Slow network speed on Google WiFi mesh

[BobertG]

Almost 4 years ago I bought a Nest Wifi router and point to connect to my 1GB fiber.  Some time after installing this I noticed that devices (laptops, iphones, tablets) connected to this wifi network seemed to experience a really slow internet connection.  So I would open up a browser and run a speed test in a browser (using the default speed test option when I search for speed test on Google search).  This test would verify that indeed I was getting a really slow internet speed to my device (for example, 53 mbps download and 15 mbps upload--which is pretty typical).

I searched around a little bit and found an article that described the same problem that I was having.  And the suggested solution is to perform a speed test on the wifi router via the Google home app, which makes no sense but works.  Here arearticle that appears to describe the same problem/solution, so it appears that I am not alone: 

• https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Slow-network-speed-on-Google-WiFi-mesh/m-p/414834
• https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Mesh-wifi-is-slow/m-p/472871

When I do this speed test the low-speed problem goes away temporarily, improving to 138 mbps download and 153 mbps upload - a 2.6x-10x improvement).  But it is a little irritating to have to do this often (every few weeks).

Have others reported this issue?  Is there a fix?

[cheliogeovanni]

Hello @BobertG, 

It sounds frustrating to be dealing with slow speeds on your Google Wifi mesh network despite having a 1GB fiber connection. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

Speed Test Location: Double-check where you're running the speed test. Ensure you're using a reputable speed test website like Google Speed Test https://goo.gle/3LnAMrN or Ookla Speedtest https://goo.gle/3a8EB12. Avoid using built-in browser speed tests as they might not be accurate.

Direct Connection Test: To isolate the Wifi issue, try connecting a laptop directly to your internet service provider's (ISP) modem using an ethernet cable. Run a speed test again. This will confirm if the slowness is due to the Wifi network or your ISP's service.

Restart Network: A simple yet effective step is to reboot your entire network. Turn off your modem, Nest Wifi router, and Wifi points for about 2 minutes. Then, power them back on one by one, starting with the modem and waiting for each device to fully boot up before turning on the next.

Please let me know how it goes.

Regards,

Helio.

[BobertG]

Thanks for responding!  Here are answers to your questions.

Speed Test Location: For all speed tests I use the default in Google search, that is offered by Measurement Lab.

Direct Connection Test: I have run many speed tests from my wifi router to the outside using the Google home app and the speed is always over 900 mbps.  So the issue is not with my ISP.  And when I run a test with my mesh connection the Google App says that I have a "great connection."

Restart Network: I have restarted my network and wifi points a number of times over the years (at one point I was doing this monthly for a while).  Yes it fixes the problem temporarily, but the slow speed problem recurs within weeks.

[cheliogeovanni]

Hello @BobertG, 

I am glad to hear that it is fixed for now, but just in case keep us posted.

Best regards,

Helio.

[BobertG]

I am sorry if you got the impression that this problem was fixed.  It wasn't.  As you can see above, restarting the network does not fix the problem permanently.  It just fixes it for a week or two.  It is understandable that I don't want to restart my network every week.  No router should require this. 

[cheliogeovanni]

Hello @BobertG,

I understand that you've encountered some frustrations and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. Your feedback is valuable to us, as it helps us identify areas for improvement and make your WiFi experience even better.

To help us understand your needs better, we'd like for you to share more details through this form.

Regards,

Helio.