You're asking a question many non technical people ask after New WiFi is installed "Why don't I always see a consistent 1.2Gbps WiFi speed on my client, even though my system and access point support it?" and "Why don't I have 5 bars of signal strength."
The short answer is: it’s not that simple and you need to educate the client
That speed you're seeing in the driver (like 1.2Gbps) is not your actual data throughput, it's a theoretical maximum link rate under perfect conditions between your device (the client) and the access point (AP). Think of it like a car speedometer: just because your car says it can hit 200km/h doesn’t mean you’re driving that fast in city traffic.
1. Channel Width and 6 GHz Availability
WiFi 6E introduces the 6GHz band, which offers wider channels and less interference but only if:
Your client device actually supports 6GHz (not just WiFi 6/802.11ax).
You’re in a country that allows 6GHz usage (not all do).
Your device is connected on a wide channel, like 80MHz or 160MHz, which are needed for high link rates like 1.2Gbps.
So, even if you have a Meraki 6E AP, if your client isn’t connected on the 6GHz band using a wide enough channel, you won't see that 1.2Gbps rate.
2. Access Point Design and Deployment
Were the APs placed considering walls, floors, interference, and client density?
Was a predictive wireless survey or site survey done before installation?
Were capacity requirements (how many users per AP) considered?
If your APs weren’t designed with these factors in mind, your clients might not connect at optimal speeds, especially in dense environments like offices.
3. Too Many APs Can Hurt Performance
You might think adding more APs = better speed. But in WiFi, especially on the 6GHz band, too many APs using the same channels can cause co-channel interference.
Think of it like several people trying to talk on the same radio channel, everyone ends up waiting their turn, and things slow down.
Depending on your country, the 6GHz band may only allow UNII-5 channels, meaning you have fewer clean channels to work with.
4. WiFi Is Half-Duplex
Unlike Ethernet (which is full-duplex, meaning it can send and receive at the same time), WiFi is half-duplex. That means:
Only one device can talk at a time on a channel.
All other devices have to wait their turn.
So if you have 30 clients on the same AP, each one gets a smaller slice of time to talk.
That’s why the link speed shown on your device is not shared among all clients, it only represents your own theoretical max rate in isolation.
5. That "Speed" Display Is Misleading
The speed you see (e.g., 1.2Gbps) in Windows or macOS is just the link rate, it’s useful for checking if you're connected on the right band and channel width, but it doesn't represent real performance.
What's more important is whether the WiFi is meeting your real-world application needs, like
Low latency for VoIP or video calls.
High throughput for file transfers.
Minimal packet loss for gaming or streaming.
Your stakeholders focusing on "the speed number" are missing the point. It's like focusing on the horsepower of a car without considering traffic, road conditions, or fuel quality.
