Network performance is very poor despite having full internet access.
Network performance is very poor despite having full internet access.
Network setup in the picture: While streaming high-definition films on my laptop causes stuttering and playback issues, downloading files from the server becomes smooth. My system runs Windows 11 Professional, and both the file server and my laptop are also using Windows 11 Professional—planning to switch to Linux for better stability and fewer abrupt reboots. The device connected is Jellyfin, accessible via a standard Windows share. It has strong Wi-Fi coverage, and the mesh network relies on Google Nest. Installing cables upstairs isn’t feasible due to space constraints. All devices maintain full internet speeds during testing. The file server is a typical PC equipped with three 3.5" spinning drives at 7200 RPM connected via USB 3. The laptop and Wi-Fi are located in the same room, with an Ethernet connection of 1GB from the Wi-Fi access point to a switch. During file transfers, speeds stay under 30Mb/s. Any suggestions?
It depends on how the mesh operates. When it connects both the same radio for the mesh and your laptop, they compete for the same bandwidth, which can slow things down. This is worse if the laptop is on a second node with a 5GHz signal instead of the main one from upstairs. You might actually see better performance using the mesh node at 2.4GHz. If the mesh has its own dedicated radio, this shouldn't occur.
I installed a router without DHCP between the mesh box above and the main network, but it didn’t work. I can’t modify the Google Mesh settings since they control it. My current router doesn’t support 2.4GHz, which is a limitation. I’m unsure how to resolve this. I’m open to discarding the Google boxes for a better option. Any affordable wireless bridge solutions from downstairs to upstairs would help.