Status: No 1Gbit as expected
Status: No 1Gbit as expected
Hi everyone, I hope everything is okay. I found a puzzling problem with our home network recently. We have a fast 1 Gbit Fiber connection, but devices on the same network are getting wildly different speeds. Here’s what I observed:
- Desktop: Download ~120/120 Mbit, Upload 900/900 Mbit (tested with Speediest Ookla and fast.com)
- Desktop: Download ~300/750 Mbit, Upload 150/300 Mbit (tested with Speedtest Ookla and fast.com; major difference after connecting a new 7590 Fritz)
- Desktop: Download ~50/150 Mbit, Upload 150/100 Mbit (tested with Speedtest Ookla and fast.com)
Regarding connections:
1. The desktop is directly linked to the router via a 20m CAT7 LAN cable. A NETGEAR GS108GE switch was present but didn’t affect results when removed.
2. Both the Desktop 2 and Desktop 3 are connected to a NETGEAR GS105GE switch with CAT5e cables. From the router, using a phone gives about 700Mbit download.
What I tried:
1. Switched to a new router of the same model.
2. Removed all devices from the network and directly connected Desktop 1 via a 5m LAN to the router (gave 300Mbit download).
3. Checked router settings; ensured all LAN ports were in power mode.
4. Experienced a mental breakdown.
5. Reset the router to factory settings.
6. Verified desktop settings and hardware specs.
7. Second mental breakdown.
8. Used iperf to measure bandwidth; found only 500Mbit available.
My goal is to get the speed back to what I expect from my speedtest results. Please let me know what you think—I’m hoping this clears things up!
Thanks in advance.
Stay mindful of the * indicators on the velocities. Unless you possess a business relationship, and expect consistent performance, it remains "up to X speed."
The only way to achieve a 1G connection is if the entire fiber link runs directly from the outside connector to your computer. Any copper wiring will cause a significant drop in speed. You'll need to replace all network cards with fiber-compatible ones since regular ones can't handle that bandwidth. Additionally, every download site must use the same hardware—most don’t. In short, yes, it’s possible in theory, but practically you won’t.
It doesn't require high fiber speed to achieve 1g. Copper can provide it easily inside the house, and even more with the right equipment. You typically get over 900 Mb/s on a residential 1g connection using cat5e 1gbe. The iperf numbers seem unusual, suggesting a possible configuration issue. I'll test a Linux live disk to check for software problems in Windows.
It really does matter. Think about it this way: each piece of data moves like a car capable of 100 MPH. This only works when the surface is smooth and wide—like a freeway. On a regular highway, the lanes are narrower and the road is rougher, so the speed drops mainly because of the uneven pavement. When a freeway connects to a highway, the speed decreases again. Fiber acts like the freeway, while copper wiring is the highway. The difference between Cat5 and Cat7 is similar to having 7 cars on a highway versus 5—Cat7 can handle more traffic smoothly. It’s clear, though, that most people in IT grasped my point.
The firmware is installed inside the house, with a small container in the basement for incoming fiber. It goes through a converter and then into the router. What’s unusual is that the upload speed stays consistent—even during my speed test at 6 PM on Saturdays, it always shows 900Mbit or 1Gbit. The download speed is similarly stuck at those same rates. The issue is why some devices get up to 750Mbit while others only reach 150Mbit, despite being connected directly to the router. I don’t have any IPS, and the router is a Fritzbox 7590. If I recall correctly from last year, this might be related. I also have a NAS connected via an 8-port switch, but when transferring files, I get only 100Mbit. It seems the HDD inside might be limiting performance. Keep in mind I can also connect my desktop directly to the router, but that doesn’t change anything. The file I transferred was 42 gigabytes. I plan to try a Linux setup tomorrow.
You notice the car comparison breaks down because the copper highway speed limit is actually a hundred times higher than the car’s pace. Cat 6a can handle ten times more data than this project's internet connection. The bottleneck isn’t copper—it’s something else entirely. Many people here already exceed 10gbe over copper.
You have internet access, can you link a computer straight to the modem without going through the router? It would help to verify the connection without any intermediary device. Do you also receive phone service via your router? I’ve only used Fritz before; it’s not typical in North America. I did some research and it seems they offer many features, which might be too much for a basic router. Another option is to use your switch—manually assign IP addresses to devices and connect them solely to the switch. Then attempt file transfers. Being limited to just the switch can help eliminate other network activity. I’ve tested cat5e connections for hundreds of devices and achieved gigabit speeds, a capability that’s been around for about 20 years.