Is Deco networks slowing down Internet connection or is it an ISP problem?

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Is Deco networks slowing down Internet connection or is it an ISP problem?

This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.
Is Deco networks slowing down Internet connection or is it an ISP problem?
Is Deco networks slowing down Internet connection or is it an ISP problem?
2021-03-23 05:59:34 - last edited 2021-03-23 06:00:37
Model: Deco M5  
Hardware Version: V3
Firmware Version: 1.5.1

My main Deco M5 is connected via a short Ethernet cable to a radio modem that gets its signal from a radio repeater. I have four other Deco M5s in the system, all connected by wifi.

 

My ISP says: "We are seeing consistent speed tests on your radio and they are regularly producing 25Mbps."  Based on the bandwidth I pay for, I should be getting a throttled down 6+ Mbps download speed at the Deco. But the Deco speedtest app says I'm getting between .5 Mbps and 7.3 Mbps. This variation can come and go in an hour or two. Running the Ookla Speedtest App on my Windows laptop over a Wifi connection, I see similar speeds and variations.

 

My ISP explains these slowdowns: "This might be in your household network.  There are no Ethernet errors between the radio and your Deco router.  [Tech] April has done extensive ping test and we see no drops.  Households who set up mesh networks have such issues and it generally has turned out to be either internal network conflicts, wireless conflicts amongst multiple devices, or both."

 

I am assuming the Deco speedtest app is testing only the ethernet connection to the radio. It isn't using wifi. But could wifi somehow drag down the internet speed, as my ISP suggests?

 

I have tried turning off most of my wifi devices. I have tried turning off 5 Ghz. I also have an ethernet connected printer and TV, via a TP-Link smart switch. I have disconnected them with no apparent effect.

 

I would appreciate any comments on whether the Deco mesh system could be reducing the download speed so dramatically, as measured by the speedtest built in to the Deco.

 

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I don't know if the System Error Log has any useful info. Here is a page covering a time today (5:11 pm)  when the download speed was down to .7 Mbps.

 

Mon Mar 22 16:32:38 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: clear ip 6844a8c0

Mon Mar 22 16:33:54 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:34:33 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Sending ACK to 192.168.68.106

Mon Mar 22 16:34:33 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: clear ip 6a44a8c0

Mon Mar 22 16:35:22 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:35:41 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(30-05-5C-07-F6-76) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:35:41 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:35:59 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(30-05-5C-07-F6-76) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 16:36:54 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:37:12 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:37:30 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 16:37:47 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(30-05-5C-07-F6-76) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:37:47 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=2

Mon Mar 22 16:37:53 2021 daemon.err /usr/bin/apsd: nl_wifi_newlink_handle:135: Error: config_index_to_name fail

Mon Mar 22 16:37:53 2021 daemon.err /usr/bin/apsd: nl_wifi_newlink_handle:135: Error: config_index_to_name fail

Mon Mar 22 16:37:53 2021 daemon.err /usr/bin/apsd: nl_wifi_newlink_handle:135: Error: config_index_to_name fail

Mon Mar 22 16:37:53 2021 daemon.err /usr/bin/apsd: nl_wifi_newlink_handle:135: Error: config_index_to_name fail

Mon Mar 22 16:37:53 2021 daemon.err /usr/bin/apsd: nl_wifi_newlink_handle:135: Error: config_index_to_name fail

Mon Mar 22 16:37:53 2021 daemon.err /usr/bin/apsd: nl_wifi_newlink_handle:135: Error: config_index_to_name fail

Mon Mar 22 16:37:53 2021 daemon.err /usr/bin/apsd: nl_wifi_newlink_handle:135: Error: config_index_to_name fail

Mon Mar 22 16:38:24 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:39:53 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Sending ACK to 192.168.68.111

Mon Mar 22 16:39:53 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: clear ip 6f44a8c0

Mon Mar 22 16:39:54 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:41:22 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:42:53 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:44:24 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:46:48 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:47:05 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 16:47:05 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:47:09 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Found static lease: 6644a8c0

Mon Mar 22 16:47:09 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Sending ACK to 192.168.68.102

Mon Mar 22 16:47:09 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: clear ip 6644a8c0

Mon Mar 22 16:47:22 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Found static lease: 6944a8c0

Mon Mar 22 16:47:22 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Sending ACK to 192.168.68.105

Mon Mar 22 16:47:22 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: clear ip 6944a8c0

Mon Mar 22 16:48:17 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:48:35 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 16:48:35 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:49:48 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:50:05 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 16:50:59 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:51:17 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:51:17 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(DC-54-D7-69-BF-D8) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:51:27 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Sending ACK to 192.168.68.113

Mon Mar 22 16:51:27 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: clear ip 7144a8c0

Mon Mar 22 16:51:36 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 16:51:36 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(DC-54-D7-69-BF-D8) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 16:52:19 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Sending ACK to 192.168.68.108

Mon Mar 22 16:52:19 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: clear ip 6c44a8c0

Mon Mar 22 16:52:30 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:53:36 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Sending ACK to 192.168.68.101

Mon Mar 22 16:53:36 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: clear ip 6544a8c0

Mon Mar 22 16:53:59 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:55:11 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:55:30 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:56:23 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:56:59 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:57:53 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:58:29 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:59:23 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 16:59:59 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:00:52 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:01:28 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:01:38 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Sending ACK to 192.168.68.107

Mon Mar 22 17:01:38 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: clear ip 6b44a8c0

Mon Mar 22 17:02:22 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:03:54 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:04:46 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:05:21 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:05:40 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 17:05:58 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=2

Mon Mar 22 17:06:16 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:06:52 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:07:10 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 17:07:45 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:08:22 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:08:39 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 17:09:16 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:09:34 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(DC-54-D7-69-BF-D8) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:09:52 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:09:52 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(DC-54-D7-69-BF-D8) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 17:10:10 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Sending ACK to 192.168.68.113

Mon Mar 22 17:10:10 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: clear ip 7144a8c0

Mon Mar 22 17:10:11 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 17:10:11 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(DC-54-D7-69-BF-D8) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=2

Mon Mar 22 17:11:22 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:11:40 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 17:12:52 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:13:09 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 17:14:23 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:14:40 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 17:17:09 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Sending ACK to 192.168.68.110

Mon Mar 22 17:17:10 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: clear ip 6e44a8c0

Mon Mar 22 17:17:17 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(8A-66-08-35-8E-9F) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:17:52 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=0

Mon Mar 22 17:18:10 2021 daemon.err client_mgmt: client(B2-71-55-81-46-54) not found in arp table disconnect_counter=1

Mon Mar 22 17:18:24 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Found static lease: 6444a8c0

Mon Mar 22 17:18:24 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: Sending ACK to 192.168.68.100

Mon Mar 22 17:18:24 2021 daemon.err udhcpd[7762]: clear ip 6444a8c0

 

 

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#1
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4 Reply
Re:Is Deco networks slowing down Internet connection or is it an ISP problem?
2021-03-23 13:23:25

@RandySea2 

 

When you run "Test Internet Speed" from Deco app, it will show speed of wired connection between Main Deco and Internet. If it shows problems, these will be between Deco and Internet. Not with WiFi or mesh.

 

Yet, with your low speed of Internet connection, it is possible that for example automatic Windows Updates on laptop or smartphone auto updating its apps could briefly slow down Internet for everyone else including Deco app speedtest. Even if you turned off most of your WiFi devices, just one or two that are left could influence Internet traffic.

 

To run absolutely clear test, power off all Satellite Decos and disconnect anything from Main Deco but smartphone. Make sure smartphone is not set to auto update its apps. Run speedtest from Deco app on smartphone again, few times. 

 

If you are still not getting consistent and good speeds, the only way to convince your ISP it is their problem will be to bypass Deco mesh in your tests. Unfortunately, it would be the only way.

You will have to disconnect Main Deco from radio modem and connect to modem by Ethernet cable either laptop or desktop - and nothing else. Then, if you run speed tests from laptop/desktop and they show unsatisfactory speeds, you can have meaningful conversation with your ISP, instead of them brushing off your escalation as "home network, WiFi, or mesh issues."

 

 

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#2
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Re:Is Deco networks slowing down Internet connection or is it an ISP problem?
2021-03-23 15:53:23

@Alexandre. 

Good suggestions for testing.

 

One question: Is there any way to turn off wifi on the main router and just run a laptop into the second ethernet port on it? Or, more important, if I turn off both 2.5 Mhz and 5 Mhz, is there anyway to turn the wifi back on? I won't be able to connect with the smartphone Deco app once I've turned off both wifi channels. The browser connection to the Deco does not have this feature.

 

I'll have to ask my ISP if I can connect my laptop directly to the radio or if I need to have a router to supply a DHCP lease and DNS server. I do have another, older TP-Link router I can use if it's the only way to test this.

 

Thank you.

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#3
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Re:Is Deco networks slowing down Internet connection or is it an ISP problem?
2021-03-23 19:57:31

@RandySea2 

 

>One question: Is there any way to turn off wifi on the main router and just run a laptop into the second ethernet port on it? 

 

Good idea, but Deco app won't let you turn off all WiFi.

 

There is an alternative to turning off WiFi: turn off Guest Network if it is on, change Main Network WiFi password to something different. Reboot Main Deco - wireless devices no longer be able to connect to Deco mesh, with different password.

After you've run speedtests from laptop you can restore old WiFi password back and that will let mobile devices to reconnect.

 

>I'll have to ask my ISP if I can connect my laptop directly to the radio 

 

You can just test it, without calling ISP, no harm will be done in doing that test. Connect laptop by Ethernet cable to modem, reboot laptop and see if it has Internet connection. If it does - you are ready for speedtests. If it does not - use your old TP-Link router, and make sure you turned off WiFi in it.

 

The purpose of these tests is first to confirm it is ISP issue and secondly to present a case to ISP they can't easily dismiss. If you don't have 'WiFi, home network, mesh" and instead have direct connection from speed testing device to their modem - they will have to take speed issues seriously.

 

Before running tests, pause Windows Updates in laptop. In last few days Microsoft pushes new updates one after another.

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#4
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Re:Is Deco networks slowing down Internet connection or is it an ISP problem?
2021-03-24 04:57:34

I think the answer is that the slowdown is not related to the Deco.

 

I eliminated as many variables as possible this way:

Main Deco router unplugged from AC and from the radio.
My main laptop on standby and my wife's laptop off.
A TP-Link AC-1750 router connected to radio/modem via ethernet. Wifi switch on that router turned off.
Another Windows 10 laptop with wifi turned off connected to the TP-Link via ethernet.
No programs running on the laptop except for the Ookla Speedtest App.

The results are: Most of the day, I was getting my expected download speed of around 6 Mbps. But I hit a low download speed of .7 Mbps and a high of 1.7 Mbps. That was over an 11 minute period starting at 8:20 pm. Right now, 9:50 pm, download speed is around 4.7 Mbps.

 

Seems pretty clear it's an internet connection problem, not a Deco problem. Unless I've missed something.

 

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#5
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