Unusually weak internet connections on the Pixel 4a with 5G network
Unusually weak internet connections on the Pixel 4a with 5G network
Hey guys, so yes this is about phones, but it involves networking. So: on wireless network on Wifi4(n) my Moto G100 is able to get fantastic speeds (90ish% stable, weird networking gear from the ISP that Uni has) with speeds of 50+ down and 70+ up but my cousin's Pixel 4a 5G was struggling to get to 15mbps in either direction. Anyone know what would do that? Results were taken in exact same spot immediately after each other with Ookla Speedtest
No one uses a VPN or custom DNS. Both relied on standard 2.4GHz or 5GHz connections.
Both devices were linked to the identical Wi-Fi network. You performed the tests sequentially, ensuring no other activity was using the connection at the same time. Wi-Fi can also face interference if a neighbor operates on the same frequency. Ideally, repeating the test multiple times would provide more reliable results.
Testing was performed several times to get consistent outcomes, including with the Wi-Fi adapter I have for my tower (TP-Link Archer). It uses one access point covering the entire building (HP ENTERPRISE). Despite this, only 2.4GHz is being used across four channels.
They provide odd IP addresses, I’m sure it’s not related. 204.186.255.x
An IP address is used to direct data between networks, but it doesn’t handle checking message accuracy or security. Integrity checks happen earlier in the TCP/IP system and CRC isn’t part of that process. An IP might hint at your location, but that’s all it usually does. Sharing public addresses can be risky because someone might attempt attacks like DOS or DDOS. Public IPs are common for institutions to manage large networks. Alternatively, they might assign random addresses internally. What matters isn’t the specific number, but how devices handle power and firmware affecting signal strength. WiFi performance varies widely even in the same area due to chipset differences and implementation issues. I’d recommend using a Wi-Fi analyzer to compare signal quality between you and your friend. Different chipsets likely cause noticeable changes in speed or connection stability.
Consented. Also, WiFi is available on campus via a single access point. That one AP is constantly overwhelmed by all students’ devices. Speed measurements won’t be trustworthy. At 2.4GHz with a 20MHz channel width, only channels 1, 6 and 11 can operate together without conflict or interference. This becomes more problematic when using 40MHz widths (bonded channels). Choosing a channel tied to a specific SSID helps avoid overlap. If overlap occurs, the system flags it as less than -80dBm interference. I’m not motivated enough to dig into chipset details, but sometimes certain chipsets perform better with particular antenna configurations. This could relate to the number of spatial streams the AP and client can negotiate for communication. Possibly other factors are at play. Regardless, this issue is beyond your control.