Gateway not functioning properly

@user_bma18 - It can be frustrating to see that high-speed signal hitting your Gateway but not reaching your devices. Based on the numbers you provided—specifically seeing exactly half the speed on your devices—this sounds less like a "malfunction" and more like a hardware bottleneck or a WiFi overhead issue. Here is a breakdown of why this is happening and how to bridge that gap.

1. The "Gigabit Port" Bottleneck
Most standard Xfinity Gateways (and many older laptops/desktops) have 1 Gbps Ethernet ports.

- The Math: Due to network overhead (the "data tax" required to move packets), a 1 Gbps port will max out at roughly 940 Mbps in real-world testing.

- The Problem: If you are testing via a standard Ethernet cable on a 1 Gbps port, you will never see that 1.2 Gbps reach the device.

- The Fix: Check if your Gateway (usually the XB7 or XB8) has a 2.5 Gbps port (often highlighted with a red/orange line). You must use that port and a device with a 2.5 Gbps network card to see speeds above 940 Mbps.

2. WiFi Capacity vs. Internet Speed
If you are testing over WiFi, 550–625 Mbps is actually excellent performance for a 5 GHz band on WiFi 6.

- WiFi Overhead: WiFi typically loses 40-50% of its theoretical speed due to environmental interference, distance, and encryption.

- Device Limitations: Even if your Gateway can output 1.2 Gbps, if your phone or laptop only has a 2x2 MIMO antenna, it physically cannot process data faster than what you are currently seeing.

3. Potential Cable Issues
If you are hardwired and getting capped at ~600 Mbps, the issue might be the physical cable.

- CAT5e vs CAT6: Ensure you are using at least a CAT6 cable. A damaged or low-quality CAT5e cable can often negotiate a "Gigabit" connection but fail to maintain high throughput, resulting in erratic or capped speeds.

4. Frequency Congestion
The 1.2 Gbps speed usually requires the 160 MHz channel width (available on WiFi 6/6E).

- If your Gateway is set to an 80 MHz width (often the default to avoid interference), your "ceiling" for speed will be right around that 600 Mbps mark.

Troubleshooting Steps to Try Now:
1. The "Single Device" Test: Power down every WiFi device in the house except the one you are testing with. This ensures no background updates are eating your bandwidth.

2. **Toggle the Band: ** If you have an XB8 Gateway, ensure your device is connecting to the 6 GHz band (WiFi 6E), which is less congested and capable of hitting 1 Gbps+ speeds wirelessly.

3. Check the Xfinity App: Use the "Test speed to a device" feature in the Xfinity app. It will tell you if the bottleneck is the "Gateway-to-Device" connection specifically.