EA2700 download speed - local port connection speed

Question

Hi,
I've recently upgraded my ISP connection to 200Mbs dl and 20Mbs upload.
Using a test (speedtest.net) to determine my connection speed i discovered that the downloadspeed only reached about 75 Mbs , but with the modem directly attached to the computer it reaches almost 190 Mbs , so the problem must be with the EA2700 router.
I've tried everything , upgrading firmware , downgrading firmware , changing the MTU , dissabling IPv6 etc.
I have narrowed the problem down to this: After starting my computer (from the off power) the downloadspeed is 75Mbs (although the status within the routers webinterface says i have both on WLAN and localport 1Gb).
After restarting the router (by the routers webinterface) the speed is 180Mbs.
Seems like i have to start the computer first and then switch on the router (ridiculous i know) , seems like although the portspeed indicates 1Gb i only have a 100 Mb port speed....
Any ideas? or is this just a crappy router?

Answer 1

I suspect that this is a basic internal issue in the router.
I'm a retired networking system administrator and am not unfamiliar with devices that don't work the way the sales force claims -- especially at the upper limits of those claims.
I have only been playing with the EA2700 now for a few days, but am absolutely astounded at how "un-professional" all of the documentation and support information for the device is.
I say "un-professional" meaning -- seriously consumer oriented. No technical specifics. Granted I'm familiar with the "classic interface" on Linksys products and am not particularly enamored of this new web based environment. But that's just my history.
At any rate. I'm fairly certain that you need to try to reach "tier 2" (or maybe higher) tech support on the phone to find out what the actual throughput capabilities of the hardware and software are.
200Mbs is a "new" speed common to FIOS, but not to Cable. The end result being that the probability that new-product testing at that speed is at best, incomplete. And, I suspect it has not been done at all.
While the "chips" may be capable of running at Gig-a-bit speeds, a router's speed is controlled by the internal "routing speed" of the software.
Before I retired, I used to confont this kind of issue routinely in working with Internet2 -- the hardware available "claimed" to be able to do the job, but the on-the-job evaluations proved that it was not capable. But we had to spend a lot of time developing tests to refute manufacturer's (marketing) claims.
It may be the simple fact that the EA2700 (as best I can tell) is now very long in the tooth -- apparently introduced back in April of 2012 -- 3 years ago - an eternity in Networking. That coupled with the fact that the EA2700 is the "entry level" device in Linksys' EA product line.
An interesting review (Review Date April 30, 2012) in PC Magazine: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2403745,00.asp primarily discusses the WiFi side of the router. It hedges its bets on the hardware by saying "We will revisit this router when that software becomes available. Perhaps then the true value of the EA2700 will shine though." (I haven't found that review yet.)