5Ghz Network on 8900AX-1600 R2 causing battery drain on mobile device

[Kinsman]

I'm encountering an odd problem with the 5Ghz WiFi on the above model. When connecting with my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on the 2.4Ghz WiFi I get 1-2% battery drain per hour, but when connecting via 5Ghz I'm seeing my battery drop by 25-30% from 10-noon while the device is at rest on the desk in the same room as the router.

For this reason I have not been using 5Ghz WiFi, as it becomes unusable due to the high battery drain (phone also remains warm while not in use). However I recently purchased a NetGear Extender, and discovered that when connecting to the 5Ghz WiFi on it, my phone shows no battery besides the normal 1-2% per hour. I can remain connected all day to the NetGear 5Ghz with no adverse effects.

If anyone has an explanation for this, I'd love to hear it. Perhaps I have some setting incorrect on the Billion? Attached is a screenshot of the 'Advanced' settings page for my 5Ghz WiFi - appreciate any insight!

[cheops2006]

sorry off topic slightly, thats a lot of settings compared to my 8900AX-2400, makes me feel like i'm missing out

[billion_fan]

sorry off topic slightly, thats a lot of settings compared to my 8900AX-2400, makes me feel like i'm missing out

The 8900AX-2400 using a different 5ghz chipset to the 8900AX-1600 R2, hence the options are different.

The 8900AX-2400 using the Quantenna chipset on the 5ghz AC band

The 8900AX-1600 R2 uses the Broadcom chipset on the 5ghz AC band.

The Quantenna chipset is the more expensive chipset which has 4 x 4 antenna configuration, where as the Broadcom solution only has 3 x 3 antenna configuration.

[billion_fan]

I'm encountering an odd problem with the 5Ghz WiFi on the above model. When connecting with my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 on the 2.4Ghz WiFi I get 1-2% battery drain per hour, but when connecting via 5Ghz I'm seeing my battery drop by 25-30% from 10-noon while the device is at rest on the desk in the same room as the router.

For this reason I have not been using 5Ghz WiFi, as it becomes unusable due to the high battery drain (phone also remains warm while not in use). However I recently purchased a NetGear Extender, and discovered that when connecting to the 5Ghz WiFi on it, my phone shows no battery besides the normal 1-2% per hour. I can remain connected all day to the NetGear 5Ghz with no adverse effects.

If anyone has an explanation for this, I'd love to hear it. Perhaps I have some setting incorrect on the Billion? Attached is a screenshot of the 'Advanced' settings page for my 5Ghz WiFi - appreciate any insight!

I don't have a Samsung note 4 but I do have a Samsung Note 3, I will perform some test later today and see if I can replicate.

[Kinsman]

I don't have a Samsung note 4 but I do have a Samsung Note 3, I will perform some test later today and see if I can replicate.

Thanks!

[billion_fan]

What firmware are you using?? Can you send a backup of your config to support@billion.uk.com, with the admin password set back to 'admin' so I send it to our engineers so they test it out also

(my test was 4% drop over a hour, and my battery is old over 3 years old, so maybe not the best for testing battery drain)

[Kinsman]

I'm using firmware version 2.50a.d15 - which I believe is the latest. Sorry, but not sure if I'm comfortable sending my config in for analysis (maybe I'm being paranoid, but I am quite security conscious and don't want to have to remove all my VPN settings etc just for this ). Hopefully the 5Ghz settings I've shared above are sufficient for testing (there is only one 5Ghz and one 2.4Ghz wireless network running on the router). I'm happily staying connected to the Netgear at the moment, which gives tremendous signal strength throughout the house on 5Ghz without killing my battery - just curious as to why there is such an apparent difference, and whether anyone else has encountered it.

[billion_fan]

I'm using firmware version 2.50a.d15 - which I believe is the latest. Sorry, but not sure if I'm comfortable sending my config in for analysis (maybe I'm being paranoid, but I am quite security conscious and don't want to have to remove all my VPN settings etc just for this ). Hopefully the 5Ghz settings I've shared above are sufficient for testing (there is only one 5Ghz and one 2.4Ghz wireless network running on the router). I'm happily staying connected to the Netgear at the moment, which gives tremendous signal strength throughout the house on 5Ghz without killing my battery - just curious as to why there is such an apparent difference, and whether anyone else has encountered it.

That's fine, have you tried to disable the 'RX Chain Power Save' and also disable Beamforming

[Kinsman]

That's fine, have you tried to disable the 'RX Chain Power Save' and also disable Beamforming

I might have tried those individually, but not together - can't recall, so I will try both singly and together again today. Thanks!

[Kinsman]

OK, I tried turning off RX Chain Power Save for a while, and then both Beamforming options too. Battery drain is still evident, and phone is warm to the touch. Waited a good while to make sure, and then switched back to the Netgear. Battery drain stopped and phone is cool (cold even) to the touch. Attached is a screenshot of the battery usage, you can clearly see the point of switch-over to the Netgear!