Confusion about router performance (433 or 100 Mbps).
Confusion about router performance (433 or 100 Mbps).
I was checking out options for a new router and was pretty sure I had the Netgear R6020 in mind. Then I spotted something confusing in their technical details. Under WiFi Performance they mention an AC750 rating, which suggests a 400+ Mbps speed in the 5GHz band. However, in the Ethernet ports section they list "Five (5) 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports (1 WAN & 4 LAN)." Does this imply I can only get up to 100 Mbps from my ISP or that the router will deliver a maximum of 100 Mbps over Ethernet? My instinct says it’s the latter, otherwise it would be misleading. Would this mean my wireless connections will outperform wired ones? Or am I misunderstanding? I’m not very familiar with router hardware, so I thought I had everything covered, but now I see what these numbers mean. Any advice or extra info would be appreciated.
Side note: Don’t recommend gigabit models since your current ISP speeds are already under 100 Mbps, so this one seems like the best fit for me.
Indicates the setup relies on T100 ports, resulting in limited internet bandwidth—both from the network and local area. I’d prefer another router instead. Options like the NETGEAR Nighthawk DST AC1900 Dual-Band Mesh Wi-Fi System or similar R7000 models are worth considering. They’re a bit pricier but provide quicker speeds, dual bands, and T100 ports. The model mentioned also includes a wireless range extender using powerline tech. Typically costs between $80 and $120 depending on the search.
For routers with speeds up to 450Mbps on their wireless radio, you often find ports limited to 100Mbps. This happens because unless you’re extremely close to the router with a device that has a strong antenna (like a laptop rather than a phone), you won’t reach speeds near the maximum. Even then, you wouldn’t typically exceed around 300Mbps. In most cases, the wireless connection will fall short of the 100Mbps Ethernet rate. Another factor is that Wi-Fi operates in half-duplex mode, so if the link speed is 200Mbps, the maximum bandwidth in each direction is only 100Mbps (though the protocol doesn’t strictly enforce this division). The third point is that budget routers with 100Mbps ports usually have a slow CPU that can’t process more than 100–200Mbps. This mainly impacts internet traffic, not LAN transfers—except that any data moving between wired and wireless paths goes through the CPU.
Previously with 802.11n you'd expect roughly half the data speed, but a solid 802.11ac setup can deliver around three-quarters at close distance without interference. As you mentioned, pushing maximum throughput in both directions reduces that rate, though most users handle things mainly in one direction. That's why for devices like NAS units it's crucial to connect them wired—this keeps file transfers snappy. Keep in mind that a router advertising AC750 usually indicates it's only suitable for small 1x1 devices. Achieving 433Mbit speeds would require an 80Mhz channel, which often limits coverage. Today’s routers commonly offer 2x2 MIMO (AC1200), giving you about 866Mbit at 80Mhz or 433Mbit at 40Mhz. Generally, narrower channels provide more stable signals and better compatibility with nearby WiFi networks. I've noticed that a 40Mhz channel can outperform an 80Mhz one when the signal is weak.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that my current router is an Asus RT-N10E, a N150 model. Honestly, I’m not keen on spending more than $45 on one. The best speeds I’ve ever gotten were around 40 Mbps, so I don’t really feel the need for something more. It’s basically a situation in a developing area. Thanks still. Regarding T100 ports—most people think they let 100 Mbps connections, but that’s the advertised speed. In practice, it depends on the router settings and the network configuration. If your router supports it, you might get closer to that speed, but it’s not guaranteed. The issue you’re facing is more about signal strength at the edges of your home rather than the actual bandwidth. Since your house is large and mostly indoors, with walls and some humidity, the signal should stay stable unless someone uses a 5GHz channel.
MIMO allows sending multiple signals through the same channel. This means a 2x2 setup can double both downstream and upstream speeds, while a 3x3 configuration triples them, and so on. Some devices also support configurations like 2x1, providing double the download speed with only one uplink, which is useful if you mainly care about speed gains. Because it uses two or three signals instead of just one, MIMO can improve reception and performance over longer distances by increasing the chances of capturing a strong signal from at least one antenna. It's important to note that while a 3x3 router requires three antennas, not every router with three antennas is truly a 3x3—some may only use them for better reception.
T represents the transfer rate. Values like t10 - 10mbps, t100 - 100mbps, and t1000 - 1000mbps indicate the number of antennas and streams supported. This mainly describes the capacity for both sending and receiving data. Wi-Fi used to be a half-duplex system, with communication happening in a round-robin manner between devices. With MiMO (multi-in and multi-out), several connections can operate simultaneously, allowing a single device to utilize multiple channels when available to increase speeds. It seems you overlooked part of your original message regarding your ISP speeds. If your needs stay under 100mbps, it should work well; otherwise, transferring between devices will cause significant delays. You probably prefer affordable options, but there are routers offering t1000 ports and solid Wi-Fi performance for reasonable prices. HooToo Wireless Router AC1200 costs around $42, features AC1200 technology, numerous antennas for better coverage, a 1gb WAN port, and 4 gb LAN ports, plus a USB 3.0 port.
I’d choose the Netgear R6220. It offers the wireless AC you’re after along with gigabit ports. You might not realize you need them, but the performance will boost and stay steady. Better to be equipped for faster speeds or take full advantage of higher local network capabilities.
I wouldn't suggest opting for a budget router since it's crucial for your network setup. However, the R6220 appears to have positive feedback. If you need it, its reviews seem reasonable, though I'm wary about not finding specific information on NAT performance.
R6220 confirmed. The router is designed with T100 ports on both WAN and LAN for reliability, even if higher bandwidth isn't fully utilized. >AC1200 Gigabit routers should let you move data between home devices at gigabit speeds over LAN ports, regardless of your ISP's internet speed. Your local LAN performance isn't directly tied to your down/up transfer rates. >WiFi signal quality depends on antenna position and angle, affecting the strength and coverage of the connection.