Google Wi-Fi too old for Gigabit?

[WadeCali]

Not really finding a straight answer so far.

I have what I assume is a Gen 1 (NLS-1304-25) Google Wifi nest setup. I know the puck selected as the router is getting gigabit speed ("test network" on the router gives just under 900 down and 800 up via the wire), but when I speed test any device connecting over wireless to the router, I'm getting under 400 down and 400 up. In my test I'm using an iPhone 14 with a 5ghz connection.

I did a factory reset of the entire mesh and set it back up but the issue persists.

The closest issue I found is this one which seems to imply there's a problem with Gen1 for the last 3 years or it's just not capable. Before I replace this with another brand I'd just like a confirmation these devices are incapable of doing better than 400 over wireless. Thank you.

Edit to add model number and factory reset step.

[MichaelP]

Hello @WadeCali 

Google WiFi is an AC1200 2x2 system. This means up to 300Mbps via 2.4GHz plus up to 866Mbps via 5GHz. However, a single client can't communicate over both 2.4GHz and 5GHz at the same time. So, let's focus on the 5GHz band. That 866Mbps signaling rate is only going to happen at extremely close range with no obstructions. Definitely in the same room. It also assumes a client that's big enough to have some separation between two antennas. A cell phone is typically too small to get much separation. So, it would be more likely to see connections in the 400-500Mbps range, even in the same room. Then we have to consider overhead. WiFi has significantly higher overhead than Ethernet. I usually budget 25% overhead when estimating throughput, but it could be 30%.

So, I would not expect gigabit performance from a phone over WiFi. Even a newer phone that supports WiFi 6, 6E, or 7 and connected to a newer WiFi network is going to fall short except at very short range (same room, no obstructions). When WiFi 6E higher transmit power finally arrives, that will help, but at the end of the day, WiFi is a convenience technology. If you really care about network performance, use Ethernet.

[WadeCali]

Ok that makes sense. The wireless built in to the fiber router in front of the Google router is able to deliver double the speed at 700mb+. I don’t know the particulars of that wireless tech, but is it reasonable to say that it is clearly superior to google’s product? 

[MichaelP]

It looks like the latest Google Fiber installs use a WiFi 6E solution, either a third-party solution (for 2, 5, and 8Gbps plans) or (for the 1Gbps plans) a Nest WiFi Pro (built by Google – essentially a newer version of Google WiFi). For a phone new enough to support the wider bandwidth channels in the 6GHz band (WiFi 6E), it will probably beat the older Google WiFi 80MHz wide 5GHz channels. But, again, that will be range and obstruction dependent. You'll have to decide if that difference really matters for you.