The software that came with my network card indicates that my max speed is 54Mpbs when connected to my home wireless network, if I modify the Tx Power adjustments in the software I am able to get lower numbers but not able exceed 54Mbps as the speed it informs me of.
I originally suspected this was due to someone connecting a wireless G device to a single band N router in the apartment, so I bought a new dual band AC router to replace the N router that had existed. The problem did not change, leaving me looking foolish.
It is my understanding that this rules out a G or other outdated device limiting the network as it could limit the 2.4 GHz band to 54Mbps but leave the 5 GHz AC specific band unmodified. Then again this may not be even remotely correct, so please correct me if I have gross misconceptions on how this works.
I do not have control over the router and after my apparent misdiagnosis of the issue previously, I will need to be more specific than "hey you misconfigured the router because if you hadn't I should have a faster connection" if I expect the roommate who maintains control over the router to look into it.
What could be wrong with the configuration or otherwise causing this 54Mbps speed cap?
Adapter: http://www.asus.com/Networking/PCEAC66/
Router: http://www.asus.com/us/Networking/RTAC66R
Edits: I am unable to move them to same room as the router is in my roommate's bedroom. The walls are made of 2x4s, drywall, and insulation, you know standard wall stuff (not concrete or stone or anything fancy like that). Both my bedroom and the bedroom with the router are off of the kitchen so they are close to each other maybe 20 feet between the two points (the refrigerator is NOT located between the two points in any way) And the max is suspiciously 54 mbps but can be lowered by adjusting the Tx to be extremely low power. At about 40 mW on a scale of 1 to 200 for Tx settings it caps at 54 and will not exceed that.
Apparently the encryption on the router is set to WPA2-PSK AES
The channel is set to 1 (there is only 1 other router in range with channel 1 it uses WPA/WPA2-PSK TKIP+AES)
The value reported by the software as Signal ranges anywhere from -43 dBm to -54 dBm depending on where I place the antenna, the Tx settings, and whether I am touching it. Usually it is around -45 dBm with the settings pictured below, sitting in the most convenient spot on my desk.
Picture of Power slider in software (Default settings pictured) https://i.sstatic.net/Lt95j.jpg