Netgear M2100 - how do I improve download speed? (2 Viewers)

[Howard B]

Looking for someone who has a working knowledge of the Netgear Nighthawk M2100.

I have just purchased a Netgear M2100 and having set it up with my phone Vodafione sim, I am a bit disappointed with the 4g speeds.
My Iphone is currently downloading at around 50mbps and uploading at 8mbps. When I put the sim in the Netgear I am achieving a download of 26mbps and upload of 8mbps.
I was expecting to be a lot quicker than my phone, are there any setting I can play with to speed things up?

Thanks
Howard

 

[elamessa]

Howard B If you have the setting on 2.4ghz you can try changing it to 5ghz to see if that speeds it up.
It also depends on how many people are using 4g wifi as at certain times of the day the download speeds can really take a hit.

 

[Langtoftlad]

What model iPhone - simply it might have a better modem
Are there any external antenna connectors on the M2 - again your iPhone might have better reception

 

[Guigsy]

Phones tend to have the latest and greatest modems. MiFi type devices are often a little behind.

Slightly different positions can provide wide swings in performance. I worked on a project that collected traffic data and sent the data back over 4/5G. We had instances of the setup giving better bandwidth when doing a quick pre-check at ground level than 4m up a lighting column. Or the signal getting worse being when the bloke lowered the cherry picker. Or being better when we put the modem and antennas on the side that we knew wasn't facing the mast. Phone signals are a black art.

 

[Howard B]

Thanks for the responses
To answer the questions:
It was set to Dual band wifi originally. I have redone the test on 2.4Ghz & 5Ghz, still nowhere close to the Iphone
I did the tests with the iphone and M2 within 5 mins of each other using the same sim in the same place.
I use an Iphone SE 2020 which is about 3 years old now.
Not tried with external antenna yet as I was expecting it to at least be on a par with my iphone.
Thanks

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[Trevor Wbm]

It'll depend entirely on the mast your connected to. If it's congested, you'll get less bandwidth, if it's rural and potentially lower frequency, you'll get less bandwidth. Two devices even close together may affiliate to different masts.

The WiFi leg can only be as fast as the mobile network supporting it.

If you can get into an urban area where masts tend to be high frequency with good bandwidth (but short range), that'll be a guide as to the best you can expect.

 

[Howard B]

It'll depend entirely on the mast your connected to. If it's congested, you'll get less bandwidth, if it's rural and potentially lower frequency, you'll get less bandwidth. Two devices even close together may affiliate to different masts.

Thanks, was expecting the M2 to be faster than the Iphone SE using the same sim in the same location.

 

[Guigsy]

In my experience, in locations with a strong signal and relatively uncongested network, my phone would outperform my MiFi. Out in the sticks where there's just a whisp of signal is where a MiFi with an external antenna excels.

 

[Lenny HB]

Howard B If you have the setting on 2.4ghz you can try changing it to 5ghz to see if that speeds it up.
It also depends on how many people are using 4g wifi as at certain times of the day the download speeds can really take a hit.

That has nothing to do with it, the 2.4 & 5Gb is the wifi on the LAN side of the router.
The 4g is the data speed on the WAN side.

I never used to have any problems but on our last trip depending on the location, on the phone I was getting 35 to 90 mb/s, sim in the Mifi 6 to 12 mb/s.
Two different sims, sim companies said no restrictions on use in a Mifi I've come to the conclusion the networks still restrict it and not much you can do about it apart from using a data sim

 

[Trevor Wbm]

Thanks, was expecting the M2 to be faster than the Iphone SE using the same sim in the same location.

Understandable. Now on the edge of what I understand, but there's a lot of variation in antenna setups and configuration. Given how much the fruit based stuff is they ought to be state of the art.

I guess the difference is no one feels the need to always buy the latest MiFi dongle just to be cool, so there's no incentive to keep upgrading the tech.

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[Guigsy]

That has nothing to do with it, the 2.4 & 5Gb is the wifi on the LAN side of the router.
The 4g is the data speed on the WAN side.

I never used to have any problems but on our last trip depending on the location, on the phone I was getting 35 to 90 mb/s, sim in the Mifi 6 to 12 mb/s.
Two different sims, sim companies said no restrictions on use in a Mifi I've come to the conclusion the networks still restrict it and not much you can do about it apart from using a data sim

Not always true. I've been limited by my WiFi when the 4G side was going full tilt... But I was a short distance away in the house and connected to the router in the van. The speed test from within the router config screen gave me 150Mb/s but I was only (!) getting 90Mb/s via the laptop... Going into the van eliminated the difference.

 

[Lenny HB]

Not always true. I've been limited by my WiFi when the 4G side was going full tilt... But I was a short distance away in the house and connected to the router in the van. The speed test from within the router config screen gave me 150Mb/s but I was only (!) getting 90Mb/s via the laptop... Going into the van eliminated the difference.

Unlikely to apply in a Motorhome, 5g does not like sold walls I used to always turn 5g off in the house until I fitted a Mesh system

 

[Nirvanauk]

Call tech support at Netgear.

 

[Howard B]

Bought it as i thought it may have been an improvent on a Teltonika Router, it certainly has an easier interface. However it doesnt seem much better, so will probably sell it on.
Thanks for the responses

 

[elamessa]

That has nothing to do with it, the 2.4 & 5Gb is the wifi on the LAN side of the router.
The 4g is the data speed on the WAN side.

I never used to have any problems but on our last trip depending on the location, on the phone I was getting 35 to 90 mb/s, sim in the Mifi 6 to 12 mb/s.
Two different sims, sim companies said no restrictions on use in a Mifi I've come to the conclusion the networks still restrict it and not much you can do about it apart from using a data sim

Just for your information and I don't profess to be an expert.
Two speed test today.
1. 2.4 ghz

2. 5ghz


I consistently get faster wifi speeds on the 5ghz band wherever I am.

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[Lenny HB]

That's pretty good.

 

[Howard B]

This is my phone speeds, semi rural location. Netgear is only hitting around 25mbps download

 

[elamessa]

That's pretty good.

Just edited my post to say that I consistently get faster wifi speeds on the 5ghz band.