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Getting full speed from EE wifi extender

RobAshcroft
Investigator
Investigator

‎05-04-2025 09:12 AM - edited ‎05-04-2025 09:14 AM

Just posting this for info.

I have a wifi 6 extender upstairs with wifi 6 router downstairs. My speed to the house is 900. If I connect via wifi to the extender  I get about 450, but if I connect a device to the extender using an ethernet cable I get full 900. The connection between the router and extender is wifi but runs at full speed, but you need to connect by cable from the extender to use that maximum speed. This was confirmed by an EE engineer who was at my house yesterday.

So, if you have a few extenders around the house and connect using ethernet cable you should get full speed everywhere. I tried it in my summerhouse 60ft down the garden and I got 800Mbps, and I am writing this on my laptop connected to the extender via cable and I'm getting 940Mbps!

I don't think BT/EE make this very obvious. I spoke to a BT tech guy yesterday and he said most people seem to want a wifi solution rather than using cables, but why? I can also connect my phone to an extender using cable by using a ethernet to USBC adapter and just plug the phone in and get maximum speed.

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3 REPLIES 3
JimM11
Brilliant Contributor
Brilliant Contributor

‎05-04-2025 09:36 AM

@RobAshcroft It's all to do with the backhaul of the Smart wireless device. If you connect the Smart wireless and the EE Router by an Ethernet cable for a wired backhaul, then wireless signals only have to go to the extender and down the wired connection, otherwise the device has to re-transmit the wireless connected device if it is not hardwired back to the router.

If you are getting virtually max speed on a wireless backhaul via the Ethernet port on the smart wireless extender then you have a very good setup at your location...

RobAshcroft
Investigator
Investigator
In response to JimM11

‎05-04-2025 11:22 AM

I agree, I must have a very good setup. I am close to the exchange, 50metres from green box, my house is modern with few obstructive walls. Plus I worked for BT (in IT) for 26 years so I get very special treatment (I'm joking). 😉

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JimM11
Brilliant Contributor
Brilliant Contributor
In response to RobAshcroft

‎05-04-2025 12:01 PM

@RobAshcroft It's just good to know what is possible and capable with a EE Smarthub+ and a few Smart wireless devices scattered around and how good the Mesh can be with a wireless backhaul setup that you have explained so well. Lot's off people seem to have issue's but mostly just getting the mesh setup in the first place. 

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