Testing iperf3 on GL.iNet MT300N-V2 (Mango) with Debian WSL2

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After resetting my GL.iNet MT300N-V2 (“Mango”) router and upgrading it to firmware 4.3.25, I ran a series of wireless performance tests using iperf3 to benchmark throughput between the router and a Windows 11 system running Debian 12 in WSL2.

🔧 Test Setup

  • Router: GL.iNet MT300N-V2 (Firmware 4.3.25)
  • Client System: Windows 11 PC
  • Wireless: Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6
  • WSL2 Distro: Debian 12
  • iperf3 Version: 3.12
  • Connection Type: Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)
  • Router IP: 192.168.8.1
  • Client IP (WSL2 bridge): 172.19.x.x
  • iperf3 Server: Running on the Mango via iperf3 -s

▶️ Client ➜ Router Test (iperf3 -c 192.168.8.1)

[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  74.1 MBytes  62.2 Mbits/sec    4   sender
[  5]   0.00-10.04  sec  72.1 MBytes  60.2 Mbits/sec        receiver
  • 📈 Average Throughput: ~62.2 Mbps
  • 📦 Total Data Sent: 74.1 MB
  • 🔁 Retransmits: 4

◀️ Router ➜ Client Test (iperf3 -c 192.168.8.1 -R)

[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.01  sec  43.3 MBytes  36.3 Mbits/sec   65   sender
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  42.6 MBytes  35.8 Mbits/sec        receiver
  • 📈 Average Throughput: ~36 Mbps
  • 📦 Total Data Received: 43.3 MB
  • 🔁 Retransmits: 65
  • ⚠️ Notable performance dip observed in the 2–6 second window

🔍 Observations

  • The Mango’s performance over Wi-Fi is within expectations, given its 100 Mbps Ethernet limitation and lightweight CPU.
  • The reverse direction test showed greater retransmission counts and lower throughput, suggesting possible CPU or buffer saturation on the router when pushing data.
  • WSL2’s virtual networking bridge may introduce some additional latency or overhead.

🎥 Test Recording

Both tests were recorded live and are available in the video below:
You can request the recorded testing process through my Discord.

💡 Conclusion

For a budget travel router, the MT300N-V2 delivers solid performance over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi in basic routing and file transfer scenarios. While not a powerhouse, it’s suitable for VPN tunneling, backups, and lightweight edge testing.

If you’re planning to push more than 60–70 Mbps consistently or require stable high-throughput transfers, consider stepping up to the Slate AX or Flint series for better Wi-Fi and CPU performance.

Post by WickedYoda – July 2025