hAP ac^2 Problems---Extremely Poor Performance found in 2.4G and 5G WiFi (2024)

Someone has removed the word "SOLVED" from the thread title. 2 May 2018
---
As requested by one of Forum member, I add "Not" solved in the heading.

YH 1st May 2018
-------
The WiFi issues on hAP ac^2 for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz were completely resolved. If you are not able to achieve the targets such as 400Mbps (DL/UL) for 5GHz and 100Mbps (DL/UL) for 2.4GHz, the possible cause of the problem(s) may be due to the incompatiblity between hAP ac^2 WiFi chip and your device (such as PC, tablet). You may try to find another device to test the speed. (Please note that you have at least upgrade your hAP ac^2 to v6.43r5 or above).

For the last message, I found that using Intel-based WiFi chip (CHUWI notebook) can give us the least errors and stable speeds.
==================================================================================================================
Latest Firmware Downloading (DL) Performance Short Summary:

Firmware v6.43rc5
File server -> network switch -> WAN of hAP ac^2 -> WLAN 2.4GHz -> PC (MacBook Pro Retina 2015), 55.9 Mbps, Retr=1298 (This can be resolved by selecting 802.11n and 20MHz of bandwidth), please see
File server -> network switch -> WAN of hAP ac^2 -> WLAN 5GHz -> PC (MacBook Pro Retina 2015), 388 Mbps, Retr=286 (Based on the test results, the 5GHz is resolved)

Firmware: v6.43rc3
File server -> network switch -> WAN of hAP ac^2 -> WLAN 2.4GHz -> PC (MacBook Pro Retina 2015), 38.9 Mbps, Retr=1566
File server -> network switch -> WAN of hAP ac^2 -> WLAN 5GHz -> PC (MacBook Pro Retina 2015), 163 Mbps, Retr=5709
File server -> network switch -> WAN of hAP ac^2 -> LAN -> PC (MacBook Pro Retina 2015), 941 Mbps, Retr=29

Firmware: v6.42
2.4GHz DL Performance: 55Mbps, Retr=1481
5GHz DL Performance: 124Mbps, Retr=6418
LAN DL performance: 941Mbps, Retr=0

Firmware (Stock/Factory Firmware: v6.40.5)
2.4GHz DL Performance: 40Mbps, Retr=3541
5GHz DL Performance: 16Mbps, Retr=3628
LAN DL performance: 941Mbps, Retr=0
==================================================================================================================

After having done a number of tests for hAP ac^2 including MikroTik btest.exe, actual file test, iperf3, based on member's experiences and the results obtained. In the sub-sequent illustrations, 5-minute iperf3 -R test is employed. The data path direction is iperf3 sever -> network bridge -> WAN of hAP ac^2 -> WLAN (2.4G and 5G) -> Laptop computer.

For comments on Listings 1 to 6, please click

Listing 1: hAP ac^2 v6.40.5 (stock firmware) (Server->WAN->LAN->Laptop PC)

Listing 2: hAP ac^2 v6.40.5 (stock firmware) 5G (Server->WAN->WLAN 5G->Laptop PC)

Code: Select all

[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth Retr[ 4] 0.00-300.00 sec 580 MBytes 16.2 Mbits/sec 3541 sender[ 4] 0.00-300.00 sec 578 MBytes 16.2 Mbits/sec receiver

Listing 3: hAP ac^2 v6.40.5 (stock firmware) 2.4G (Server->WAN->WLAN 2.4G->Laptop PC)

Code: Select all

[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth Retr[ 4] 0.00-300.00 sec 1.46 GBytes 41.9 Mbits/sec 3628 sender[ 4] 0.00-300.00 sec 1.46 GBytes 41.9 Mbits/sec receiver

Listing 4: hAP ac^2 v6.42rc56 (Server->WAN->LAN->Laptop PC)

Code: Select all

[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth Retr[ 4] 0.00-300.00 sec 32.9 GBytes 941 Mbits/sec 0 sender[ 4] 0.00-300.00 sec 32.9 GBytes 941 Mbits/sec receiver

Listing 5: hAP ac^2 v6.42rc56 5G (Server->WAN->WLAN 5G->Laptop PC)

Code: Select all

[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth Retr[ 4] 0.00-300.00 sec 4.64 GBytes 133 Mbits/sec 7390 sender[ 4] 0.00-300.00 sec 4.64 GBytes 133 Mbits/sec receiver

Listing 6: hAP ac^2 v6.42rc56 2.4G (Server->WAN->WLAN 2.4G->Laptop PC)

Code: Select all

[ ID] Interval Transfer Bandwidth Retr[ 4] 0.00-300.00 sec 1.42 GBytes 40.6 Mbits/sec 3025 sender[ 4] 0.00-300.00 sec 1.42 GBytes 40.5 Mbits/sec receiver

---------------------------------------------------------
Recently I bought four pieces of hAP ac^2, I found the performance of WiFi section including both 2.4G and 5G are extremely poor in performance. Based on my past experience of using MikroTik products, the stock firmware seems not prepared for the hAP ac^2 since 1) the Quick Set is "CPE" instead of "Home Dual AP". I believe the stock firmware is used in other products like wAP 60G; and 2) other issues such as memory size, CPU type (IPQ4019), etc were reported. Also there are tones of threads in this forum mentioning the actual file transfer rate is extremely bad.

How comes the WiFi perofmance of hAP ac^2 are so poor?

Let me show you some figures obtained by using MikroTik btest.exe.

Figures 1 and 2 show the 2.4G and 5G WiFi performance. The throughput can be estimated by the area under the curve in blue. In Figure 1, the average file transfer is around 40Mbps for 2G WiFi. In Figure 2, the area under the curve in blue is around 10-20Mbps. Many users of hAP ac^2 have already reported this issue.

As there are tons of complaints reported in this forum, MikroTik started to face this issue by providing a number RC's. Although the recent RC (V6.42RC52) can increase the transfer rate (area under the curve is estimated to be around 90-100Mbps), the file transfer rate is still not able to meet our expectations. We expect the WiFi transfer should be very table at around 400Mbps as we found in 5G ac mode of hAP ac lite tower (max 100Mbps for all ports), as shown in Figure 5.

Does anyone know whether MikroTik are still working on this poor WiFi performance? Since this issue has already driven many MikroTik users to purchase other brand's AC products due to the unexpected and extremely poor WiFi performance.

============
Other problems besides the WiFi issues
1、hAP ac² noisy when using WiFi
============
Figure 1: Stock Firmware V6.40.5 2.4G Performance of hAP ac^2
hAP ac^2 Problems---Extremely Poor Performance found in 2.4G and 5G WiFi (1)

Figure 2: Stock Firmware V6.40.5 5G Performance of hAP ac^2
hAP ac^2 Problems---Extremely Poor Performance found in 2.4G and 5G WiFi (2)

Figure 3: Firmware V6.42RC52 2.4G Performance of hAP ac^2
hAP ac^2 Problems---Extremely Poor Performance found in 2.4G and 5G WiFi (3)

Figure 4: Firmware V6.42RC52 5G Performance of hAP ac^2
hAP ac^2 Problems---Extremely Poor Performance found in 2.4G and 5G WiFi (4)

Figure 5: Firmware V6.40.6 5G Performance of hAP ac lite tower
hAP ac^2 Problems---Extremely Poor Performance found in 2.4G and 5G WiFi (5)

hAP ac^2 Problems---Extremely Poor Performance found in 2.4G and 5G WiFi (2024)

FAQs

How do I fix slow 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi? ›

The best fix for this is reorganizing your Wi-Fi connections. Sign in to your router's interface or management app to see what devices are connected to the network and what band they're on. The 2.4 GHz band works better for connections that don't need as much speed or are far away from your router.

Why is my 5G Wi-Fi so bad? ›

5G's higher frequency bands cannot penetrate certain solid materials, significantly reducing signal strength inside a home or apartment. Apartment complexes, homes, or other large structures can obstruct communication with a 5G cell tower, leading to weaker signal reception and slower speeds.

What devices should be on 2.4 GHz and 5GHz? ›

For devices that benefit from a faster Wi-Fi connection such as 4K smart TVs that are capable of connecting to 5GHz, this option will provide a seamless experience for all the family. For streaming devices that are further away from the router, it may be a more reliable option to connect them to the 2.4 GHz.

How to enable both 2.4 GHz and 5GHz on a router? ›

To connect to a 5GHz router with a device that supports 2.4GHz, you usually access your router settings through a web browser. Log in, find the wireless settings, and look for the option to broadcast both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. Once enabled, your device should detect and allow you to connect to either frequency.

How can I improve my 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi? ›

On the 2.4 GHz band, which is usually Wireless-N, always choose Channels 1, 11, or 6. Try to pick the emptiest of the three, using the Wi-Fi Analyzer as your guide. Channels other than 1, 11, or 6 will receive more interference.

How do I fix 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi not working? ›

Wireless Settings: Check the settings of your wireless network. Make sure that the 2.4GHz band is enabled and the channel settings are appropriate. Also, check if settings like client balancing or band steering are enabled as they can sometimes cause issues with 2.4GHz-only devices.

Why is my signal worse with 5G? ›

"Many people still have 4G compatible and not 5G compatible phones. And when that ratio gets off, you might be in a place where 5G is under-provisioned, which is there are not enough resources kept behind 5G to make it works as fast as 4G," he said.

What is the downside of 5G Wi-Fi? ›

Here are some of the downsides of 5G home internet: Limited coverage since 5G networks aren't available in all areas, and can be spotty in some locations. Expensive infrastructure in new cell towers and equipment. Signal interference from trees, buildings and other obstacles.

Why is my 5G Wi-Fi not working properly? ›

A firmware update in the router can sometimes fix compatibility issues. If your router is multi-band (2.4 and 5 GHz, and possibly 6 GHz), assign a different SSID to each band. This will let you choose the band and see if one works better than the other for your location in your house.

Should I split 2.4 GHz and 5GHz? ›

The two big differences between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies are speed and range. A wireless transmission at 2.4 GHz provides internet to a larger area but sacrifices speed, while 5 GHz provides faster speeds to a smaller area. Splitting your WiFi frequencies can help improve your network coverage.

Should you synchronise 2.4 GHz and 5GHz settings? ›

Splitting the SSID results in a perfect connection all the time on 5Ghz in the range of 500Mb/s to 600Mb/s. So in summary making an SSID2. 4Ghz and an SSID5Ghz is usually a good idea. You can even use the QoS settings to just favor your 5Ghz SSID and keep that for your own computers and laptops.

Should I set my router to 2.4 GHz or 5GHz? ›

Use 2.4 GHz for a device farther from the router

This wavelength has a longer range and can penetrate solid objects more easily than the 5 GHz band, making it ideal for devices that are taken from room to room or are further away from the router.

Can you have 2.4GHz and 5GHz at the same time? ›

Simultaneous Dual Band supports two separate WiFi networks simultaneously using both 2.4- and 5-GHz frequency bands. It not only doubles the available bandwidth but also allows for a more reliable dedicated WiFi network for video and gaming (5GHz) to be created.

How do I know if my router supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz? ›

Open your networks panel from your taskbar (click the WiFi icon in the bottom right). Click on “Properties” of your WiFi network. In the new window that opens, scroll all the way down to “Properties”. “Network Band” will either say 2.4GHz or 5GHz.

How to increase 2.4 GHz speed to 5GHZ? ›

If you haven't already enabled 5 GHz WiFi on your router, follow these simple steps:
  1. Log into your router settings online (check the back of your router for login details).
  2. Select the Advanced Settings or Advanced Wireless Settings option.
  3. Click the enable 5 GHz option.
Apr 10, 2024

What blocks 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi? ›

Do you have baby monitors, walkie talkies, or maybe a radio locator to keep track of your pets or keys? Such equipment tends to use the same frequency as the older Wi-Fi standards 802.11 b/g/n and will therefore interfere with the 2.4 GHz band.

Why is my Wi-Fi so slow if my connection is strong? ›

Some common reasons are that you're too far away from the router, your bandwidth is low, there's an issue with the device you're using, you need to update your network drivers, or there are too many devices connected to the network and they're streaming or using lots of data.

How to fix slow Wi-Fi at home? ›

Equipment restarts are hands down the most effective internet troubleshooting solution. This should always be your first step. Congestion happens when you overload your internet connection with more traffic than it can handle. To fix it, you can either lower your internet usage or upgrade to a faster plan.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terence Hammes MD

Last Updated:

Views: 6407

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terence Hammes MD

Birthday: 1992-04-11

Address: Suite 408 9446 Mercy Mews, West Roxie, CT 04904

Phone: +50312511349175

Job: Product Consulting Liaison

Hobby: Jogging, Motor sports, Nordic skating, Jigsaw puzzles, Bird watching, Nordic skating, Sculpting

Introduction: My name is Terence Hammes MD, I am a inexpensive, energetic, jolly, faithful, cheerful, proud, rich person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.