Have you encountered any networking problems?
Have you encountered any networking problems?
Hello
I'll try to be factual with this so it doesn't drag on. My internet routing is as follows:
Internet (ONT box) >
TP-Link Deco M4
"main" >
Netgear Switch
>
Ethernet
(to upstairs) >
TP-Link Switch
> Office PC /
Deco M4
"office"
My internet speed is 1GB download.
I don't really know what that translates to on SpeedTest and whether I should be seeing speeds of 900Mbps or so?
CABLES:
All cables are CAT6 - some enterprise style, of which most are at least 1m if not 2m long.
I'm considering replacing some of these with shorter versions, as the distances the cables need to travel downstairs is between 20cm and 50cm. If I had shorter cables, it would be a bit tidier and I could look at coloured versions instead of all white, so I can see what's what.
The ethernet to upstairs routes outside and through the loft.
I wired up the network ports downstairs and upstairs using
this
.
TP-LINK DECO ISSUE:
I used to connect the ethernet from downstairs to the Deco and then the TP-Link switch but either my ISP (Octaplus - but changing to Aquiss in a couple of months) or the Decos fudge out at least once every couple of weeks. The Deco unit needs restarting to bring the house online again. I switched the routing to the above so when I restart the Deco downstairs, the Office PC upstairs has internet straight away, instead of me having to also restart the Deco upstairs occasionally.
The only issue is that because the route between the Decos is now going through two switches, the Deco upstairs doesn't think it's connected through ethernet. It's no big deal as the Deco downstairs is actually quite good with range.
Although I only bought it in 2023, I might look at a newer version of the Deco units but not sure yet.
SPEED ISSUES:
When I use the routing above, I get around 90Mb download and 55Mb upload on the Office PC.
When I connect
an ethernet cable
from the main Deco downstairs to either the office Deco upstairs or to the TP-Link switch, I get 250Mb download speeds and over 300 upload.
If I connect the same cable but plug it in to the Netgear switch downstairs, I get the 90/55 speeds again. This suggests the switch is limiting the speeds, despite being a gigabit switch.
I have ordered another TP-Link switch to try (although only a 5-port rather than 8 as downstairs only uses 3 ports).
When the new switch arrives, I can then use it and the flat cable to test speeds, then use the cable I've wired outside to see if that cable is limiting the speeds.
Phew!
Are there any other thoughts on any of these issues?
Should I look at some branded short ethernet cables or will any old cables from ebay do?
Thanks for reading.
Your ethernet connections should display approximately 1GBps. The switches should maintain that performance. The Decos @2.4GHz operates at 300 Mbps, so if you're seeing lower speeds, it might be due to a faulty cable or a damaged strand. A laptop connected directly to the switches or routers should achieve around 1GBps. Are you observing this?
Plugged in but upstairs, the wiring runs about 20m to 25m. Although the drop shouldn't be huge, it's possible my ISP isn't reliable, so the change might help.
I just tested on my phone in the same room as the Deco unit using 5GHz, getting 269Mbps.
Could be a problem with the Deco units themselves.
I might try connecting the ISP router to see how fast it works wirelessly.
Many factors are involved, so it’s important to test systematically. Increasing complexity comes from the fact that deco units can link via Wi-Fi when Ethernet isn’t available. Typically, speeds around 94 Mbps indicate a port operating at 100 Mbps. The lower end of 90 Mbps usually reflects overheads such as MAC addresses. This situation often points to a subpar cable. The issue lies in inconsistent performance—some devices may handle 1 Gbit while others only achieve 100 Mbps, and occasionally it fails entirely. Ensure you use genuine cables. They should be Cat5e or better, using pure copper wire with a size of 22-24. There are numerous fake Ethernet cables available, mostly the cheap, flat ones that don’t meet standards.
Try the simplest setup first: connect your main deco directly to the cable box, then plug your PC into the next step. This usually involves three cables—short between deco and wall, in-wall cable, and a short between the remote jack and PC. If this works, proceed by adding switches at each end one by one, ensuring no other devices are connected. You can then insert the additional deco unit.
Consider purchasing new Ethernet cables for testing different setups. It’s possible a cable works well on your PC but not on the switch. Be cautious when testing with Wi-Fi disabled, as inconsistent performance can lead to confusing outcomes. Ethernet ports should always operate at full speed. If your ISP offers 500 Mbps, you should notice higher speeds when running at 1 Gbit. Testing within your home with multiple machines and tools like iperf can help clarify the situation.
Well... it turns out the Ethernet was connected to the incorrect socket on the switch, which accounts for the 100Mbps limit. Everything functions normally now but I’m seeing around 250Mbps. Not too bad given I have a 1Gb connection at home, though that’s still much faster than before. This confirms the downstairs switch is working properly. My next step is to locate a longer Ethernet cable for the downstairs switch to check if the outdoor cable is restricting performance. If the issue persists, it might be the TP-Link Decos.
I would attempt to relocate the pc and connect straight to the ONT or the initial deco unit. The decision hinges on which option is simpler than extending another lengthy cable.
I question if a limited cable is restricting performance.
The cables/ports consistently maintain a 1gbit connection between devices.
Speed reduction would only occur through packet loss.
If data needs to be resent, the average rate drops.
A significant drop from 1gbit to 250mbps would be necessary for noticeable slowdown.
A straightforward way to check for packet loss is to send a larger packet via ping.
For a router at 192.168.1.1, use the command
ping 192.168.1.1 -l 1500 -t
If substantial loss appears, it likely indicates a network problem at home.
Most performance problems stem from data being stored in buffers.
Cables and ethernet lack buffer spaces or delay mechanisms.
Data is either delivered correctly or discarded.
This suggests the issue may lie with the internet connection or settings on the deco.
You might consider connecting directly to the ONT to remove the router’s influence.