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Google WiFi Daisy Chain

neekoslee
Community Member

Hello!

I have two Google WiFi Routers...one main connected to my main router from AT&T in my main house. The other Google WiFi out in a backyard shed connected with Cat5 we buried keeping that high-speed fiber connection out in the shed instead of creating a lower speed mesh. The Google WiFi in the shed used to get amazing speeds but has since dropped dramatically from 500Mbps to under 90Mbps. I think it's a setting somewhere but can't know on what router (AT&T or Google).

Any help would be appreciated!

9 REPLIES 9

MichaelP
Diamond Product Expert
Diamond Product Expert

Hello @neekoslee 

Just to be clear, the Ethernet run to your outbuilding originates in the LAN Ethernet port on the primary Google WiFi unit in the main house, right? It's not connected directly to the AT&T router (which would cause problems unless you set it up as an independent primary rather than as a secondary).

All of that said, any time I see an Ethernet-connected system drop from high speed to just under 100Mbps, I immediately suspect the cable itself, or possible one of the ports it is connected to on one end or the other. If that connection can no longer reliably negotiate a 1Gbps connection, it may fall back to 100Mbps instead, resulting in the kind of performance you're seeing. So, I would start testing that cable, or even just reseating each end a few times to verify it's still working properly at 1Gbps.

I would also advise using inexpensive unmanaged Ethernet switches on each end of any long cable runs like this – especially any runs that go between buildings. Lightning strikes in the area can cause trouble for things connected to long Ethernet cables, and it's a lot easier (and cheaper) to replace a couple of $20 Ethernet switches than to replace one or more expensive WiFi router/access points.

I hope some of this helps!

Hi MichaelP

I unplugged and redid all the ports to make sure but haven't replaced any cables. I have a friend with a tester coming over early next week. I did test hardware connection by moving the main CAT5 going out to the shed to the ethernet port on my main AT&T router and then connecting the other end to my ethernet port on my laptop in the shed and it got the speeds around 850Mbps.

 

Would it still have these great speeds if any of the ports or cables were faulty?

Thanks!

 

 

 

MichaelP
Diamond Product Expert
Diamond Product Expert

Hello @neekoslee 

That was a great test to run. It shows the cable itself is still in good shape. I would try putting it back into the Google WiFi units and see if the issue is resolved – sometimes just reseating cables can correct an issue. I would test using wired-only devices out there just to control for as many issues as possible (use the other Ethernet port on that remote Google WiFi unit to connect that laptop). If it drops back to <100Mbps, that would make me suspect one of the ports on either the main or remote Google WiFi. As I mentioned earlier, I would also use inexpensive Ethernet switches on each end of a long run like this just to protect the more expensive equipment. In this case, that would also make more ports available in your outbuilding to connect wired devices out there.

Jeff
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey, neekoslee.

It looks like @MichaelP and you were able to do a lot of troubleshooting here. Big thanks to MichaelP for his time and efforts here. As it's been a few days, I wanted to check to see if you were able to get this working for you 100% or if you still needed any help working on this. If there's more you need here, just let us know.

Thanks!

neekoslee
Community Member

Apologies for the delay. Unfortunately after testing @MichaelP recommendations, I am still having the same issue. I have tried the follwing:

1 / Set the AT&T router to passthrough mode / turned off the default WiFi

2 / Tested the cables going in and out of both Google WiFI routers

3 / Factory reset both Google WiFi routers

I can only assume at this point it's a setting on the Google WiFi router on in my shed office. The WiFi inside the house the main Google WiFi is providing is great and working as normal.

Any thoughts?

Jeff
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hey, neekoslee.

Sorry for the issues you've been having. It looks like you were having some back and forth support here, but we couldn't quite get it sorted out. I wanted to jump in and see if you were still having any issues with this and to ask if you had tried any additional troubleshooting steps from where things left off. Let me know if you still need some help and I'll be happy to jump in.

Thanks.

Jeff
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi, neekoslee.

Just wanted to touch base one more time before we close up the thread. If you're still needing help on this, let me know and we can keep working on this.

Thanks.

Jeff
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi, everyone.
As we haven't had any activity here recently I'm going to go ahead and close the thread. If you have more to add, feel free to start a new discussion.
Thanks

neekoslee
Community Member

Thanks, Michael! Huge help and I will get testing those cables / ports ASAP and let you know the results.

Really appreciate it!