Wifi speed difference on mac v macbook
Discussion
I have a MAC mini that I connect by ethernet cable and always get 500mb download via FTP.
I'm moving house shortly and unlikey to be able to connect via network cable initially and so wondered what speed my mac would download just by WiFi.
It ranges from 8mbs to 70mbs on my 18 mth old mac mini.
My Macbook air, placed on the same desk at home gets about 350mbs whilst my iPhone gets around 210mbs, again on the same desk.. My wifes' imac, admittedly in the next room, gets about 350mbs. All on speedtest.net.
Rebooted my router, have the latest ios on all devices etc, all with same results. Any ideas on how to improve?
Thanks
I'm moving house shortly and unlikey to be able to connect via network cable initially and so wondered what speed my mac would download just by WiFi.
It ranges from 8mbs to 70mbs on my 18 mth old mac mini.
My Macbook air, placed on the same desk at home gets about 350mbs whilst my iPhone gets around 210mbs, again on the same desk.. My wifes' imac, admittedly in the next room, gets about 350mbs. All on speedtest.net.
Rebooted my router, have the latest ios on all devices etc, all with same results. Any ideas on how to improve?
Thanks
If it’s an M chipped Mac Mini, should be a lot faster than that. I’d make sure it’s connected on the 5ghz band.
If it is, could be your router is just s
t.
If you get a Wifi 7 model, you should, see those speeds improve. Your Mac mini likely has Wifi 6 or 6E, so won’t take full advantage however.
If it is, could be your router is just s
t.If you get a Wifi 7 model, you should, see those speeds improve. Your Mac mini likely has Wifi 6 or 6E, so won’t take full advantage however.
What is your incoming internet speed?
Not much point going over WiFi 6 if it’s only gigabit I don’t think.
However it can sometimes be to do with the WiFi adapters in each product.
Not sure on the MacBooks but I think the iPhone has a spoof ip adress it gives out as well for security but I just turn that off.
Lastly, if you have band sharing switched on on the router that can play havoc with iOS devices sometimes so if you are happy to, dig into the router settings and switch off the 2.4 network to test it.
Keep us in the loop!
Not much point going over WiFi 6 if it’s only gigabit I don’t think.
However it can sometimes be to do with the WiFi adapters in each product.
Not sure on the MacBooks but I think the iPhone has a spoof ip adress it gives out as well for security but I just turn that off.
Lastly, if you have band sharing switched on on the router that can play havoc with iOS devices sometimes so if you are happy to, dig into the router settings and switch off the 2.4 network to test it.
Keep us in the loop!
xeny said:
Option click on the WIFI menu bar icon - it will give you connection stats. How do they compare between laptop and mini, particulalry RSSI, MCS index and PHY mode?
Laptop statsMac Mini Wifi
Didn't know you could do that. Interestingly, neither did the Apple support not a genius chap did either....
Name them differently, I m very imaginative and end the SSID names with 5ghz and 2.4ghz. In your case BT-MJ5X-5ghz and BT-MJ5X-2.4ghz. It doesn t matter what these names are, as long as you can distinguish what s what.
Then reconnect your devices to the relevant SSID.
If both 2.4ghz and 5ghz have the same SSID, your router will assign devices to them automatically, which is whats happening here.
Not sure about the BT homehub, but all the routers I ve used, you can login as an admin and change these names.
Then reconnect your devices to the relevant SSID.
If both 2.4ghz and 5ghz have the same SSID, your router will assign devices to them automatically, which is whats happening here.
Not sure about the BT homehub, but all the routers I ve used, you can login as an admin and change these names.
Edited by wyson on Monday 8th September 21:25
wyson said:
If both 2.4ghz and 5ghz have the same ssid, your router will assign them automatically, which is whats happening here.
To pick a nit, the client picks which band it connects on. Some routers/APs can "nudge" clients onto 5Ghz by repeatedly disconnecting them from 2.4, but it isn't a robust process.The only I know to be certain is to have separate names.
@OP, is the Mac Mini somewhere physically more shielded from the router, say behind a screen or in a drawer? 2.4GHz penetrates objects better than 5GHz, so if there's something reducing signals strength it is more likely to end up on 2.4.
andygo said:
Here are the stats for 5ghz connection. I went into the BT home hub settings ad disabled 2.5ghz. Didnt work. I'm sure it did in the past though,
Not sure what kind of home you have, but in edge cases, like Xeny said, it can be useful. Say at the bottom of your garden on in the loft extension 2.4ghz might reach there but 5ghz won t.I d ditch that router though. AC is an old standard now. Id expect to use AX at the very minimum. Or are all your devices ancient?
wyson said:
Not sure what kind of home you have, but in edge cases, like Xeny said, it can be useful. Say at the bottom of your garden on in the loft extension 2.4ghz might reach there but 5ghz won t.
I d ditch that router though. AC is an old standard now. Id expect to use AX at the very minimum. Or are all your devices ancient?
I have a BT smart hub 2 bet its 5 years old although it seems to be their current offering. My Mac Mini is MArch 2024, so quite new.I d ditch that router though. AC is an old standard now. Id expect to use AX at the very minimum. Or are all your devices ancient?
Whats a solution for a more powerful Wifi hub - its likely I won't be able to use ethernet to connect when I move house ln a couple of weeks, so something a bit more pokey might be a good idea.
silentbrown said:
Define "more powerful". Newer standards are faster but have less range. For range, old fashioned 2.4ghz is better and less susceptible to interference. Which is probably why your mini had picked 2.4 rather than 5.
Mac mini WiFi aerial is in the base of the unit...
My definition of more powerful would be a better range without dropping too much speed. Seems a shame to have a 500mbs connection with FTP but only acheiving a Wifi connection of 75ish at my macs location.Mac mini WiFi aerial is in the base of the unit...
andygo said:
My definition of more powerful would be a better range without dropping too much speed. Seems a shame to have a 500mbs connection with FTP but only acheiving a Wifi connection of 75ish at my macs location.
What is between the router and the Macs? The router presumably isn't located in the corner of the house under a metal bookcase?andygo said:
My definition of more powerful would be a better range without dropping too much speed. Seems a shame to have a 500mbs connection with FTP but only acheiving a Wifi connection of 75ish at my macs location.
If you want your line speed then Ethernet is the best way to achieve this, if that’s a issue then you can look at mesh systems, however these might work fine, they might need effort to get there best results. You won’t know until you’ve brought and installed them, as ever the specification matters so you need to consider a tri or quad band system.
6GHz links give the best speed but have lower distance & penetration.
Things like home construction, layout and volume all effect this, it’s why someone says xyz product is great but it might not work in your home.
andygo said:
My definition of more powerful would be a better range without dropping too much speed. Seems a shame to have a 500mbs connection with FTP but only acheiving a Wifi connection of 75ish at my macs location.
Quite. So you want one with better aerials and a higher power transmitter. I don't think Wifi 6 or 7 is going to help you.Best approach would be to play with different positions/orientations for the mini. Try standing it on it's side, make sure it's far away from other intereference sources (like your monitor) and if you're brave, open it up and fit an external antenna...
Edited by silentbrown on Tuesday 9th September 15:50
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