Performance issues on NAS with Wi-Fi connection only
Performance issues on NAS with Wi-Fi connection only
Hello, your NAS is connected via Ethernet to your modem/router, but file transfers remain extremely slow over WiFi (<1 MB/s). You’re on the 5GHz band, and signal strength isn’t the problem—speed is normal. When using a wired link, speeds stay good (40+ MB/s), and powerline connections also maintain similar performance. The issue only shows up when you switch to wireless. I’ve tested the same setup both wired and wireless. Hardware details are listed. Could you double-check any settings or configurations? Thanks!
Hey, thanks for a quick reply. I switched to ac only wireless mode - it helps, but does not seem to fix the issue entirely. Before this, transfer speeds were about 1 MB/s, now it is up to 8 MB/s. Still no where near the 40+ MB/s of a wired connection. I doubt I have hit the limit of 5Ghz wifi at 8 MB/s have I?
I retrieve 12.5MB/s from my Networked Gaming PC (wired directEthernet to Router 10/100/1000) sending media files (7GB+ to my phone) through 5G wireless and 3/4 signal strength. ^25ft away, I can simply position myself near the device, but performance drops to 2-5MB/s and reverses. Very sensitive to interference—always present. Probably other influences are at play.
I don't recall much about the theory, but if you're missing MIMO, some wireless routers tend to stick to the slowest device on your network. If you have an old laptop that only supports Wi-Fi type B, your whole network will drop to around 11Mb/s. Wireless N is the slowest at 5GHz, which should ideally offer 300Mb/s. The issue with 5GHz is it usually needs a clear line of sight; even then, it might drop packets frequently. In my industry, working in a factory with wireless transmitters in forklifts can cause problems—when someone uses their microphone, the network drops instantly. This is known as a wave harmonic effect, and some electrical devices behave similarly. Don't attempt to send data through an old fridge while a pump is running—it can ruin your connection. I once had a microwave that also damaged my WiFi.
Well, 40 MB/s isn't that high. I usually manage to transfer files across the network at about 90-95 MB/s—which is what it should be. A gigabit wired connection should perform well. Since you have a solid router, it's likely your AC network card isn't up to the task. Try setting the AC network to operate only on the highest channel width—80 MHz.
Hi everyone, thanks for the advice! homeap5: I changed the frequency to 80 MHz and it feels a bit quicker, though the difference isn’t huge. Dekenizer & SkilledRebuilds: Yes, it might be related to line of sight. The nearest wireless device I tried had a plasterboard wall between it and the router—just about 7 feet away. None of the computers or laptops are very expensive, so maybe another factor is involved. I’ll rule out line of sight when I test it after work. I’m just noticing these problems only after my powerline kit stopped working, so I’ll try wireless while the new unit arrives. Cheers!
Placing your device close to your WAP can weaken the signal. For the strongest connection, position it in a circular area around the WAP.