The Wi-Fi booster isn't operating at its maximum performance.
The Wi-Fi booster isn't operating at its maximum performance.
From the spec details I saw, the repeater handles 2x2 MU-MIMO at 160Mhz (it says 2402 Mbps at 5 GHz and HE160). Since your router doesn’t mention channel width, I think it likely supports only 80Mhz. Given it advertises "Dual band concurrent Wi-Fi 6 up to 1800Mbps" with 2x2 MIMO, the actual speed will be about half that. If you link it via WiFi to the main router, the speed will drop further because data must travel twice. The best setup is to connect it directly to the main router as a wired access point on a different channel, rather than using Wi-Fi.
You're asking about the implications of not running at full speed. Which speeds are you experiencing? What charges does your ISP apply for those speeds? If you connect to the ZTE's WiFi from the same spot where you install the extender, what connection quality do you expect? How far apart should the range extender be from the ZTE gateway? Range extenders aren't meant for the edges of coverage zones; they only boost the signal where it's still strong. You need to position them where the original signal remains solid. Would the path have to go through walls or floors? Materials like concrete, especially with steel, can weaken WiFi signals.
Sorry, the details in that message weren't very clear. I was half asleep while writing it, but I usually pay for gigabit connections. Normally I get 700–800 Mbps even when using Wi-Fi directly through my ZTE modem. With an extender, I only see 250–300 Mbps, and I’m paying for 50 Mbps consistently. I was hoping for a faster range around 600–700 Mbps, but it’s not that much slower.
Seeming reasonable is the amount you can expect from a ZTE gateway for a wireless range extender. First, achieving gigabit speeds becomes impossible without the gateway delivering its own clients that rate. Secondly, communication through extenders operates at half-duplex, which restricts bandwidth and adds delay. Thirdly, typical wireless signals face weakening and interference from nearby objects and competing WiFi networks. These extenders aren’t the best choice for strong signal coverage or high performance, even if they sound promising. If you’re okay with slower speeds and lags, and your needs aren’t heavily impacted, they can still serve a purpose. By the way, this extender includes a special mesh feature (EasyMesh) that may boost coverage and rates—though you’d need a compatible main device to verify its impact.