Wi-Fi Pod Speed Tests

[Aptic]

Up until recently I was getting between 300-600 mbps on my POD and Hub over wifi. (I don't have wired connections) However, I am at best getting around 150-200 mbps on my POD now (no change with the Hub, and there was no change to my set up).  I rebooted everything to see if it would make a difference, but it remains the same.    This has been going on for about a week, and measured at different times throughout the day.

When I run the Bell wifi checkup, it is showing a download speed of 1.8 gbps on the hub, and 1.5 gbps on the POD - with a strong signal to all my devices.  That said, I see no difference in the performance of any of my devices. I also note that the Bell wifi app is showing my devices are getting 2-3x the speed that I see when I run Speedtest or Fast. 

I am curious as to why the POD speed connectivitiy has dropped in half, and why Bell keeps sending me promotions to upgrade my speed, when I can't even come close to getting the speed I pay for now. 

[GS_5]

Hi, It would be interesting for you to provide the firmware version of the PODs connected to 6GHz and those at 5GHz. Since the last change, without the POD being moved, the POD no longer connects to 6GHz. In the equation, that is the only variable that has changed. I still believe, until proven otherwise, that the recent firmware update is the cause of this loss of performance, not the environment in which the POD operates. Too many people are complaining about this problem for it to be related to the environment. One way to settle the debate would be for Bell to allow us to revert to the previous firmware version, which maintained a strong and stable 6GHz connection.

[WebGeeks]

All my pods are 5.8.0-87-gc76b7f-prod-ig and the Giga Hub is 3.2.4.0-110-ge11970.

[dks]

An interesting idea, but don't forget that Bell does not control the pod software. Plume does. The Wi-Fi app is Bell branded but Plume Home software. This article on the Plume web page suggests a little caution around using speed tests. 

[dks]

My iPhone 15 Pro connects at 5 Ghz, although it is capable of 6e. 

[WebGeeks]

Depending on the pod connection, my Pixel 9 Pro will connect at 6Ghz or 5Ghz. It seems dependent on the pod connection frequency.

Based on the pod connection frequency, speed varies in test which makes sense. But I'll get anywhere from 500mbs to 900mbs and varies throughout the day. Depends on what else is going on my network (TV, surfing by others).

[GS_5]

@DSK @WebGeeks To be as accurate and clear as possible, the problem is not with the connectivity of the devices, but rather the connection between the GigaHub and the POD, which in my case is causing issues. All my devices capable of connecting to 6GHz do so very well with both the POD and the GigaHub. I use my POD as a network extension because I cannot run wires in the walls of my condo. The connection between the POD and the GigaHub no longer works at 6GHz as it did previously with the old firmware. In my case, I am partly experiencing the same nightmare described in this discussion that started on 2024-12-15 and was solved with firmware 2.14 in the GigaHub. The question is: are we dealing with another POD-GigaHub incompatibility following the POD firmware update about 2 weeks ago? I do not have this answer, but I strongly wish for the prompt involvement of the BELL technical teams to resolve this problem to prevent a recurrence of the issues of the past 9 months.

[Symple_Syrup]

I see what you are seeing. My closest POD ( 15FT ) to the GIGAhub is currently running at 5 GHz. I just rebooted the whole system this morning so I will see what happens over night and with more usage this evening. My second POD which is approx 42 feet away is also. Both PODS are connected to channel 157....connected at 5GHz.

[Symple_Syrup]

And my phone viewing the bell wifi app is connected to the gigahub currently.... just fyi

[GS_5]

Thank you for the information. I only have one POD about 15 feet from the GigaHub. The connection channel varies with each optimization (1 to 2 times per 24 hours compared to once per day before) but it is still connected to the GigaHub at 5GHz. The loss of the ability to connect to 6GHz seems to have a similar source to the previous problem, but to a lesser extent. It would be desirable for Bell, as the internet service provider, to coordinate with Plume for the POD and Sagemcom (I believe) for the GigaHub, with a very high-level tech team to quickly fix what has the potential to become 'PODGate v2.0.' I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

[GS_5]

Same for me...

[PJM]

I've got the Giga Hub 2.0, and two Bell/Plume pods with Cat 6 Ethernet connected to the 2.5Gbps ports on the Plume pods, and with a 3Gbps Fibre connection, I am only getting about 600Mbps Up/Down.

Is there a firmware fix for the Giga Hub 2.0 in conjunction with wired Plume pods, and if not, when will it be available.

The decision to treat the Plume pods as "black boxes" means we can't even diagnose if it's a wifi channel conflict, or get any meaningful diagnostic information from the pods. During the last call to Bell tech support I was told to ditch all the Giga Hub 2.0 and Plume pods, and run my own mesh network. Please tell me that can't be the only solution? I switched to Bell *because* they offered the mesh networking.

[dks]

Thanks for your question. Your speeds are completely normal for pods. Do not expect 2.5 Gb from any wireless connection, including from the Giga Hub 2.0 and pods. Depending on the wireless protocol on your devices, speeds will vary. The pods automatically optimize the wireless signal to avoid interference and provide best speed.  

[Vanadiel]

This is normal, as the practical speed of a wireless network is different from the theoretical throughput.

Also, the higher the WiFi version, the shorter the distance is before degradation of speed starts. So higher WiFi version is not always better.

Link

600 Would be inline with actual speed expectations, taking distance factors into account.

[PJM]

"Completely normal" in this context means they aren't working properly. 

Pixel 10 Pro XL, located within 2 feet of one of the pods is only connecting at Wifi 6(rather than WiFi 6E) speeds.

The transmit and receive link speeds for the Pixel 10PXL are both 2401Mbps.

The download speed with the Ookla Speedtest app for Android are: 747Mbps Down and 937Mbps Up, both of which are a fraction of the link speeds. Either there is an issue with the Plume pods, the Giga Hub 2.0, or both.

Here's the result of Netspot for *just* the 6GHz channel devices. As you can see from the OUIs, the four MAC addresses starting with B2:5B:99 are all the Sagemcom(Aka Plume) pods. None of them appear to have the 6Ghz in use.

There's no excuse for Bell's equipment not to support WiFi 6E(2.4Ghz, 5Ghz, and 6Ghz bands simultaneously), *especially* if the device is practically sitting on the top of a Plume pod.

[Aptic]

I would love those speeds.  I can barely get 50 mbps (when the pod stays on line that is), even when standing by the Pod.  My pod keeps going offline and I lose my connection.  Bell says they are looking into it.  They refuse to send a tech to my house. 

The last time I called in I was told they sent an update to my modem and it would correct the problem.  The rep said he would call me back in two days to ensure everything was ok.  Of course it didn't fix the problem and he never called back.  So just keep quiet and keep paying your bill as we raise your prices.