Improve Wireless Performance of my OpenWrt One

Purevok · May 27, 2025, 10:04am

I recently picked up an OpenWrt One since my previous router (Netgear R6400) was almost 10 years old and I wanted to support the project. After setting it up and doing some speed tests at various points around my house, the wireless performance was noticeably worse. I got lower speeds directly next to the router and I had much less range. Some parts of my house almost entirely lost connection where they previously had a strong connection.

Is there any way to improve the performance of my new router? I'm very new to OpenWrt, but I looked up various guides and tried changing some of the wireless settings with no luck. Do I need to buy improved antennas or something? Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.

brada4 · May 27, 2025, 1:52pm

Please connect to your OpenWrt device using ssh and copy the output of the following commands and post it here using the "Preformatted text </> " button:

Remember to redact passwords, MAC addresses and any public IP addresses you may have:

ubus call system board
cat /etc/config/network
cat /etc/config/wireless
cat /etc/config/dhcp
cat /etc/config/firewall

Also post links to "much worse" and wired test results via https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat

Purevok · May 28, 2025, 11:04am

Hey, thanks so much for your reply. Below is the output of the commands.


root@OpenWrt:~# ubus call system board
{
	"kernel": "6.6.63",
	"hostname": "OpenWrt",
	"system": "ARMv8 Processor rev 4",
	"model": "OpenWrt One",
	"board_name": "openwrt,one",
	"rootfs_type": "squashfs",
	"release": {
		"distribution": "OpenWrt",
		"version": "24.10.0-rc2",
		"revision": "r28161-ea17e958b9",
		"target": "mediatek/filogic",
		"description": "OpenWrt 24.10.0-rc2 r28161-ea17e958b9",
		"builddate": "1733226068"
	}
}
root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/network

config interface 'loopback'
	option device 'lo'
	option proto 'static'
	option ipaddr '127.0.0.1'
	option netmask '255.0.0.0'

config globals 'globals'
	option ula_prefix 'fd5f:f39a:9ad2::/48'

config device
	option name 'br-lan'
	option type 'bridge'
	list ports 'eth1'

config interface 'lan'
	option device 'br-lan'
	option proto 'static'
	option ipaddr '192.168.1.1'
	option netmask '255.255.255.0'
	option ip6assign '60'

config interface 'wan'
	option device 'eth0'
	option proto 'dhcp'

config interface 'wan6'
	option device 'eth0'
	option proto 'dhcpv6'

config interface 'wwan'
	option proto 'dhcp'

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/wireless

config wifi-device 'radio0'
	option type 'mac80211'
	option path 'platform/soc/18000000.wifi'
	option band '2g'
	option channel 'auto'
	option htmode 'HT20'
	option num_global_macaddr '7'
	option cell_density '0'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio0'
	option device 'radio0'
	option network 'lan'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'OpenWrt'
	option encryption 'none'

config wifi-device 'radio1'
	option type 'mac80211'
	option path 'platform/soc/18000000.wifi+1'
	option band '5g'
	option channel '36'
	option htmode 'HE80'
	option num_global_macaddr '7'
	option disabled '1'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio1'
	option device 'radio1'
	option network 'lan'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'OpenWrt'
	option encryption 'none'
	option disabled '1'

config wifi-iface 'wifinet2'
	option device 'radio0'
	option mode 'sta'
	option network 'wwan'
	option ssid 'REDACTED'
	option encryption 'psk2'
	option key 'REDACTED'
	option disabled '1'

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/dhcp

config dnsmasq
	option domainneeded '1'
	option boguspriv '1'
	option filterwin2k '0'
	option localise_queries '1'
	option rebind_protection '1'
	option rebind_localhost '1'
	option local '/lan/'
	option domain 'lan'
	option expandhosts '1'
	option nonegcache '0'
	option cachesize '1000'
	option authoritative '1'
	option readethers '1'
	option leasefile '/tmp/dhcp.leases'
	option resolvfile '/tmp/resolv.conf.d/resolv.conf.auto'
	option nonwildcard '1'
	option localservice '1'
	option ednspacket_max '1232'
	option filter_aaaa '0'
	option filter_a '0'

config dhcp 'lan'
	option interface 'lan'
	option start '100'
	option limit '150'
	option leasetime '12h'
	option dhcpv4 'server'
	option dhcpv6 'server'
	option ra 'server'
	option ra_slaac '1'
	list ra_flags 'managed-config'
	list ra_flags 'other-config'

config dhcp 'wan'
	option interface 'wan'
	option ignore '1'

config odhcpd 'odhcpd'
	option maindhcp '0'
	option leasefile '/tmp/hosts/odhcpd'
	option leasetrigger '/usr/sbin/odhcpd-update'
	option loglevel '4'

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/firewall

config defaults
	option syn_flood '1'
	option input 'REJECT'
	option output 'ACCEPT'
	option forward 'REJECT'

config zone
	option name 'lan'
	option input 'ACCEPT'
	option output 'ACCEPT'
	option forward 'ACCEPT'
	list network 'lan'

config zone
	option name 'wan'
	option input 'REJECT'
	option output 'ACCEPT'
	option forward 'REJECT'
	option masq '1'
	option mtu_fix '1'
	list network 'wan'
	list network 'wan6'
	list network 'wwan'

config forwarding
	option src 'lan'
	option dest 'wan'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-DHCP-Renew'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'udp'
	option dest_port '68'
	option target 'ACCEPT'
	option family 'ipv4'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-Ping'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'icmp'
	option icmp_type 'echo-request'
	option family 'ipv4'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-IGMP'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'igmp'
	option family 'ipv4'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-DHCPv6'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'udp'
	option dest_port '546'
	option family 'ipv6'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-MLD'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'icmp'
	option src_ip 'fe80::/10'
	list icmp_type '130/0'
	list icmp_type '131/0'
	list icmp_type '132/0'
	list icmp_type '143/0'
	option family 'ipv6'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-ICMPv6-Input'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'icmp'
	list icmp_type 'echo-request'
	list icmp_type 'echo-reply'
	list icmp_type 'destination-unreachable'
	list icmp_type 'packet-too-big'
	list icmp_type 'time-exceeded'
	list icmp_type 'bad-header'
	list icmp_type 'unknown-header-type'
	list icmp_type 'router-solicitation'
	list icmp_type 'neighbour-solicitation'
	list icmp_type 'router-advertisement'
	list icmp_type 'neighbour-advertisement'
	option limit '1000/sec'
	option family 'ipv6'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-ICMPv6-Forward'
	option src 'wan'
	option dest '*'
	option proto 'icmp'
	list icmp_type 'echo-request'
	list icmp_type 'echo-reply'
	list icmp_type 'destination-unreachable'
	list icmp_type 'packet-too-big'
	list icmp_type 'time-exceeded'
	list icmp_type 'bad-header'
	list icmp_type 'unknown-header-type'
	option limit '1000/sec'
	option family 'ipv6'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-IPSec-ESP'
	option src 'wan'
	option dest 'lan'
	option proto 'esp'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-ISAKMP'
	option src 'wan'
	option dest 'lan'
	option dest_port '500'
	option proto 'udp'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

root@OpenWrt:~#

Below, I conducted some tests with the old router, Netgear R6400 on default Netgear firmware vs the OpenWrt One on OpenWrt. I would expect the OpenWrt one to perform much better as it's 10 years newer and much more expensive than the Netgear router which currently goes for $15 on Amazon. It seems like the Netgear router performs better in most aspects of each test. Especially when looking at the last test where the range seems to drop off a little for both routers, we can see the Netgear router performs around 10x the speed the OpenWrt One does. My OpenWrt install is mostly a fresh install, so I was thinking maybe there are some settings I need to change to get increased performance. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

OpenWrt tests
Upstairs At Desk on OpenWrt - https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat?test-id=a298482c-4232-4893-9b6a-d572b295efca

Downstairs Couch on OpenWrt - https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat?test-id=bd6eb2be-532d-43a7-b1a2-0678026990a5

Downstairs Office on OpenWrt - https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat?test-id=b5e5dc82-c650-4975-b630-56d0e1053479

Wired on OpenWrt - https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat?test-id=fe130f9d-bd8f-48b6-af0d-0cbdda237fd1

Netgear Tests
Upstairs At Desk on Netgear - https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat?test-id=41c0c27d-0fcd-432c-afa3-70be9c1e2109

Downstairs Couch on Netgear - https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat?test-id=687c1f5d-a952-4b9d-b41f-a6baba56a065

Downstairs Office on Netgear - https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat?test-id=69f7a5aa-0421-4e5d-a76a-5885be5572a5

Wired on Netgear - https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat?test-id=d50fa40a-1970-4389-9407-1c6f39a3c6cb

frollic · May 28, 2025, 11:06am

that's the version it's shipped with.

start by upgrading to 24.10.1 - https://firmware-selector.openwrt.org/?version=24.10.1&target=mediatek%2Ffilogic&id=openwrt_one

Purevok · May 28, 2025, 12:05pm

I updated, my firmware version in LuCI now says "OpenWrt 24.10.1 r28597-0425664679 / LuCI (HEAD detached at 2ac26e56) branch 25.103.51521~2ac26e5".

I've been running tests for about 30 minutes to an hour now. The speed and range still seems to be worse than the Netgear router. Is this normal performance for this device, or is something wrong?

brada4 · May 28, 2025, 12:33pm

Use 5ghz band, your results are typical for 2.4ghz
basically set up access points with identical parameters in each band

mattimat · May 28, 2025, 12:43pm

The only obvious thing I would recommend is to set the radio0 to a fixed channel. Here the channel is set to 6.

config wifi-device 'radio0'
	option type 'mac80211'
	option path 'platform/soc/18000000.wifi'
	option band '2g'
	option channel '6'
	option htmode 'HT40'
	option num_global_macaddr '7'
	option cell_density '0'

brada4 · May 28, 2025, 2:21pm

There is just single enabled 2.4ghz accesspoint

Purevok · May 30, 2025, 8:19am

Hey guys, thanks for all the suggestions, greatly appreciated. I numerous hours doing tests between making changes and I was able to get the performance equivalent to that of my previous router setup. Special thanks to @brada4 for suggesting I enable an identical SSID/passphrase for 5 ghz. I have been using my previous router for around 10 years with a separate SSID for 5 ghz and 2.4 ghz. I had no idea this is something you could do.

I have 2 remaining questions.

I expected to get faster speeds after upgrading my router due to improved hardware & firmware. However, after optimizing it as much as I can, I get the same speeds. Why is this? Is this because my ISP speeds are so slow that it doesn't matter what hardware/firmware I use?
I enabled an identical SSID for my 5 ghz band like @brada4 suggested, and it works great. However, I've already noticed a major issue. When I'm on a call, walking through some parts of my house will end the call and force me to reconnect, then walking back will do the same thing. I assume this is because of the handoff between the 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz networks. Is there any way to prevent this or at least mitigate it?

brada4 · May 30, 2025, 8:31am

we dont know, check whats in your subscriptiion. 2. maybe some "creativity" needs brushed away

Please connect to your OpenWrt device using ssh and copy the output of the following commands and post it here using the "Preformatted text </> " button:

Remember to redact passwords, MAC addresses and any public IP addresses you may have:

ubus call system board
cat /etc/config/wireless
cat /etc/config/firewall

Purevok · May 30, 2025, 8:58am

In regards to my first question, I think I am probably just maxing out my plan from my ISP. I will check with them tomorrow.

For my second question, here is the output below. I'm pretty much running defaults currently. I will enable encryption soon, I just have it disabled currently while I'm still testing and setting everything up.

root@OpenWrt:~# ubus call system board
{
	"kernel": "6.6.86",
	"hostname": "OpenWrt",
	"system": "ARMv8 Processor rev 4",
	"model": "OpenWrt One",
	"board_name": "openwrt,one",
	"rootfs_type": "squashfs",
	"release": {
		"distribution": "OpenWrt",
		"version": "24.10.1",
		"revision": "r28597-0425664679",
		"target": "mediatek/filogic",
		"description": "OpenWrt 24.10.1 r28597-0425664679",
		"builddate": "1744562312"
	}
}
root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/wireless

config wifi-device 'radio0'
	option type 'mac80211'
	option path 'platform/soc/18000000.wifi'
	option band '2g'
	option channel 'auto'
	option htmode 'HT20'
	option num_global_macaddr '7'
	option cell_density '0'
	option country 'US'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio0'
	option device 'radio0'
	option network 'lan'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'OpenWrt'
	option encryption 'none'

config wifi-device 'radio1'
	option type 'mac80211'
	option path 'platform/soc/18000000.wifi+1'
	option band '5g'
	option channel '36'
	option htmode 'HE80'
	option num_global_macaddr '7'

config wifi-iface 'default_radio1'
	option device 'radio1'
	option network 'lan'
	option mode 'ap'
	option ssid 'OpenWrt'
	option encryption 'none'

root@OpenWrt:~# cat /etc/config/firewall

config defaults
	option syn_flood '1'
	option input 'REJECT'
	option output 'ACCEPT'
	option forward 'REJECT'

config zone
	option name 'lan'
	option input 'ACCEPT'
	option output 'ACCEPT'
	option forward 'ACCEPT'
	list network 'lan'

config zone
	option name 'wan'
	option input 'REJECT'
	option output 'ACCEPT'
	option forward 'REJECT'
	option masq '1'
	option mtu_fix '1'
	list network 'wan'
	list network 'wan6'
	list network 'wwan'

config forwarding
	option src 'lan'
	option dest 'wan'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-DHCP-Renew'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'udp'
	option dest_port '68'
	option target 'ACCEPT'
	option family 'ipv4'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-Ping'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'icmp'
	option icmp_type 'echo-request'
	option family 'ipv4'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-IGMP'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'igmp'
	option family 'ipv4'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-DHCPv6'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'udp'
	option dest_port '546'
	option family 'ipv6'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-MLD'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'icmp'
	option src_ip 'fe80::/10'
	list icmp_type '130/0'
	list icmp_type '131/0'
	list icmp_type '132/0'
	list icmp_type '143/0'
	option family 'ipv6'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-ICMPv6-Input'
	option src 'wan'
	option proto 'icmp'
	list icmp_type 'echo-request'
	list icmp_type 'echo-reply'
	list icmp_type 'destination-unreachable'
	list icmp_type 'packet-too-big'
	list icmp_type 'time-exceeded'
	list icmp_type 'bad-header'
	list icmp_type 'unknown-header-type'
	list icmp_type 'router-solicitation'
	list icmp_type 'neighbour-solicitation'
	list icmp_type 'router-advertisement'
	list icmp_type 'neighbour-advertisement'
	option limit '1000/sec'
	option family 'ipv6'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-ICMPv6-Forward'
	option src 'wan'
	option dest '*'
	option proto 'icmp'
	list icmp_type 'echo-request'
	list icmp_type 'echo-reply'
	list icmp_type 'destination-unreachable'
	list icmp_type 'packet-too-big'
	list icmp_type 'time-exceeded'
	list icmp_type 'bad-header'
	list icmp_type 'unknown-header-type'
	option limit '1000/sec'
	option family 'ipv6'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-IPSec-ESP'
	option src 'wan'
	option dest 'lan'
	option proto 'esp'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

config rule
	option name 'Allow-ISAKMP'
	option src 'wan'
	option dest 'lan'
	option dest_port '500'
	option proto 'udp'
	option target 'ACCEPT'

brada4 · May 30, 2025, 3:37pm

coverage/signal strength

Set country on 5ghz radio to rise tx power 10x, set both APs to wpa2 or wpa3 (not mixed}

smooth band steering

(to do wired)
remove wpad-basic-mbedtls
install wpad-mbedtls

then install usteer to hint clients to change bands before signal runs out.