Intel Wireless AC 7260 Problem and Work-around

I got a new laptop at work and it has the Intel AC 7260 wireless card. Apparently, it does not like our AC access points here. With the default settings, my iperf tests look like this:

iperf\iperf.exe -c server -r -i 2 -w 524288

------------------------------------------------------------

Server listening on TCP port 5001

TCP window size:  512 KByte

------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------

Client connecting to server, TCP port 5001

TCP window size:  512 KByte

------------------------------------------------------------

[ ID] Interval       Transfer     Bandwidth

[  4]  0.0- 2.0 sec  24.0 MBytes   101 Mbits/sec

[  4]  2.0- 4.0 sec  24.1 MBytes   101 Mbits/sec

[  4]  4.0- 6.0 sec  30.2 MBytes   127 Mbits/sec

[  4]  6.0- 8.0 sec  30.8 MBytes   129 Mbits/sec

[  4]  8.0-10.0 sec  28.1 MBytes   118 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0-10.0 sec   137 MBytes   115 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0- 2.0 sec  6.67 MBytes  28.0 Mbits/sec

[  4]  2.0- 4.0 sec  6.87 MBytes  28.8 Mbits/sec

[  4]  4.0- 6.0 sec  4.33 MBytes  18.2 Mbits/sec

[  4]  6.0- 8.0 sec  6.17 MBytes  25.9 Mbits/sec

[  4]  8.0-10.0 sec  6.05 MBytes  25.4 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0-10.1 sec  30.4 MBytes  25.2 Mbits/sec

If I change the HT Mode from VHT Mode (AC) to HT Mode (N) in the driver properties, then my results get much better.

[ ID] Interval       Transfer     Bandwidth

[  4]  0.0- 2.0 sec  33.4 MBytes   140 Mbits/sec

[  4]  2.0- 4.0 sec  30.6 MBytes   128 Mbits/sec

[  4]  4.0- 6.0 sec  33.0 MBytes   138 Mbits/sec

[  4]  6.0- 8.0 sec  33.0 MBytes   138 Mbits/sec

[  4]  8.0-10.0 sec  34.4 MBytes   144 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0-10.0 sec   164 MBytes   138 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0- 2.0 sec  25.8 MBytes   108 Mbits/sec

[  4]  2.0- 4.0 sec  30.9 MBytes   130 Mbits/sec

[  4]  4.0- 6.0 sec  29.6 MBytes   124 Mbits/sec

[  4]  6.0- 8.0 sec  30.7 MBytes   129 Mbits/sec

[  4]  8.0-10.0 sec  31.3 MBytes   131 Mbits/sec

[  4]  0.0-10.0 sec   149 MBytes   124 Mbits/sec

I see the same sort of results with Speedtest.

Antennas for Access Point

We had cause to open up an access point at work. I thought it was kind of interesting to see the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz antennas (six total).

Better pictures and info here.

Routers

As is often the case, life seems to work in themes... since I've talking about the CWNP, I see a couple of articles about routers.

The first is a primer for buying a new router for your home.

[[[ UPDATE: Check out this reddit thread about the anonabox ]]]

Second is anonabox : a Tor hardware router:

"The anonabox easily encrypts Internet usage with a simple device that secures all web traffic, not just the traffic coming from one program. No software to download or configure, no login credentials, no registration, just plug it in and your network connection is encrypted. The anonabox also allows people to use programs over Tor that never supported it before or required complicated configuration like Skype, Safari and Filezilla, to name just a few. Also the default firewall configuration protects your computer or network from outside access."

CWNP

I'm looking into the Certified Wireless Network Professional program for my next cert. CWNP is vendor agnostic. I've never formally done any training or studying on the wireless side, but after reading a couple of chapters, I'm excited about the (no surprise) overlap with ham radio topics. I spotted a ham calling "CQ" in the CWNP forum.

Wireless Router

The Lifehacker Hive Mind says the ASUS RT-AC66U is better than the ASUS RT-N66U that I have. I used to say it was silly* to chase ever faster WiFi speeds because your internet connection is the bottleneck. That's no longer true for me. I switched to xfinity to get rid of some chronic service issues with my other provider. I didn't save any money by switching, but I get many new features (iPad DVR control), a phone, and 100 Mbps. Woo hoo!

* Unless you are doing lots of big file transfers on your LAN.

WRT54G

The WRT54G router has been reincarnated as the WRT1900AC. I had one of the WRT54G routers and recommended it to many others. I'd be interested in the new one, but not for $300. I'll stick with my ASUS RT-N66U for half the price.

WiFi Smoke Detectors

What's the next connected device in your house? How about your smoke detectors?

I can see all sorts of detectors... additional sensors for your thermostat, doors and locks (that I've mentioned before), garage doors, kitchen sensors for smells (is this milk still good?), lights being on/off, etc. Who knows, maybe your radio will be wireless someday.

Kitten Wars All the Time

Don't steal this guy's wifi.