M1Pro 16" Terrible WiFi performance

[jhonnypolak]

I've got a custom order: 16" M1 Pro with 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD.
I updated to Monterey 12.0.1 as soon as I powered it up last night and I have noticed today the wifi performance is not great. Very spotty.
The wifi disconnects during large file transfers.
When I run ping tests, sometimes there's prolonged periods of time where there's no acknowledgment at all. (10-15 seconds at a time). Then the ping comes back for 2 seconds.
Ping responses would be anywhere between 300ms - 6000ms
I restarted the laptop a few times and the WiFi seems to come back for a while and then it drop off.
Sometimes the laptop would not connect to the Wifi at all. Even when I turned the wifi on and off on the laptop it would still not connect.
Sometimes it would re-ask for the WiFi password, which is strange
So I started testing with my old Retina Mid-2015 15" MacBook and to my surprise I have found the following:

2015 MBP - connects to my wifi @ 5GHz
2021 MBP - connects to my wifi @ 2.4GHz only.

Btw I'm running a Ubiquiti setup with UDM Pro and U6-LR wifi access points. (which I have also since restarted with little to no effect)
If I sit the two laptops side by side with the 2015 MBP closer to the WiFi access point, it will interfere with the 2021's wifi signal.
Have a look at the attached pictures.
One shows the 2015 MBP closer to the wifi and then the other shows the 2021 MBP closer to the wifi (as indicated by the blue arrow) - the wifi access point is south east to the location of the laptops.

The yellow arrow indicates where I moved the 2015 MBP to be further away from wifi and the 2021 MBP closer.
As you can see by the graphs, the 2015 MBP doesn't care if its closer or further away, the signal strength and quality remains the same. Its the 2021 MBP that's affected.

 

[Quu]

Have you tried it on another Access Point or perhaps one laptop to the other using adhoc mode?

I'm using a Ubiquti UAP-AC-HD (Wave 2) without any problems with my 16" M1 Max model. This access point I'm using maxes out at WiFi 5 (802.11ac 5GHz) and I'm getting 650Mb/ps top-end bandwidth. Low latency (below 5ms).

If the issue isn't related to an incompatibility with the Access Point (which has happened in the past with Ubiquti and Apple stuff) then perhaps the machine has a faulty WiFi chip or poor shielding.

 

[jhonnypolak]

I have two U6-LR access points. One downstairs, one upstairs. Both exhibit the same issue.

 

[Quu]

Yeah but they're both WiFi 6. I'd try a different model of access point entirely. There has literally been numerous issues with Ubiquti and Apple devices in the past (all now corrected with firmware updates).

If the laptop isn't faulty I suspect the WiFi 6 capability isn't rock solid in either the Ubiquti access point or Apples implementation in the laptop. I cannot test it as I don't have a WiFi 6 access point, only WiFi 5 but for me the 5 works fine, rock solid.

 

[Larabee119]

I'm getting 823Mbps download on a 1Gigabit internet using Asus AX89X router with my kids streaming League. Not sure if this is good enough.

 

[840quadra]

When was the last time the router was rebooted / reset?

Are you sure you have all of the wifi modes enabled, and the Mac is connected properly to the highest spec?

 

[jhonnypolak]

i rebooted the network today, this included a POE restart of both access points: speed and signal issues are still shot.
I know the network is working well with the highest spec selected because my iPhone 12 connects to it in ax mode and my 2015 MBP connects to it via ac mode.

I've just performed a firmware update on the network controller and the 2021 MBP can now connect via 5ghz.
So its looking more promising.
I'm just updating the access points right now, will post back shortly with the new results.

 

[Stratus Fear]

I have a couple of U6-LRs and haven’t had any issues with my new 16”; works fine on 5GHz with good performance. Up to date firmware definitely may help, which it sounds like you’re working on.

 

[jhonnypolak]

I have a couple of U6-LRs and haven’t had any issues with my new 16”; works fine on 5GHz with good performance. Up to date firmware definitely may help, which it sounds like you’re working on.

What firmware levels are you on?

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I had the same issue with the Amplifi Alien router and MBA M1 when I didn't update the router for the longest.

 

[jhonnypolak]

I had the same issue with the Amplifi Alien router and MBA M1 when I didn't update the router for the longest.

I updated my entire network about 3 months ago. I wouldn’t have suspected it to be out of date this soon

 

[Stratus Fear]

What firmware levels are you on?

I run EA firmware, not sure if that’s your thing but the latest official should work I think.

My APs are on 5.77.2.13434 and I run controller 6.5.50

 

[jhonnypolak]

Alright, I updated the Controller, Network and Access Points:

U6-LR: 5.60.9.12980 -> 5.60.16.13023
UDM-Pro: ? -> 1.10.4
Network: ? -> 6.4.54

Not a fan of EA firmware as I want as little trouble as possible on the home network.

After the update it's better, I think. The laptop now connects via 5GHz so thats good. But the performance seems to be still slower than the 2015 MBP.

MBP 2015: Data Rate: 600 Mbps / TX Rate: 600 Mbps (Signal: -55 dbm) RSSI: -53, Noise: -87
MBP 2021: Data Rate: 135 Mbps / TX Rate: 573 Mbps (Signal: -56 dbm) RSSI: -54, Noise: -90

 

[poporange630]

No issue here with M1 Pro and Unifi 6 Lite. Negotiated speed is around 1080Mbps when I'm close to the AP, or at 720Mbps at my home office desk.

 

[Chancha]

I also got some U6-LR, testing my base 14" in my office pantry right now, direct line of sight, <6 metre distance, using iperf3 iOS app to a iperf server running on a Synology NAS, 10GbE to XG 16 switch then the 24 PoE Pro switch (so the only bottle neck is the U6-LR 1Gbps uplink)
400mbps down, 700mbps up
ping to this server or the gateway averages 3-6ms

While the result isn't stellar (I was expecting topping the theoretical 1Gbps ceiling), it is nowhere near your initial readings. This U6-LR is set at HE80 for 5GHz and my channel is manually selected after site survey.

As for how the older MacBooks may perform better, I think this has to do with the lack of 3x3 MIMO on these new M1 machines. The Touch bar era Pros all had ac 3x3 MIMO I think, in given situation they may give you better radio performances. AFAIK both the 14" and 16" only have 2x2 for ax/ac and backwards. The 3rd antenna show in teardown seems to be for bluetooth.

 

[jhonnypolak]

I changed the channel width to HE80 and that seems to have boosted the performance for the MBP 2021.
The MBP 2015 is still performing the same.

 

[FNH15]

I also got some U6-LR, testing my base 14" in my office pantry right now, direct line of sight, <6 metre distance, using iperf3 iOS app to a iperf server running on a Synology NAS, 10GbE to XG 16 switch then the 24 PoE Pro switch (so the only bottle neck is the U6-LR 1Gbps uplink)
400mbps down, 700mbps up
ping to this server or the gateway averages 3-6ms

While the result isn't stellar (I was expecting topping the theoretical 1Gbps ceiling), it is nowhere near your initial readings. This U6-LR is set at HE80 for 5GHz and my channel is manually selected after site survey.

As for how the older MacBooks may perform better, I think this has to do with the lack of 3x3 MIMO on these new M1 machines. The Touch bar era Pros all had ac 3x3 MIMO I think, in given situation they may give you better radio performances. AFAIK both the 14" and 16" only have 2x2 for ax/ac and backwards. The 3rd antenna show in teardown seems to be for bluetooth.

About the 2x2 MIMO - you’re unfortunately right. Somehow, though, my 2021 MBP gets better reception outside my home than my old 2018 MBP 15”.
The 2x2 downgrade is due to no 3x3 MIMO Wifi 6 adapters available on the market.

 

[jhonnypolak]

Unfortunately we're back to square one again today.
Back to sub 180 Mbps performance on the new mac. Something aint right.
I can't even stream 1080p movies off my NAS without them being choppy.

 

[mi7chy]

Are you using the same SSID for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz? If so, try giving each a unique SSID like SSID2.4 and SSID5 then retest 5GHz SSID.

 

[jhonnypolak]

I don’t want to do that. The old MacBook is seriously outperforming the new one, side by side

 

[Quu]

When troubleshooting issues like this you need to try everything. Just because you'll try separating the SSID's doesn't mean you will leave it that way. It's all part of working out where the problem is to find a solution.

I have two in a mesh with the same SSID and have no issues, performance the same as my 16" Intel. But you're running newer AP's than I am with a newer WiFi standard. I don't know if you updated your firmware yet but that'd be a good first step. Disabling WiFi 6 would be a good second step. This will all help to narrow down the cause so a proper solution can be devised.

 

[jhonnypolak]

I turned off 2.4g on the network (instead of separating them out). Didn't change a thing.
I can't turn off WiFi6 on the Ubiquiti network as that's not possible.
All firmware is up to date on everything.
I've checked the laptop and the 3 antenna are connected inside.

 

[Quu]

I guess you'll just have to return the laptop then. Personally I would try different AP's first.

 

[maxsquared]

The 2x2 downgrade is due to no 3x3 MIMO Wifi 6 adapters available on the market.

There is from Broadcom, it's just Apple is not using it.

 

[Brad Smith]

I would recommend working on AP settings, placement, and more. I've had issues in the past with Ubiquiti access points — especially in a crowded radio environment. But with dialing it in, it works great. My brand new M1 Max 16" MBP is getting 550-650Mbps down and up regularly on a U6 Lite AP.