Getting more out of home Internet

Fabrik8 said:
Sounds like they gave you the wrong modem, or you're having problems bonding all of the available channels for some reason.
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Arris TM1602?

While I would obviously like to receive that which I'm paying for, it is a night and day difference from before...
 
ncpartsguy said:
Yes, it is working well. Previous router and modem were 8+ years old. Tests now at 3 times what it was, around 90-95 now. (Supposedly we have 200mbps service from Spectrum)
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shawn said:
If you're only getting 90-95mbps on a wired connection and you're paying for 200mbps, something is wrong.

If you're getting 90-95mbps over wifi, that's pretty good.
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I have Spectrum 200mbps service with whatever modem they provide and a Linksys EA8300 AC2200 tri-band router. Even when hardwired my 4 year old laptop would only register speeds of 90-95mbps on speed tests. My playstation and other hardwired devices would consistently show 168+. I began to suspect my device was the problem but Spectrum scheduled a tech to come out. He got here with his meter and unplugged the ethernet cable from my laptop and plugged it into his meter. His test showed 245mbps download and 12 upload on the same connection my laptop had just showed 95 and 5. Moral of the story, I need a new laptop if I want to see higher internet speeds on it.

On a related note, I can stream video on my laptop and we can play 3 playstations online (one hardwired, two wifi) simultaneously with no latency issues. Upgrading the laptop isn't a big deal to me.
 
ncpartsguy said:
Arris TM1602?

While I would obviously like to receive that which I'm paying for, it is a night and day difference from before...
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Should be good, that's a 16x4 modem. Probably channel bonding problems then, or slow Ethernet hardware on your laptop. I'm guessing slow Ethernet hardware. Can you access any kind of config or health pages over a browser for that unit?
 
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Uh....if I knew how, maybe. It does have a nifty app for my smartphone, which shows me the devices, etc.

I hope my laptop is not the bottleneck - it is only a month old, Intel Core i7-8550U.
 
Got a new Modem from Spectrum. Hooked it up at lunch and seems to be helping but going to wait till after work and see how it does with multiple devices. Chances are, Im going to need to invest in a new router.
 
Cherokeekid88 said:
Got a new Modem from Spectrum. Hooked it up at lunch and seems to be helping but going to wait till after work and see how it does with multiple devices. Chances are, Im going to need to invest in a new router.
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Just decided to throw parts at it, then?
 
Question for those that know more than me. We are going to a partial WFH schedule. Between the wife and the kids, Id rather have a little space away from the house to work, so Im thinking of setting up one of my drafting tables out in the shop just for working. Problem is, its a good 125' from my router. What are my options to get a connection out there? Preferably without having to spend a big chunk of change.
 
JSJJ388 said:
Question for those that know more than me. We are going to a partial WFH schedule. Between the wife and the kids, Id rather have a little space away from the house to work, so Im thinking of setting up one of my drafting tables out in the shop just for working. Problem is, its a good 125' from my router. What are my options to get a connection out there? Preferably without having to spend a big chunk of change.
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Can you run a hardwire cable into the shop?

That is the best way to do it with a wireless access point connected to it.
 
Run a Cat6 cable out there from the router. Cat6 is good for 10gb speed up to 180'. You can put it in flexable irrigation hose for protection and it really doesn't have to get put really deep in the ground.

You might be able to put a wireless AP out there or possibly go to a mesh network with 2 of the units on the outside walls of each building. It's iffy though. The hardwire is a much better option.
 
DSM Turbos said:
Can you run a hardwire cable into the shop?

That is the best way to do it with a wireless access point connected to it.
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cranbiz said:
Run a Cat6 cable out there from the router. Cat6 is good for 10gb speed up to 180'. You can put it in flexable irrigation hose for protection and it really doesn't have to get put really deep in the ground.
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Its not really a good option, but I am looking into it. Im poking around for some cable that hasnt moved in a few years from work, i think its cat5? I honestly dont know the difference. An option may be to run it to my garage/building, then out to the shop. That cuts the "exposed" runs down to maybe 30' each.
 
cranbiz said:
Cat5 will work. That actually can go a bit further. If you can't do one continuous run, you will need to install a switch at each break in the cable.
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I think I can make it in one run, if I can get a long enough cable. Looks like I can buy a 150' roll for not too much on amazon so I can go that route and not break the bank.
 
For home speeds, unless you have a high bandwidth router and really using it cat5 will be fine, especially if you're putting a cheap wireless hub on the end anyway.
 
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I get signal about 150ft from my router down at my shop. As soon as I go inside the building it disappears though. But are you sure you need to do anything? Laptop should have better antenna than phone, and you can also get a wifi>USB adapter for desktop.
 
jeepinmatt said:
I get signal about 150ft from my router down at my shop. As soon as I go inside the building it disappears though. But are you sure you need to do anything? Laptop should have better antenna than phone, and you can also get a wifi>USB adapter for desktop.
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I have the same result. I get wifi outside, but not inside. I have not tried it with a laptop though. Never heard of a wifi>usb adapter.


Edit: looks like those are around $20. I can get the cable for $40. Thanks for the info.
 
No wifi signal on the laptop either. Ordered 150' of cat6 and a cheap router so I can use my phone as well. Yes, I'll use a jumper to the laptop.
 
shawn said:
Don't bother with copper. Run fiber. No surge/lightning risk.
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I don't disagree but the ask was to keep it cheap. Cat5/Cat6 is relatively cheap to make a run, terminate and connect to existing devices. Fiber is more initially and requires media converters on both ends.
 
1- Spectrum sux.
2- Spectrum equipment sux.
3-Build this out of cardboard.

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Don't worry about x,y,z, or l.
Make it a couple inches taller than the router or antenna (if it has an external one).
Make the cardboard square and bend where "z" is.
Cover the inside with aluminum foil and set it behind the router.

4-Spectrum still sux ...... run a speed test and you'll see you are probably no where near what you're paying for.
 
Got everything setup today. Ran 200' of cable from the house router to the shop and got a $20 net gear router. Seems to work good. The wifi is faster than the wired connection though. Is that normal?

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