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Oookla Speedtest on Dell desktop with TP-Link Range Extender

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  • 19-11-2018 9:45am
    #1
    boccy23
    Registered Users Posts: 2,928 ✭✭✭


    Hi All

    No idea if this is the right place but here goes anyway.

    On Saturday I put in a TP-Link AC1750 Universal Dual Band Range Extender. This was primarily to increase the coverage for my Dell Inspiron 3000 desktop. I have connected the desktop to the 5G range on the router.

    After I put this in I ran an Ookla speedtest. I had been getting ~50MB/sec download and ~20 MB/sec upload. After the installation, the upload speed is the same but the download speed is showing on Ookla as 5MB/sec.

    So I tried all the others items on my network, iphone, ipad, laptop and these are all fine, i.e. 50MB & 20MB.

    No matter what I did with I could not get the desktop to record anything better than 5MB. I then tried to reset the system and low and behold, the Oookla test remained the same, i.e. 5MB and would not go back to the previously seen 50MB/sec no matter what I tried.

    The operation of the desktop seems to be similar if not identical. But the speedtests are completely different.

    Has anyone ever seen anything similar?

    Any ideas on what I could do?


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    #2
    heroics
    Registered Users Posts: 1,878 ✭✭✭heroics


    boccy23 wrote: »
    Hi All

    No idea if this is the right place but here goes anyway.

    On Saturday I put in a TP-Link AC1750 Universal Dual Band Range Extender. This was primarily to increase the coverage for my Dell Inspiron 3000 desktop. I have connected the desktop to the 5G range on the router.

    After I put this in I ran an Ookla speedtest. I had been getting ~50MB/sec download and ~20 MB/sec upload. After the installation, the upload speed is the same but the download speed is showing on Ookla as 5MB/sec.

    So I tried all the others items on my network, iphone, ipad, laptop and these are all fine, i.e. 50MB & 20MB.

    No matter what I did with I could not get the desktop to record anything better than 5MB. I then tried to reset the system and low and behold, the Oookla test remained the same, i.e. 5MB and would not go back to the previously seen 50MB/sec no matter what I tried.

    The operation of the desktop seems to be similar if not identical. But the speedtests are completely different.

    Has anyone ever seen anything similar?

    Any ideas on what I could do?

    Would you not have gotten a power line adapter and just wired the desktop into it?

    Generally range extenders are not recommended. This is a pretty simple explanation of the options https://www.techadvisor.co.uk/how-to/network-wifi/extend-wi-fi-3593058/


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    #3
    boccy23
    Registered Users Posts: 2,928 ✭✭✭boccy23


    I have two different power boards and although there is a link over, the speeds through this are drastically reduced.

    Had tried that first.


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    #4
    Marlow
    Registered Users Posts: 14,555 ✭✭✭✭Marlow


    Looks like you've got some pretty good insulation or some hefty wireless interference.

    Best to run a cat5e/cat6 cable.

    Wireless and powerline are always last resort and never really reliable. At least not if you expect to see the full speed.

    /M


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    #5
    boccy23
    Registered Users Posts: 2,928 ✭✭✭boccy23


    I suppose what makes least sense is that the upload speed of approx. 20MB/sec is still the same but the download speed shows a drop from 50MB/sec to 5MB/sec.

    Any ideas why this could be?


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    #6
    ED E
    Registered Users Posts: 36,165 ✭✭✭✭ED E


    Yeah, that might be slightly indicative. Typically Wifi will operate are similar rates in both directions.

    If your data plan on your phone allows for it (not responsible for any bills you incur) I'd hotspot from that in the same room as the Dimension and test. If it shows similar(5Mb D, up fine) look for VPN or proxy servers configured typically to watch TV illegally.


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    #7
    boccy23
    Registered Users Posts: 2,928 ✭✭✭boccy23


    Ok, this is getting really annoying! I tried some things and nothing worked, so I have taken the TP-Link range extender out of the loop.

    I am now still getting ~5MB/sec where I was getting ~50MB/sec before I had it in the system at all.

    I have reset the router and reset the 5G connection but the same.

    Any thoughts from anybody?

    I have connected my PC direct to the Router now and it still shows this <5MB/sec even though all other items on the network are showing 50MB/Sec. At a loss at this stage.


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    #8
    boccy23
    Registered Users Posts: 2,928 ✭✭✭boccy23


    I got help on the Dell support line and they recommended to remove a programme called Smartbyte. This solved the issue! No idea why or what this did, but I'm happy!


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    #9
    The high horse brigade
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,456 ✭✭✭The high horse brigade


    boccy23 wrote: »
    I got help on the Dell support line and they recommended to remove a programme called Smartbyte. This solved the issue! No idea why or what this did, but I'm happy!

    A search online shows lots of similar complaints and even complaints of it reinstalling itself on Dell PCs after it being removed


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    #10
    boccy23
    Registered Users Posts: 2,928 ✭✭✭boccy23


    Yeah, saw similar once I had de-installed it.

    Seems to re-install periodically based on Dell updates so I'll have to keep an eye on that.


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