I bought a new Router - TP Link Archer AX50 - to replace the standard BT Smart hub for improved game streaming, which it did massively. However for some reason now my MacBook Pro which connects via 5GHz and 802.11ax/wifi6 experiences pauses in connection every so often when on video calls. Sometimes up to about 20s which is annoying. No evidence of this when game streaming on my PC either wifi or wired, watching Netflix is ok but watching the rugby on ITVX on my TV it occasionally drops back to SD from HD. TV is connected via 2.4GHz and is right next to the router. Never had this issue with the smart hub, although I did have game streaming issues probably down to the lack of CPU power in the router.
Turn off AX and use AC? Not the answer you’re looking for, but worth a go to help diagnosis?
Is this with the router set up as ‘vanilla’ as possible?
I found playing my my ASUS routers that the simpler the setup the better the results. Though I did stop at spitting 5 and 2.4 SSIDs - same SSID all over.
Not sure if its the same problem but on other hubs I have had to split up the various bands on the router and name them separately, otherwise my Mac does just what you're describing. It's some flaw in the Macs handling of bonded networks. So each network (A/B/N whatever) gets a separate name, and TBF if you have good signal penetration just turn off the slow ones its rare to have a device that cant do N now.
May not apply but first thing I do with a new router is fire up a tool like WiFi Analyser on my phone and make sure the router has picked channels that my neighbours aren't using.
I'd hazard a guess that it might be the MacBook as mine also has a slight tendency to lose its internet connection (for about 20 seconds as you describe), showing connected but not actually uploading or downloading anything.
Different setup but still WiFi 6. Doesn't happen often enough to be a big problem for me so I ignore it.
Does the router have any diagnostic functions to help resolve issues? Especially a log during the glitchy periods? Are there multiple APs involved or a mesh etc? A separate SSID for 2.4GHz devices will help those but shouldn't affect the Mac.
Nothing in the logs. One router only no mesh. There are already two SSIDs, one for each band.
I'll try the Mac on 2.4 now, although it did not have a problem on 5GHz before.
Is the router firmware up-to-date?
Might be worth enabling any QoS settings on the new router…
Is the router firmware up-to-date?
It is now.
Teams calls fine on wired? (assuming you have an ethernet dongle for the mac) If you leave a continuous ping running to something out on the internet does that stop or is it just teams? Can you connect your TV via ethernet if its next to the router?
