Date: 2025‑10‑25
Tester: WickedYoda
Documented Hardware Used
| Component | Model / Details |
|---|---|
| Router Under Test | GL.iNet Flint 3e (Beta Model) |
| Test Laptop | Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 |
| Wi‑Fi Adapter | Netgear Nighthawk Wi‑Fi 7 USB 3.0 Adapter (6.5 Gbps) |
| Wired LAN Adapter | Asus USB‑C 2.5 Gbps Ethernet Adapter |
| NAS | Wired 2.5 GbE connection via LAN to Flint 3e |
| ISP / Environment | 1 Gbps fiber (primary), AT&T 5G backup |
| Test Tool | iperf3 (version 3.x) for throughput measurement |
Speed Test Results (iperf3 Testing)
All throughput measurements were performed using iperf3 between the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and the GL.iNet Flint 3e (Beta) router.
Test Equipment:
- Wi-Fi Adapter: Netgear Nighthawk Wi-Fi 7 USB 3.0 Adapter (6.5 Gbps)
- Wired LAN Adapter: Asus USB-C 2.5 Gbps Ethernet Adapter
- NAS Connection: Wired 2.5 GbE LAN
- Test Command:
iperf3 -c [router IP] -P 4 -t 30andiperf3 -c [router IP] -P 4 -t 30 -R
Average Throughput Results
| Connection Type | Avg. Down | Avg. Up | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | 152 Mbps | 138 Mbps | Stable connection; best within 5 m range, modest interference from 2.4 GHz devices. |
| 5 GHz Wi-Fi | 871 Mbps | 856 Mbps | Excellent throughput with minimal latency; ~15% drop through one wall. |
| 6 GHz Wi-Fi | 926 Mbps | 903 Mbps | Strong line-of-sight performance; best speed and lowest latency (~1 ms avg). |
| 2.5 GbE LAN | 2.31 Gbps | 2.29 Gbps | Achieved full line rate with no packet loss or retransmits. |
Performance Observations
- Wireless Stability: 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands performed exceptionally well for Wi-Fi 7 standards.
- 2.4 GHz Band: Adequate for IoT and general devices, but limited throughput due to band congestion.
- LAN Performance: Consistent full-duplex 2.5 GbE transfer rates observed.
- Thermals: Router temperature rose by ~4 °C under sustained load — well within safe limits.
- Overall Impression: Flint 3e delivered near-production Wi-Fi 7 performance, outperforming Flint 3 on 6 GHz band compared to previous testing.
Performance Summary
Based on the 68 collectd datasets gathered from the Flint 3e, the router demonstrates stable and efficient operation during extended uptime. The metrics covered CPU, memory, network, Wi-Fi signal, and temperature sensors.
CPU Performance
- The Flint 3e maintained low overall CPU utilization under normal network activity, typically 10-25% average load.
- During high-throughput tests (iperf3, 2.5 GbE, and 6 GHz Wi-Fi transfers), CPU usage rose to 55-65%, remaining well within thermal and performance limits.
- No sustained throttling or thermal scaling was detected in the RRD time windows.
Memory Utilization
- Memory usage averaged around 35-45%, peaking near 60% during concurrent speed testing and system monitoring.
- Swap activity remained near zero, indicating adequate physical memory headroom for beta firmware.
Network Throughput
- LAN and WAN interface data confirm consistent 2.5 GbE throughput with no packet drops or retransmits logged.
- Wi-Fi interface statistics show smooth throughput patterns across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, aligning with measured iperf3 results.
- The router sustained simultaneous LAN-to-Wi-Fi transfers without CPU saturation or link instability.
Wireless Signal & Quality
- Wi-Fi signal strength (from
iwinfo-sta1/signal_quality.rrd) remained stable with minimal variation, averaging -52 dBm at 5 m line-of-sight and -61 dBm through one wall. - Station count and quality metrics confirmed stable association with no frequent disconnects.
Temperature & Thermal Stability
- Temperature sensors remained between 51 °C – 57 °C during prolonged load.
- No overheating or forced throttling was recorded. The chassis maintained normal thermal dissipation consistent with GL.iNet’s design expectations.
Additional Info From Testing
Error Summary
This section summarizes key recurring issues identified across device logs.
- DNS resolution failures to GoodCloud (
gslb-eu.goodcloud.xyz) - UBI volume mounting errors (volume 3 busy or already mounted)
- CNSS driver initialization failures for Wi‑Fi radio
- Regulatory database (
regulatory.db.p7s) load failures - Memory reservation warnings from kernel modules
These are minor and typical for beta firmware builds; none affected router stability or connectivity.
Error Details (Summarized)
Below is a summarized list of the key error types identified in the Flint 3e beta logs. Each includes a short description and a sample message for reference.
| Category | Description | Example Message |
|---|---|---|
| DNS / GoodCloud | The router failed to resolve GL.iNet GoodCloud hostnames due to IPv6 DNS loopback or firewall restriction. | fetch ca fail: resolve "gslb-eu.goodcloud.xyz" fail: sendto "::1:53" fail: Operation not permitted |
| UBI Volume Error | Indicates a temporary failure to open or mount a NAND UBI partition, typically during early boot. | ubi0 error: ubi_open_volume: cannot open device 0, volume 3, error -16 |
| Regulatory Database Load Failure | Firmware failed to load the wireless regulatory signature file, causing fallback to default region. | platform regulatory.0: Direct firmware load for regulatory.db.p7s failed with error -2 |
| CNSS / Wi-Fi Driver Issue | Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver initialization error, possibly related to concurrent radio startup. | cnss: ERR: Failed to get plat_priv for instance_id 0x37 |
| Memory Reservation Warning | Informational notice indicating more memory was reserved than requested, likely harmless in beta builds. | cnss[2]: ERR: WARNING: More memory is reserved. Reserved size 0x2300000, Requested size 0x1de8000. |
| Diag / Firmware Log Notice | Diagnostic service failed to locate debug node, common during initialization. | diag: failed to find diag_dload imem node |
Summary
- Most errors are non-critical, related to initialization or unsigned firmware modules.
- No persistent crashes or reboots were detected during testing.
- The router remained stable after boot with all services operational.
- These messages are expected in beta firmware and should be rechecked after next firmware revision.
- The Flint 3e beta firmware performed reliably and efficiently across all monitored subsystems.
- All critical services (network stack, wireless radios, VPN daemons, and system processes) remained stable during the testing window.
- The device shows production-grade performance stability, with only minor early-boot warnings (non-impacting) noted in system logs.
Verdict:
✅ The Flint 3e meets or exceeds performance expectations for a Wi-Fi 7 router in beta firmware state. CPU and memory efficiency are strong, network throughput is consistent at full line rate, and thermal control remains excellent.