So I got this. When I use their app, it also shows me the 5 GBit speed to/from the modem. On Wifi, even with the newest Apple devices and sitting right next to the AT&T "modem"/Wifi thing, I never get more than 700 MBit/s. So I bought some Ethernet/Thunderbolt 10 GBit Ethernet/Thunderbolt adapter to try the wired connection. I made sure to use a Cat 6a cable that plugs directly into the AT&T thing and a 10Gbit transceiver. With that, I get about 1 GBit/s. Any idea why I am not getting the 5 GBit speed to my Macbook Pro? I mean, I am directly wired to the fiber modem and am only using 10 GBit/s hardware in between. The AT&T SmartHome Manager thing shows the 5GBit+ speed to and from the fiber modem - is that fake, though? Do they give you 1GBit in reality and the only way you ever see 5 GBit is in that proprietary speed test in their app?
All the devices in the complete path need to be 5 GBit. If you're testing from an end device to some random test server, there is a good chance you are hitting a 1 GB port somewhere in the path. Think of it as a car that can go 500mph. Unless it can fly, there probably isn't much use for a car that can go 500mph until infrastructure is in place to handle it.
Without getting into why you need 5GB ethernet... I don't think you're going to get 5 gigabit over wireless on your mac. If your MacBook is 802.11ax, you may get 1.2 gig under ideal situations. If it's 802.11ac, you'll get around 866 megabits/sec. If you're hardwiring directly to the MacBook Pro's ethernet port, I think if the dongle you're using is legit, it may work, but I don't know anything about Macbooks or what dongle you're using. Even then, you may have some loss since there's a USB/Ethernet "conversion" to where you may only get around 3 GB speeds. It could also be a bad ethernet cable, too. Lastly make sure the port on the AT&T modem/router you're connected to supports 5GB ethernet. You may have multiple ports on it, but only 1 or some of the ports support the speed. Not sure about their routers, either. Failing all that, call AT&T!
https://www.speedtest.net/ See what the line is giving you. If your hardware doesn't match, you have a breakdown somewhere on your end.
This @AroundTheWorld att selling 5GB isn’t about one computer/device realizing that. It’s so that a small business can realize 500mb on 10 machines, or 100mb on 50. Or in your case, you should see 1gb on multiple devices/tvs/etc at the same time. try running a speed test on two or more devices at the same time. You’ll probably see in sum more than the 1gb that you are reporting for your single test..
Modems got all fancy in the last ten years with mesh and z network tech. Some even want to gouge you with firewall subscriptions. It's mostly because speeds depend on the surrounding traffic for all devices (phones, laptops, tv...alexa, ipad, ring, smart coffee machine, smart fluffer, etc...), so it's not only supporting new wireless bands but having a good enough router to direct all of it within an arra that covers upstairs and downstairs. Edit- I see you directly connected laptop to cable modem. Not sure then.
Thanks everyone - all devices on my end are 10 GBit, and I hardwired, and that was the speedtest I used, @larsv8 . Regarding Wifi, @Dr of Dunk, all devices are Wifi 6, so that shouldn't be the limitation. @heypartner - I just did the test with two speedtests at the same time, and indeed, I got just under 1GBit on the hardwired Mac (as before) and about 700Mbit on the iPhone (as before), so, in total, above 1GBit. Thanks - that was a good idea. I understand the reasoning you and @Space Ghost posted - I just still wonder why the hardwired Mac, while nothing else on the network is really sucking data (all the other connected devices are dormant) seems to be capped at 1GBit. Edit: Just did two iPhones and the hardwired Mac at the same time. 2 x 720 MBps iPhones (wireless) 1 x 940 MBps Mac (wired) Hardware I used for the wired part: https://www.att.com/support/article/u-verse-high-speed-internet/KM1377555/ https://help.sonic.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500000066642-ARRIS-BGW320 Makes me wonder if any of the four hardware pieces in the chain has a 1 GBps limitation - they really shouldn't, based on their description.
Oh wait...I wasn't using Ethernet port 1 because that's where the DreamMachine etc. is hooked up to. Let me try that now... Yep, that was indeed it. When I connect directly to Ethernet port 1 on the BGW-320, I do get close to the 5GBps.
@AroundTheWorld : Regarding wi-fi6 on the Macbook Pro. Not sure if it applies to your model, but most wi-fi6 implementations aren't going to get anywhere near 5 gig speeds. Check this article and see if it applies to you. For the hardwire : what model of modem/router do you have? What dongle are you using? I still think you should check to see all ports support 5 gigabit on that modem/router.
Yeah, looking at that picture of the gateway, you would have to connect directly to port 1 for 5 gigabit speeds. That takes care of your hardwired problem. Well, unless you need to connect more than one device to it. lol. As for the Dream Machine part - are you using a Ubiquiti Dream Machine (looks like a giant white pill/suppository with an alien light around the top)? Or is it a Dream Machine Pro rackmount? For the wireless/MacBook Pro part... I don't follow Apple too much, but I'm still going to guess you're going to be limited to around 1.2 megabits tops on that thing via wireless.
UDM Pro/USW Pro And now I am trying to understand why the ethernet jacks in the rooms seem to be limited to that 1 GBps speed beind the Ubiquiti stuff... I wish that BGW320 had more than 1 5GBps port!
No, the cables are all Cat 6a, as stated in the OP. But I now know what the issue is, my networking guy explained it to me.
I only have the 1GB fiber version in my neighborhood and that's pretty interesting/funny that they're limiting the 5GB access to just one ethernet port. ATT contractor: "So all of your other devices can be hooked up to ports 2 through 4 but port 1 here *taps modem*...that's for the adventurer in the family if you know what I'm saying *winks*"
How you gonna buy all this 5GB gear and not even look at which port it's plugged into? come on man. you better than this.
