Landlines are going digital

[#1]

"Not sure why its reporting wireless N (aka wireless 4 with max link of 600Mbs on 5ghz) as the AC in TP-Link AC1300 product indicates its wireless AC aka wireless 5"

Nor me. But there are many mysteries here:

The maker claims a max link speed of 400 Mbps on 2.4GHz. I've never been able to achieve even half that on 2.4GHz - 170 Mbps. My eventual guess was 400 Mbps was not a 'normal' link speed for 2.4GHz, but likely could be achieved with the right equipment. I imagine the Hub 2 2.4GHz Wi-Fi did not support the 'special' mode required and so I only ever got less than half the claimed 400 Mbps.

Then again, the driver in windows for the T3U seemed to report the (varying) link speed when on 2.4 GHz, but report the fixed chip capability (867 Mbps) when on GHz! I can only see the actual link speed on 5GHz by inspecting the Hub 2 Event log.

I always call if AC1300 - but really the model is Archer T3U - which, AFAIK, comes from adding together 400 Mbps + 867 Mbps and rounding up! 😁

The Archer T3U might not be completely adequate for someone using the highest FF speeds of +900Mbps, where a newer device would be better. But it is more than adequate for my 150Mbps service.

[#2]

@pvmb

On windows, click wifi in tray and then
then click properties. It lists protocol, network band, channel and link speed.

As to AC1300 2.4Ghz max link speed of 400Mbps i believe it requires router that supports 256-QAM and 40Mhz channel width

If you are seeing 2.4G link speeds of 170Mbs then it suggests you have 40Mhz channel enabled but only 64-QAM as 20mhz with 64-QAM typically has max link of 144Mbs with 2 streams/antennas.

[#3]

Thanks all for the replies and help, I appreciate it.

As I have been used to 7mbps for years and now am getting over 50mbps on my laptop I am happy with that (I do get 145 mbps if I ever need to use my mobile for the internet).

I am more concerned with reliability and not losing connection.

After the enginner had finished the installation he had a lot of information to give me, some of which I wrote down.

On the ONT the PON light should not flash and the LOS light should stay off.

If there is a power cut the ONT will not work (I guessed that).

If there is a problem, some thigs to try are, turning off the power on the ONT and back on again, same with the router.

There is a reset button on both, use a paperclip for that.

When I was on BB through the copper wires, if there was a problem with the internet connection, PN could arrange a line test to see if there is a fault on the line. Is that something that can still be done? I am guessing it cannot now that I have no telephone landline.

[#4]

---

@greengrass wrote:

One question I have, on the PN2 the blue light does not go all the way around the circle, it is at the top and bottom, is that normal?

---

You have the option on the Hub2 of turning the lights off it they bother you.

Apart from that, you can see what the lights mean here

https://www.plus.net/help/broadband/router-lights/

Brian

[#5]

---

@greengrass wrote:

I am more concerned with reliability and not losing connection.

After the enginner had finished the installation he had a lot of information to give me, some of which I wrote down.

On the ONT the PON light should not flash and the LOS light should stay off.

If there is a power cut the ONT will not work (I guessed that).

If there is a problem, some thigs to try are, turning off the power on the ONT and back on again, same with the router.

There is a reset button on both, use a paperclip for that.

When I was on BB through the copper wires, if there was a problem with the internet connection, PN could arrange a line test to see if there is a fault on the line. Is that something that can still be done? I am guessing it cannot now that I have no telephone landline.

---

FTTP is inherently much more reliable than ADSL - much, much less to go wrong.

If there is a problem, the chances are that the LOS light will go red/orange - then you need to contact PN to arrange OR  checks.

[#6]

Thanks bmc.

The lights do not bother me at all, I was just wondering if they were supposed to be a complete circle, now I know they are not.

I have read the leaflet that came with the router a few times and see what the different colours mean, thanks again.

Thanks jab1 for that helpful answer. What are OR checks?

[#7]

@greengrass 

OR checks - I mean that Openreach will need to check the network - most of which can be done remotely.

[#8]

I see thank-you. Good to know that can be tested remotely.