Slow connection
Cable
One reason for a slow connection can be the cable. There is usually an inscription on the cable that indicates the type of cat (category type).
| UTP Category | Data Rate | Max. Length | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT1 | 1 Mbps | - | Old Telephone Cable |
| CAT2 | 4 Mbps | - | Token Ring Networks |
| CAT3 | 10 Mbps | 100m | Token Ring & 10BASE-T Ethernet |
| CAT4 | 16 Mbps | 100m | Token Ring Networks |
| CAT5 | 100 Mbps | 100m | Ethernet, FastEthernet, Token Ring |
| CAT5e | 1 Gbps | 100m | Ethernet, FastEthernet, Gigabit Ethernet |
| CAT6 | 10 Gbps | 100m | GigabitEthernet, 10G Ethernet (55 meters) |
| CAT6a | 10 Gbps | 100m | GigabitEthernet, 10G Ethernet (55 meters) |
| CAT7 | 10 Gbps | 100m | GigabitEthernet, 10G Ethernet (100 meters) |
Router
Hardware
The router may not support the desired speed. This is best found in the data sheet of the router.
For example, the following speeds can be found for the two TP-Link routers:
TL-WR940N:
- Speed: 450 Mbps
Archer C6:
- Speed: 1 Gbps
- 2.4 Ghz Wi-Fi Speed: 300 Mbps
- 5 Ghz Wi-Fi Speed: 867 Mbps
Software
Some routers offer limiting functions, for example to implement prioritization.
Here is an example for the previously mentioned TP-Link routers:
TL-WR940N:
Archer C6:
