Reduced throughput of ‘Smart WiFi plus” Ethernet ports - slow

[Toliver182]

Hi All

I have the 1.6 Gbps package.

I get full speeds over WiFi from both the “Smart Hub Pro” and the Smart WiFi Plus. 

My issue is speeds over Ethernet when going via the smart WiFi plus. 

The below is using all wired using cat 7e.

ONT -> SMART HUB PRO -> SMART WIFI PLUS -> PC WITH 1 Gbps NIC = ~400 Mbps

ONT -> SMART HUB PRO --> PC WITH 1 Gbps NIC = ~950 Mbps

I didn’t have this issue with my ASUS XT8 prior to the 1.6 Gbps service. 

I have checked that it negotiates the same 1000 Mbps it’s just the speed that’s reduced. 

any suggestions ?

[Toliver182]

Those mobile captures were using iPerf3 to test connectivity from my phone to my pc via the network. 
Ignore them for now.

I have now fitted my PC with a 10GB NIC.

The results are the same:

ONT > SMART HUB PRO > SMART WIFI PLUS - PC WITH 10 Gbps NIC = ~400 Mbps

ONT > SMART HUB PRO > PC WITH 10 Gbps NIC = ~1300 Mbps

All WIFI disabled too. 

So it appears that when using purley ethernet the SMART WIFI PLUS reduces throughput massivly 

[JimM11]

@Toliver182 With the test that you have completed, i will agree with you that the Nic looks to be supressing data stream throughput, other than and know that this may not be possible due to lack of equipment, wonder if a 2.5Gb/s switch in front of either the backhaul with the pc connected helps out the issue. No way of knowing what the EE Smart wireless is doing or thinking, Would also try to alleviate that NO wireless devices were anywhere near or connected to the Smart wireless in any way or format, just incase they try to interrupt the device operation. Assume you are trying to prove the operation of the device in question. There was a question before and sure that switch was required to ensure the correct operation will try to find what the outcome was and attach. Sure its in this post and will try to narrow down the page. Pages 58/59 think OP resolved this now. You can reach out and confer with each other.

2 week review of EE 1.6gbs - The EE Community

[Barneyabz]

• Shouldn't it be the Smart WiFi "Pro" you use with the Smart Hub Pro?, not the Smart WiFi Plus? It could be related to that, despite being fully wired. If it's fully wired, try a 1GB switch instead of the Smart Hub Plus and see if that works.

[JimM11]

@Barneyabz Just a typo that is up on the posting, earlier mention of having 2 Ethernet ports, and the EE Smart Wireless device for the Pro version is the only one that has that combination.

Has been reported before that a user has managed to get the EE Smart Wireless + version to work fine with the Pro router with no apparent problems, AS YET!

[bobpullen]

@Toliver182 - just piping up to say you're not alone.

I don't typically have anything wired to my extender but I do use wired backhaul (Cat-7). I've just grabbed an old Linux laptop with a 1GbE ethernet port and a Chromebook with a 2.5GbE USB-C Ethernet adapter and connected them in turn to my spare Smart WiFi Pro Ethernet port.

I also see deterioration on web-based speedtests using this setup and iPerf3 between the laptops and a 2.5GbE wired desktop results in similar findings to you.

From Linux laptop to Desktop (OK): -

[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.09 GBytes   935 Mbits/sec   41             sender
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.09 GBytes   934 Mbits/sec                  receiver

 From Desktop to Linux laptop (Slow): -

[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   176 MBytes   148 Mbits/sec                  sender
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   176 MBytes   148 Mbits/sec                  receiver

From Chromebook to Desktop (OK'ish): -

[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.55 GBytes  1.33 Gbits/sec  108             sender
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.55 GBytes  1.33 Gbits/sec                  receiver

From Desktop to Chromebook (Speedy but slower than it should be): -

[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate
[  5]   0.00-10.01  sec   756 MBytes   634 Mbits/sec                  sender
[  5]   0.00-10.01  sec   756 MBytes   634 Mbits/sec                  receiver

I've reported to EE who have relayed the issue to engineers however, smells like something that's likely to need fixing in firmware.

Well spotted!

[Alex6348]

A little late to the party. 

I received my Pro kit last week and I also have this issue.
Cat 6 canle from my hub to the Smart wifi extender, receiving 900+mbs when I plug it directly into my laptop.

when you but the Wifi extender in-between as a through fare from the second Lan port, this significantly reduces to around 100mbs

[Alex6348]

For anyone who might have this problem in the future.  I rang EE, they advised that the Wifi extenders are not designed to be used as an Ethernet through put. 

Anyway, after that call I realised the 1 cable I had from laptop to Wifi plus extender was a cat 5e and all other cables I had tried were cat5e.   As soon as I changed it to a cat 6 I had full data speeds. 

so thats running a cat6 from Hub to smart wifi pro extender and then another cat 6 from there to my laptop.

amazing how the difference between cables can change it from 70mpbs to 750+mbs  

[JimM11]

@Alex6348 Are you sure that the cat 5e just did not have a bad connection or break on one off the cables, one connection lost and automatic down to the 100Mb/s speed on that cable. Ports on the Pro and the Smart wireless have been reported as cable fussy, and at 2.5Gb/s nic ports that may be the case.

[Alex6348]

 @JimM11  I think you are right with the ports on the back of the Smart PRO. Had full speed for about a week and its dropped back down now. Tried different wires and ports again. It is defiantly an issue with the Smart PRO settings or Ports/Pins at the back