The first issue you have is the Tenda mesh system uses 10/100 (100Mbps) ethernet ports, so you'll never see more than around 90Mbps across all the devices connected to the Tenda, wired or wireless, since you are connected to the HUB over one of the ethernet ports.
https://www.tendacn.com/uk/product/specification/MW3.html
You need to use a different solution to make the most of your M500 subscription (The Tenda MX15 Pro should work well with the HUB 3/5 in modem mode. You can alter the SSID to match the current HUB so you don't need to re-configure all your devices).
Thanks Carl. So if you're saying that as things stand, it is the Tenda's 10/100 specifications that are the limiting factor here, then how will I be able to distinguish whether it is in fact the 10/100 ports that are the issue.....or whether I've got slow WiFi speeds simply because I've got the Hub3 operating in the wrong (Router) mode which is creating the conflict? I have nothing (wired) connected into any of the Tenda nodes other than the Hub3 into the main node. To be honest, when I connect to the Tenda's WiFi network (not the Hub3's network) on my mobile phone and walk around the house conducting speed tests, I do often get speeds well in excess of 100mbps but still far short of the supplied speed, so I don't quite know what to make of your comment about the Tenda mesh's spec being the limiting problem here. Because you've said that a faster Tenda MX15Pro should work better when coupled with the Hub3/5 operating in Modem mode, I can't quite figure out from your answer how to separate out those 2 issues to identify the problem (slow Tenda product, or Hub in the wrong mode), and how to square that with the fact that I can get faster than 100mbps speeds in some parts of the house!
Also remember I'm receiving the full 500 speed at my laptop via ethernet direct into the Hub3. Now if I go ahead and put the Hub3 into Modem mode, you're suggesting my WiFi may not necessarily see much improvement. But if I do that, then what will this mean for my ethernet port connection as I'm currently connecting directly to it? Does it mean I will instead have to connect my laptop via ethernet directly to the first/main Tenda node which is connected to the Hub3? If that's the case, then won't I lose the functionality of the Hub3's other 3 built-in ports? In which case I'll almost certainly need the use of my new 8 port switch. Given that, where in this setup do I connect the switch to continue getting the full speed across all the ports to replace what I am losing from Hub3 now being in Modem mode? And is there anything else I need to consider or do or change in the Hub3 or Tenda settings, other than just putting the Hub3 into Modem mode?
From what I've read, many people do report improved WiFi speeds using any mesh system when things are configured correctly. So until such time that I upgrade to a better/faster mesh system, I would still like to be able to improve my WiFi speeds, and have access to as many ports as possible (via VM Hub or a switch) to maintain full speed ethernet conections wherever I need a wired connection.
I hope I've understood your comments correctly. Thanks
Your wireless devices must be connecting to the HUB 3 to get faster than 90Mbps speeds.
Put the HUB 3 into modem mode and you'll soon experience the slower speeds, on both wired and wireless devices (You can only connect one wired device to the HUB in modem mode, in this case it will be one of the Tenda nodes). If you connect a switch to the main Tenda node connected to the HUB, it will be limited to 100Mbps also (90Mbps real world).
Carl, all my wireless smart devices (plugs, bulbs, cameras etc) are entirely connected to the Tenda mesh network 2.4Ghz, and I can see this confirmed in the Tenda app too. All other computers in the house are connected to Hub3 via ethernet cables. The only device connecting to the 5Ghz band of the Hub3 is my mobile. And as far as I'm aware, most wireless devices opertaing on the 2.4Ghz band don't need much more than 40-50mbps to work anyway - it only becomes an issue if I keep adding more devices in due course. As I said earlier, the WiFi speeds are adequate enough to keep the smart devices working. Where I would like to see an improvement in speeds to reflect the fact that I have a 500mbps feed is when we walk around the house with laptops and phones and don't want to have to keep switching between the slow mesh WiFi and the faster Hub3 WiFi to get the best connection!
But I take your point about putting the Hub3 in Modem mode, connecting it to the first Tenda node and then connecting the switch to that node. So is my summary understanding right: the feed into the house and Hub3 will be at 500mbps, and from there to the first node via ethernet will also be at 500mbps....but all subsequent downstream connections through the switch via ethernet cables would be limited to 100mbps, and that's purely because of the Tenda MW3's low spec?
If or when I step up to a Hub5, I know that it will come with 2x 2.5Ghz ports. And when I upgrade to a better Tenda system with 10/100/1000 ports (MW6 or higher), I'll be able to hook up my switch and have full speed across all 8 ports. So for now, keeping the existing Hub3, if I want to keep all my ethernet connections at full speed using the switch, I first have to upgrade the Tenda mesh to a model with faster 1Gig ports.
But going back to my original post, I still need some help understanding if my current configuration between Hub3/Tenda is causing the Double NAT conflict that's giving me slow WiFi. I need to know how to properly configure these things before ordering any new hardware. And then of cousre I'll still an answer to the SSID question: If I'm forced to keep the Tenda SSID and password for my wireless devices, can't I just change the Hub3's SSID name to match that of the Tenda, thereby creating one unified network across the house and keep every device connected without having to resest them manually, which I'll have to do if I change the WiFi network SSID of the Tenda to match that of the Hub's. Once I know how to fix this SSID conundrum, then I can go ahead and order an MW6, MW12 or MX15Pro!
