WiFi 5.8 working half speed

[Makboy]

Hi, couple of days ago I hired a new 50mb internet service (I had only 6mb connection with another company). They gave me a Technicolor modem with 2.4Ghz and 5.8Ghz at the same time (this is a new world for me!)

I have the modem in my living room in ground floor beside the TV, the 50mb under Speedtest.net test works perfect on the SmartTV, so my mobile phone (beside the modem); on my studio in 1st floor I have my iMac Late 2009 (at about 7mt distance from the modem, no wall and no doors between). The 5.8Ghz download speed reaches only 22mb maximum (very similar speed if I switch to 2.4Ghz).

I thought this was a distance issue, because my mobile phone speed connection on the sutdio is about 25mb) , so to clear up any doubt I connected the iMac beside the modem (ground floor), but surprisedly the download speed is the same (about 22mb), so no major changes even carrying the computer beside the modem (my old Samsung mobile phone can detect both WiFi and works perfect but not the iMac)

I couldn't believe it because if it was a distance issue I'd ask the technicians to move the modem to 1st floor beside the computer, but it looks is not a distance issue, so I connected the modem via Ethernet and worked perfectly: speedtest.net got the 50mb and even a little more! (the Ethernet cable is 1.5mt long)

So I wonder by it is happening, a solution would be to get an Ethernet cable from the living room to my computer on 1st floor but I'm not really sure if that long cable will maintain that speed connection because I'll have to pass the Ethernet cable inside the walls and the trajectory might be more than 15 mts long, but I have this option as a Plan C.

Plan B would be to move the modem to 1st floor and keep it beside my iMac using Ethernet.
but ideal to have the 50mb speed connection using WiFi!

What is happening? is my iMac too dated??? is there any kind of setting problem? is El Capitan THE problem??

Help please!

ps: I also have Windows 7 (Bootcamp), it can detect both signals but I can't connect to Internet!!, but this is secondary and for sure I'll create another post, to get the 50mb WiFi on my OSX is more important.

 

[Fishrrman]

I believe the Technicolor is more than just "a modem". It's probably got a router in it as well.

A combined modem/router is generally called a "residential gateway".
It's easy to tell them apart.
A modem usually has only one ethernet connector on the back (intended to go to a computer or router).
A residential gateway will have 4 (or more) ethernet ports.

If everything (except the iMac) is working fine with the modem/gateway placed near the TV, I'd leave it there and connect the iMac via an ethernet cable -- providing that it isn't too difficult to do so.

My opinion only, but for a desktop computer like an iMac, a wired ethernet connection is "the better way to go"...

 

[Makboy]

I believe the Technicolor is more than just "a modem". It's probably got a router in it as well.

A combined modem/router is generally called a "residential gateway".
It's easy to tell them apart.
A modem usually has only one ethernet connector on the back (intended to go to a computer or router).
A residential gateway will have 4 (or more) ethernet ports.

If everything (except the iMac) is working fine with the modem/gateway placed near the TV, I'd leave it there and connect the iMac via an ethernet cable -- providing that it isn't too difficult to do so.

My opinion only, but for a desktop computer like an iMac, a wired ethernet connection is "the better way to go"...

Thanks, yes, it is a modem/router. Sorry I have said "modem", I should have been more specific.
Do you think the speed connection won't be lost in about 15mt (or maybe more) of ethernet cable?

So why is this happening? is my iMac WIFI too old?

 

[Fishrrman]

OP asked:
"Do you think the speed connection won't be lost in about 15mt (or maybe more) of ethernet cable?"

I'm not an expert on ethernet, by my opinion is "probably not at all".

I have an ethernet cable running from an Airport Extreme (downstairs) to a network switch (upstairs) for the computers/printer in this room.
It's 75 feet long -- that's just about 23 meters.

The computer I'm using is a late-2012 Mac Mini, OS 10.11.6 (El Capitan).

Using the "speedof.me" website, my wired speeds upstairs are the same as my wireless speeds downstairs.
But I should say my internet connection service isn't that fast -- it tops out at about 8.4mbps.
But again, "tests the same" wireless or wired.