I went to speedtest.net and checked my download speeds both hardwired and on wifi. Here are my results...

Hardwired / Wifi
Download Speeds 272.47 Mbps / 41.41 Mbps
Upload Speeds 11.82 Mbps / 10.12 Mbps
Ping 12 ms / 12 ms

Is it time for a new modem or is an 85% decrease in download Mbps normal when going from hardwired to wifi?

When was the last time you updated your wifi router's firmware?

When was the last time you rebooted your wifi router?

How close were you to the wifi router? If your firmware is up to date, your router has been recently rebooted, and you were a few feet away it makes no sense (if you're 50' away it makes sense).

I don't see anything out of the ordinary with those specifications.
Wired will always be a better performance option.
WiFi the variables are numerous.
Those variables need to listed to determine what if anything can be done.
Such as AP configuration, distance, client configuration and similar.
Do you actually need an increase in Internet throughput through a wireless connection or just looking to make the numbers better?

This ^^^^^

Our WiFi easily outstrips our 50mb/s Internet connection. To some WiFi clients I can get nearly 600mb/s. But the AP is business-class hardware, centrally located in a small (±1300 sft.) ranch.

You can't have a WiFi access point/router stuck in one end or corner of the house and expect good performance throughout the house. Particularly if it's your average provider-issued or consumer-grade hardware.

Old technology.
I would recommend Replacing your WiFi with Eeros. I had previously run a Nighthawk triband WiFi with an access point on my 3rd floor.
I have Cat 5 hardwired- that limits my speed .
Upgraded to Eeros- this functions as both a router and tri band wireless.
Too difficult to rewire the whole house to Cat 6.
New run of Cat 6 to relocate my base Eero to the 1st floor. Another run from the base Eero to my network switch.
Marked improvement in both wired speed and wireless.
A member posted Amazon Prime special on the Eeros- 50%off. That prompted an in depth review of Eeros. Thank you Sig Forum.
Setup was really easy. I don’t have good cell phone coverage which prompted 3 phone calls to support. You need your cell phone to set up the network. I run a Network extender to boost my cell phone reception and transmission- it needs an active internet connection to work—- duh.
Overall- very satisfied with Eeros. Each Eeros acts as a router to optimize your Wireless speed.
I’m running 4 Eeros stations. My 2 cents.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
When was the last time you updated your wifi router's firmware?

When was the last time you rebooted your wifi router?

How close were you to the wifi router? If your firmware is up to date, your router has been recently rebooted, and you were a few feet away it makes no sense (if you're 50' away it makes sense).

Ditto.

Way too many unknowns in your setup to recommend any logical course of action. You'd really need to detail every piece of hardware you have in place, where it's physically located, the type and size of your home, the devices attempting to connect to WiFi, etc to fill in the rest of the blanks.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGfourme:
I have Cat 5 hardwired- that limits my speed.

Highly unlikely. Unless you have runs of wire exceeding 300 feet, I doubt you'd see any throughput differences between CAT5 and CAT6.

The answer is: it depends.

What make and model WiFi router do you have currently?
What make and model device are you using to check your internet speed on WiFi with?
If it's a laptop, what make and model WiFi interface does it have?
Do you have any legacy devices on your WiFi network? Wireless B or wireless G devices?
How far away from your WiFi router are you when you are checking speeds over WiFi?
How many obstructions are between the device and WiFi router when you are checking?

I don't experience a difference in internet speeds (175mbps service) within the walls of my house between wired and wireless.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGfourme:
Old technology.
I would recommend Replacing your WiFi with Eeros. I had previously run a Nighthawk triband WiFi with an access point on my 3rd floor.
I have Cat 5 hardwired- that limits my speed .
Upgraded to Eeros- this functions as both a router and tri band wireless.
Too difficult to rewire the whole house to Cat 6.
New run of Cat 6 to relocate my base Eero to the 1st floor. Another run from the base Eero to my network switch.
Marked improvement in both wired speed and wireless.
A member posted Amazon Prime special on the Eeros- 50%off. That prompted an in depth review of Eeros. Thank you Sig Forum.
Setup was really easy. I don’t have good cell phone coverage which prompted 3 phone calls to support. You need your cell phone to set up the network. I run a Network extender to boost my cell phone reception and transmission- it needs an active internet connection to work—- duh.
Overall- very satisfied with Eeros. Each Eeros acts as a router to optimize your Wireless speed.
I’m running 4 Eeros stations. My 2 cents.

Glad you like your MESH system however how does that apply to the OP's questions?
Respectfully, much of what you are saying is inaccurate or misleading.
My 2 cents.

I don’r recall ever updating my router’s firmware…don’t know how to do it.

I have to reboot my router almost on a daily basis because it either slows way way down or disconnects from my devices.

I was 8’ away from the router when I checked the speeds.

Yes, I would like to see faster speeds on wifi

My NETGEAR C3000 DOCSIS 3-0 modem/router is located in my mancave…lower level corner of a 3000 sqft split foyer. I connect my iPhone 6 and MacBook Pro to the network via wifi and my wife connects her iPhone 10. Typically, she hangs out in an adjacent room, 12’ away from the router. I have an Apple TV (which I rarely use) hardwired to the router.

I checked the speeds using my MacBook Pro.

I would be more concerned about the disconnects. My guess would be heat degradation unless the provider is doing work in the area.

We’re you connected to the standard WiFi or 5g band when you checked. Test the iPhone 10 it should be on5g and has the latest hardware

quote:

Originally posted by P229 357SIG Man:
I don’r recall ever updating my router’s firmware…don’t know how to do it.

I have to reboot my router almost on a daily basis because it either slows way way down or disconnects from my devices.

I was 8’ away from the router when I checked the speeds.

Yes, I would like to see faster speeds on wifi

My NETGEAR C3000 DOCSIS 3-0 modem/router is located in my mancave…lower level corner of a 3000 sqft split foyer. I connect my iPhone 6 and MacBook Pro to the network via wifi and my wife connects her iPhone 10. Typically, she hangs out in an adjacent room, 12’ away from the router. I have an Apple TV (which I rarely use) hardwired to the router.

I checked the speeds using my MacBook Pro.

PC Magazine last reviewed your netgear modem/router/wifi 5.5 years ago so it's very old and the wifi is the sloooowwww N300 single-band. I was going to post how to update firmware, but IMO it's not worth your time.

Put me in the camp recommending buying a new modem/router/802.11AC wifi given that yours is very old, you're having to reboot daily, and you're having performance issues.

EDIT: smschulz posted 2 minutes after me and his solution is less money than my recommendation.

quote:

Yes, I would like to see faster speeds on wifiMy NETGEAR C3000 DOCSIS 3-0 modem/router is located in my mancave…lower level corner of a 3000 sqft split foyer. I connect my iPhone 6 and MacBook Pro to the network via wifi and my wife connects her iPhone 10. Typically, she hangs out in an adjacent room, 12’ away from the router. I have an Apple TV (which I rarely use) hardwired to the router.

I looked up the specifications on this device.

https://www.netgear.com/home/p...0.aspx#tab-techspecs

Your Wi-Fi is 2.4ghz 802.11N Protocol (assume two radio {antenna})
The maximum theoretical throughput is 300mbs.
The client must also have (2 radio/antenna)
Additionally, if you do not specify WPA2 AES and limit N Protocol only (means no B or G allowed) then your theoretical limit is only 54mbs.
Subtract speed for distance, diffraction or deflection if the signal due to object between you and the AP as well as any interference.

IF you wish to increase the speeds I would recommend:
* Disable the Netgear WiFI (router part is fine)
* Get a modern AP (not router) with included 5ghz band and 802.11AC Protocol
* Run a Cat5e or Cat6 cable from the Netgear to a location for the new AP- preferably near the primary use area.
* NOTE: most devices today should have the ability to use 5ghz and many 802.11.AC
* IF the client (phone laptop etc) does not then it will drop down to its limit.
* Distance and the other factors still apply and is why the location is so important.

Of course you could get another unit from your ISP with all those features but if it is not located well or if your clients do not comply or if it is not properly configured then optimization is not going to be achieved.


Good Luck

Try taking everything off the WiFi and check the speed with only the same device you had wired.

Try different settings in the router setup. As mentioned and for example ...
- Set security type to WPA-2 personal.
- Set radio mode to 802.11n and if there are some devices that won't connect, then set the mode to [802.11g or 802.11n]. The reason being, any device connected to the router using 802.11b COULD slow the speed down.
- Try moving the antennas around. When my speeds are slow, moving the antennas a bit pointed further away from each other helps. I'm talking about it makes a significant difference if the antennas aren't just right.
- On that note, try different Radio power settings. 100% power level isn't always ideal. Good for devices further away, but not best for devices close to the router.
- If you don't have many devices on the router and are not in a crowded WiFi neighborhood, try disabling the aggregation state.
- Bad to have WMM AND QoS both enabled. Sometimes there is a conflict. I choose to have WMM enabled but not QoS.

Anyway, check the settings and don't change everything at one time. Every time you make a single change, do a speed test. May need a pen and paper to write stuff down as some settings have multiple choices and it's easy to forget where everything was originally. And with that said and at the end of the day, if nothing helps, try resetting everything to default. Should be a feature for that somewhere in the settings ... and start your preferred settings from scratch ... one at a time.

Having to reboot almost daily would have me finding new equipment.

When you said 8' away, in the same room, correct?

The MacBook Pro isn't a from 2006-2008, right? According to Wikipedia, the earliest ones were wireless b/g only. The next ones in that times frame had wireless n disabled by default. I'd check the wireless settings on your MacBook Pro to make sure it's using wireless n. I'd also put the speedtest app on you phone and check with it as well.

I'd then follow smschultz's advice.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
Respectfully, much of what you are saying is inaccurate or misleading.

"Much?"

P229 367SIG Man, listen to smschulz. He knows whereof he speaks. He does this kind of thing for a living. (As I used to do.)

... also maybe try a different wireless channel. 6 & 11 are the most common. One might be slightly faster for you than the other. Router elevated and a bit away from other electrical/electronic devices is a good thing too.