand it.

After getting the TP-Link router,WiFi, etc. working, I noticed the internet speed on my ethernet connected PC was less than half of what it should have been. I have a 1.2 gbs service but do not at all expect to get anything greater than 1 gbs as I am using 1 gbs switches and cat 5e cable runs. If I connected my PC directly to the Comcast modem, I was consistently seeing speeds 900-950 gbs. However, if I connected it via the 5 port ethernet switch integrated with the TP-Link router (no other ethernet loads), speeds were consistently less than 500 gbs and more typically about 400 gbs. I experimented with various settings all to no avail. I ended up simply feeding an 8 port unmanaged switch directly from the Comcast modem and feeding the PC, the router (for WiFi), and the other ethernet loads from the switch. This worked fine and I was consistently seeing 950 gbs or so on my PC. Although this worked, it bothered me because the external switch seemed redundant with the now unused 5 port integrated switch in the TP-Link router. So, yesterday I replaced the TP-Link AC5400 router with a Netgear AXE7800 RAXE300 router. The Netgear integrated switch is much faster out of the box and the internet speeds I see on my ethernet connected PC are consistently just under 900 gbs but average about 50 gbs less than what I was seeing using the free standing external unmanaged switch. This is fine and I do not need or desire more speed but I am very curious why the router integrated switches tend to be slower than a free standing external switch.

The new Netgear router sports a later faster WiFi version but I cannot see any reason why this would impact the speed of the integrated ethernet switch. The speed loss through the older TP-Link device was unacceptable but even with the new Netgear router there is still some speed loss, albeit not enough to practically matter. Why?

 

[Tech Junky]

Why?

Because you ignored my reference to the manual to disable the crap on the router. 99% of the time it's the built in features that slow down consumer gear.

If you don't need gig speed then it really isn't an issue is it?

When I upgraded to gig the router I was using had gig ports but only hit 300 and swapping it out for a newer router resolved it but came with other issues as they released new firmware constantly that auto downloaded and rebooted. I got sick of that and just built my own instead using a PC and Linux. No more issues and I get to pick my port speed and wifi speed using an AP instead.

 

[lantis3]

It's the 3rd time regarding your TP-Link router.
Did you turn off the QoS feature as suggested? And then turn on NAT Boost?

Question - TP-Link AC5400 - Internet Speed Enigma

I have successfully worked through the issues I discussed in two other recent threads. At this point I found there is no need to replace the Comcast modem with a new Motorola modem and I now have reliable access to the TP-Link router setup (apparently via a firmware update). The Comcast modem is...

forums.anandtech.com

How to set up QoS using TP-Link Wi-Fi Router (new designed blue UI)

How to set up QoS using TP-Link Wi-Fi Router (new designed blue UI)

www.tp-link.com

 

[RhoXS]

Did you turn off the QoS feature as suggested? And then turn on NAT Boost?

Yes, I did all that although there was no obvious dialog I found to to turn on NAT Boost. I also referenced the manual to disable the crap on the router (at least the things I had some understanding about) even though poor Tech Junky thought I ignored him in this regard. The bottom line is that I only deal with this stuff on an infrequent basis, I do not begin to have the ability to keep up with the obviously very smart and knowledgeable people like you guys/girls, and I have no other interest than to just get the thing working properly and then forget about it. I am sure there were things in the TP-Link device I did not understand sufficiently to even know to change but I did not have any desire, time, or ability to extend any additional effort screwing around with it. So, I simply bought a new router, the Netgear AXE7800/RAXE300, and, out of the box, without any heroics or a high level of knowledge as to be found on this forum, it worked perfectly. Even, surprisingly, the audio quality of cellular WiFi calling is now significantly improved. For my needs, the Netgear device is a true plug and play box with only minor inputs like SSIDs, etc. My starting post here simply asked why a switch integrated in a router does not perform exactly like a switch external to the router would perform and only referenced the TP-Link router but it is not the 3rd time regarding the TP-Link router (although I am not sure why that was offensive but I certainly apologize). I am sure the answer to this question about the integrated and external switches is obvious to many others here but it is not to me.

Seriously, the knowledge and experience in this forum is truly outstanding but there seems to be some sort of quick offense taken if the question asker (like myself) does not have the knowledge and level of understanding that those who deal with this stuff all the time instinctively know. I have noticed it when coming here previously over the years, it is apparent in the two responses above, apparent in other responses to other topics, and I do not see it in many of the other forums. That is unfortunate because that limits the potential wealth of help available here. This is just something to think about because there are many users out there, like myself, that have almost no interest in the fine details of networking but sometimes have a need to address a problem and would appreciate the knowledge available here. I suggest, if any of the regular users of this forum, are impatient with those that do not begin to have a high level of knowledge, it would be better to just not respond than to show annoyance with someone that is not as smart about the subject as you. In any case, I do appreciate the efforts associated with the responses I received.

 

[Tech Junky]

@RhoXS

I think you're postulating things beyond what they need to be.

People come here often and drop a thread to fix something and then don't follow through or don't take into account different solutions. The fact that this is the 3rd thread by you for the same device rather than following up on the original thread leads to angst. If you acknowledge suggestions made by others and then add to the discussion that they didn't work it goes further than opening a new thread looking for a different outcome.

Additionally going and buying a new device instead of pursuing a fix for the original issue might dissuade people from responding in the future. If the Netgear solves the issue for now then great. When it doesn't you might not get much help from the same people again and be left with some rather throw spaghetti at the wall types. Techies aren't really known for their "soft" skills and thus you get short quip responses usually.

Best of luck!

 

[lantis3]

Keep asking the same questions over and over and not responding helper's questions and blame one who wanted to help?

It's really funny. Best of luck as well.

 

[ch33zw1z]

use iperf to test end-to-end (w)lan connections

 

[JackMDS]

While there is huge amount of self-creating Food Clothing etc. products use by Homo-sapiens, there are limited amount of creators of CPUs and other central components of Computing Devices.

So.. All manufactures of Network devices have to use for Wireless, Routers Switches etc., choosing components that come from less than 10 manufactures.
So at the core it does matter which Plastic case they are put in.

I actually use some of my old Wireless Routers as switches only (Making sure that everything else is Disabled or Neutral).

That said (as mentioned above), the general output of the switches in the Routers are affected by other components and their setting in the Router.

So if you want to solve you issues you to be Educated how Routers work and configured correctly a you need.