Question Wireless AC 2x2 laptop speed question.

Hans Gruber

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 2006
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I bought a Chromebook as a test device for my soon to be mesh network. It looks like I will be getting the TP Link Deco 9. The reason is the wireless back haul which will eventually find it's way to my parents house when they get fiber in the next few months. My wireless AC downloads via my Netgear R64000 are consistently between 360mbps and 380mbps on the chromebook as well as a new 2020 Ipad.

My question is will a wired gigabit back haul (not using the wireless back haul) provide better download speeds than a traditional router that lacks a wired or wireless back haul?

I found this little tidbit.
In general, a 2x2 AC client (most devices) will have a max theoretical connection of 866mbps, which will usually yield a throughput roughly half of that due to overhead. This varies based on hardware and environment. A 3x3 mimo client will max connect at 1300mbps, same holds true with actuals, on average half that.

If my max speed for a wireless AC 2x2 nic card in my chromebook is 866mbps. Would a wireless mesh network with wired gigabit back haul at all 3 puck points provide speeds closer to the 866gbps limitation of the 2X2 wireless AC card? Or would my max speeds still be 360-380mbps?

In the house there is only one wifi 6 device. A Samsung S10 5G phone, not mine. So I am getting the TP-Link Deco M9 as a place holder as well as a useful mesh network for my parents who lack gigagbit wired backhaul at their house.
 

mnewsham

Lifer
Oct 2, 2010
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Wifi is only half-duplex, so even though the link rate is 866mbps, realistically you'll see at most ~60-70% of that.

The fastest i see on my 802.11AC 2x2 access point (connected with 1gbps ethernet backhaul) to my 802.11AX 2x2 phone is ~580mbps, but the average is closer 350-400mbps.
 

mxnerd

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Jul 6, 2007
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You need to post Chromebooks model and its 2x2 WiFi chipset info for its theoretical max speed.

Is 360mbps ~ 380mbps throughput or connection speed? They are different things.

Not WiFi expert, someone here probably can tell whether your Chromebook's WiFi chipset is compatible with your router (and future router) and able to achieve max theoretical speed under perfect condition.


 
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Hans Gruber

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Dec 23, 2006
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My connection speed is 1gbps down and about 41mbps up. This is my wireless AC speed test result. Again, I do not have mesh network yet. The Netgear r6400 is my current wifi router.
 

mxnerd

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Jul 6, 2007
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OK. That's your throughput, not connection speed. You probably already connected at 866mbps or 780mbps.

Tell us your Chromebook's model so we can look up the spec. Like what
mnewsham has said, throughput could be only half of that because it's only half duplex (data can be transmitted only in one direction at one time).

Don't own a Chromebook so I can't tell you how to check connection speed.

Here is the MCS Index, WiFi theoretical speed.

Untitled.png


Alternatively, see if R6400 give WiFi client status, which probably will provide client's connection speed info.
 
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mxnerd

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Jul 6, 2007
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According to HP


In Chrome OS, perform the following steps to determine the wireless link speed:
NOTE:
Many of the network information tools do not correctly report the wireless speed in Chrome OS. Certain network information tools may incorrectly report the wireless speed to be 100Mbps.
  1. Open the Chrome browser.
  2. Type Chrome://system into the location bar.
  3. Scroll down to the network-devices section and click on the Expand… button.
  4. Locate the LinkStatistics/6/ReceiveBitrate: value.
See if it gives some info.
 

Hans Gruber

Platinum Member
Dec 23, 2006
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Deco M9 plus with wired backhaul. Very impressive results. That is wireless AC 2X2 867mbps connection. The Tri-band is ok but not capable of the same speeds that wired backhaul give.
 
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