I just got Cox service installed in an apartment in Omaha, NE yesterday. I am using a brand-new Asus RT-AC68U wireless router running the newest available non-beta firmware with the service. My modem is a brand-new Zoom 5341J.
My problem is that although I am paying for the up-to-50 Mbps tier, most speedtests (on this site as well as Ookla) are averaging well under 20 Mbps over WiFi. If connected via Ethernet, I consistently get greater than 50 Mbps downloads.
I am using a 5 GHz N/AC network, WPA2 Personal, hidden SSID, 40 MHz width. I have used diagnostics software to choose an open channel, and tried on multiple channels as well as experimenting with widths to also try 20 MHz and 80 MHz. Nothing helps. One lone speedtest was at least over 35 Mbps but it's actually more common for tests to be under 10 Mbps than over 35. A few have even been under 2 Mbps. The tests are run using my MacBook Pro with OS X Yosemite and the 802.11n connection through my MBP is reported as being 450 Mbps. All the signal numbers look good to me. Quality is typically between 40 and 50, RSSI a very steady -40, and noise between -84 and -92. I've tried enabling and disabling QoS settings, Optimized for Xbox mode, guest network, etc., all to no effect.
There are only three other 5 GHz networks detected at my location (though between 13-38 2.4 GHz networks, depending on scan). None are strong enough to present significant interference even at 80 MHz channel widths. One interesting observation is on the 802.11ac band. Using a late-model MacBook Air with 802.11ac capabilities, the connection is rated as low as 360 Mbps at times and never above 400 Mbps. When connected to an AirPort Extreme at my parent's house, this computer consistently saw a 1300 Mbps connection.
We do have Bluetooth devices nearby and a HDTV with a cable box in the other room but directly through the wall from the modem and router, for what it's worth. Unplugging the TV and cable box and disabling Bluetooth did not seem to have any significant impact.
Others in my building are having this problem too, as is a friend who lives in another apartment a few miles away and also has Cox service. Full speeds over Ethernet; averaging less than half the speed of the Ethernet connection over WiFi. His router is a different brand, but has the same issue.
I'm running out of ideas. I'm used to Apple products so I'm wondering if I should just return the Asus and get an AirPort Extreme even though it's less configurable. I don't know if its the router or not but am not used to anything but Apple so I admit I'm a little leery of the Asus, but bought it anyway because it's recommended by many as one of the best. As mentioned previously, my parents have an AirPort Extreme router used with the same Cox service tier in an Omaha suburb and everything is nearly flawless, though I am aware there is no WiFi channel congestion or cable node congestion at their location so the difference is more than just the router brand.
I'm down to suspecting things like interference in the building from things like CFL bulbs, microwave ovens, or even signal leakage from the cable box, in the walls, or beyond. I haven't talked to a Cox technician yet; in the past they haven't been helpful with things as they always just want to unplug the router, run the modem into their test laptop directly, say all is fine and go on their way. Everything's perfect over Ethernet so I already know that method would work fine. I just want to know where to go next in order to get the WiFi working properly, or what else might be causing this problem -- not only for me but also for others in the building as well as in my friend's building in another complex!
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