Google wifi is providing half the speed of my modem’s wifi. App shows no other usage, no mesh issues

[Valeryanthony61]

Any fixes for this issue yet? I noticed this has been an ongoing issue. I noticed Google silenced the thread, well I'm restarting it. I pay for 500 mbps, but my mesh pods are only allowing me to use approximately 150 mbps. This is insane! I've invested in 4 pods, I would like to get compensation or provided with a solution. 

[Marco-T]

Hi. There are many threads here that suggest that using the "prioritise device" option can cause this - the thinking seems to be that some "priority" is left on (but not seen in the app). 

Try this - prioritise a device in your network (via the google home app, wifi settings). Start with prioritising the device you are using to test speed. But many suggest you can actually prioritise any other device, and all will start using the speeds correctly. Problem is, priority only lasts 4 hours max, and then you're back to same issue.

So far, only thing I can see that seems to clear it is to factory reset the entire network (a pain), and to then never prioritise a device again.

Give it a go and report back with what you observe. By sounds like may be same issue.

(when you prioritise a device, it should use 70% of available BW, and the 30% is shared between all others - and 150mbps/500mbps=30% - looks kinda suspiciously like that's what's going on for you).

[Dan_A]

Hi Valeryanthony61,

That certainly isn’t the experience we want you to have, and we apologize for the delay. A few questions: are you using a modem/router combo from your Internet Service Provider (ISP)? Which Google/Nest router are we working with? What device are you using to set up your network (iOS or Android)? Do you have the Internet on your modem?
 

You can do a sequential reboot of your entire network and see if that helps, or please perform a 2-minute power cycle on your entire network to re-establish the connection on your connected devices. Here's how: 
 

1. Disconnect the power from the modem.
2. Disconnect the Ethernet cable and power cord from the parent point.
3. Disconnect the power cord from the child points.
4. Leave everything unplugged for 2 minutes.
5. Connect the power cord to the modem then to your router and points.

Also, you can give these steps a try:

1. If you're using a modem/router combo, set that to bridge mode to avoid double NAT issues.
2. Make sure that there is minimal to no interference (concrete, bulletproof glass, metal, mirror, etc.) and the points are no more than two rooms apart.
3. Remove any special characters in your network name and password.
4. Turn off IPv6:
   1. Open the Google Home app.
   2. Tap the Wi-Fi coin  and then Settings.
   3. Scroll down and tap Advanced networking.
   4. Scroll down to IPv6.
   5. Toggle the switch off Toggle button off.
5. Change your DNS server into 8.8.8.8 on the primary and 8.8.4.4 on the secondary server. Hit the save/ floppy disk icon on the upper right.
6. Unplug the power from your Google Wifi devices for 2 minutes.
7. If the issue persists, try factory resetting your network. Take note that this will delete all network data.

You may skip any step that you’ve done already.

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks for helping, Marco!
 

Best,

Dan

[Marco-T]

Hi Dan.

I'm pretty sure there's something up relating to the firmware/software config on the Google wifi, and I suspect it's related to QoS/rate limiting by service/device.

It's not normal that prioritising a device makes the network ok, and removing that priority (with no other priority set on any other device)  makes the upload speed drop to about 30%.

I'm going to try 2 things:
1) Factory reset, and then I'll *not* ever prioritise a device. Will then see if that stabilises. If it does stabilise, I'll set priorities for devices again and see if I can replicate the current situation so many face.

2) If the factory reset doesn't fix it (I suspect it will, at least for a while), then I'll take the drastic action of putting the modem into developer mode to SSH into it, and see if that allows any deeper troubleshooting. Found this interesting link to root google wifi, *and* it still runs the google SW/app to configure it - will be interesting to see : https://www.hackster.io/news/rooting-your-google-wifi-router-with-a-screwdriver-and-galeforce-b3afa0...
I'm well out of warranty on these, so willing to take the risk, as at the moment, the google wifi is useless unless I keep prioritising devices every 4 hours....

If there's any info you can share on a possible new firmware update, or at least confirm that no new firmware will be released, that would be very useful indeed. Can you check with the dev or product management team to find out?

Will post an update if I find anything sensational after those next steps.
Thanks

[Dan_A]

Hey there Marco,

We're checking back to see the status of your connection. About the steps you mentioned, have you tried them? If so, how was it? Let us know so we can see what next steps to take. We appreciate your input on this one and thank you for working with us.

Cheers,

Dan

[Marco-T]

Hi Dan, 

Thanks for checking Not been able to do that yet due to workload and needing to not interrupt internet while people working from home in day  / kids study evenings. 

Will get to it hopefully over next week or so and will post here once done.

In meantime, any update from you on a response from the dev / product teams on any future addressing of issues in new firmware release, or confirmation no further updates to come?

Marco 

[Dan_A]

Hi there Marco-T,

Regarding firmware releases, kindly stay tuned for future updates from our product team. Even we here don't have that kind of information to disclose.

We look forward to your reply once you've done the steps above, so we know how to proceed and what steps to take.

Kind regards,

Dan

[Marco-T]

Hey Dan, hi thread followers.

Ok, so here's my update:
A full factory reset has cleared the fault (the fault being reduced UPLOAD speed to approx 30% of upload rate from ISP, which "clears" when you prioritise a device (no matter which it seemed), only to revert back to the 30% cap once that prioritisation elapsed).

I have since set the priority on a device for an hour, and when that elapsed, the upload speed remained ok. I can only guess that there is some condition where the router gets itself into a state where it thinks there is prioritisation of  device, (but there isn't), and then rate limits everyone else (some a ghost device priority). I haven't tested this to death, as didn't have time. I'd be interested to see what happens if I set a priority on a device, and whilst that prioritisation is in progress, to pull the power on the google wifis (all of them), or do a network reset. Would be an interesting test, but there will be other test-cases that would need to be tested to try replicate "how" the fault states comes about.

FYI, I did those tests without changing anything else (i.e. same equipment, same google wifi units, same ISP etc)

A few other updates, not related, but maybe useful.
1) Wire your google wifi points in!
I have also wired in the access points (rather than have them as a wireless mesh). This has dramatically improved the overall performance. 
I tried this first on a managed switch (google say to avoid that, or turn of STP), so ended up using a dum 1gbps 8-port switch, (which in turn I linked to my managed switch) and was all good.
Definitely recommend it.
I'm getting wireless speeds of 200-600mbps reliably around most of the house now (dips if you move too far from any one access point, obviously).

2) Upgraded by internet provider - fibre to the home

Got a good deal in the UK for 1gbps fibre, cheaper than my DSL provider. So I switched. Is very nice having 800mbps upload/download wired speeds, and about 600mbps wifi speeds.
Provider is Community Fibre (they serve London, don't think they are outside of London). So far so good. 
I used Google wifi as my main router, and ditcher the Linksys provided unit. The Linksys looked good (good functionality, fast speeds). Linksys also do another units which link to create a mesh network, a-la google wifi. But as I've managed to solve the Google wifi issues, I'll stick with it. 
If I get a repeat or new google issues, I'm heading over to Linksys hardware next, as I already have one now, provided by the ISP in the install.

That's it from me. I refrained from doing the google wifi hack I mentioned in the previous posts. Don't have the time to try it. The geek in me may one day get to it. 

Google, you really need to get a fix for the upload issue. At the very least (if you can't replicate the fault), provide an option to prioritise a device indefinitely, so at least people have a workaround option.
Marco 

[Dan_A]

Hi Marco,

Your feedback provides valuable insights into potential concerns with Google Wifi's device prioritization, the benefits of wired backhaul, and the importance of software updates to address bugs.

I'll ensure this information is shared with relevant teams at Google and to our Google Community members to aid in troubleshooting and product improvement efforts. Hats off to you!

If you have other questions or concerns, you know where to find us. We're here to help.

Cheers,

Dan