• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.
  • The forums have been upgraded with support for dark mode. By default it will follow the setting on your system/browser. You may override it by scrolling to the end of the page and clicking the gears icon.

1GB Internet Very Inconsistent

Ok I have talked on the phone with 5 different people across 3 different phone calls and I tried different approaches and I don't think they're giving me that xFi thing...
 
Comcast calls it a moca filter. Probably spelled it wrong

If you look at the image that’s exatly how it’s ran. The splitter is outside in the lock box.
 
Comcast calls it a moca filter. Probably spelled it wrong

If you look at the image that’s exatly how it’s ran. The splitter is outside in the lock box.

Ok, I see now. Yeah, that splitter in the box might be the issue. They really should be using a powered booster, which is really just a splitter that doesn't cause any signal loss. If it is just a standard splitter, that is bad.
 
Well, at least internet access is still affordable and widely available at high speeds in Sweden compared to the US...
Also, just like here, there are afaik, no data caps or other silly things like that.
My parents have a 250/100Mbps connection included in their rent.

This is actually the second time that my ISP has given us a discount for being a long term customer with them and they've upgraded the speed I've gotten as part of the same priced package twice as well. I still wish I could get a bit faster upload speed, as 30Mbps feels slow at times.
I now pay around US$25 a month for 200/30Mbps, which is acceptable.

Amazingly, there's at least two larger, developed countries that are worse than the US, them being Germany and Australia. Germany was way ahead with ISDN back in the days, but apparently suck these days, as they stopped at ADSL for most of the country and called it a day. In Australia, the whole backbone of their internet is broken and getting anything decent is really expensive. At least hotel WiFi is free...
If you want super cheap internet, try India. It might sound insane, but they have fast and cheap internet as well as mobile plans (well, they might not always be fast or even work that well, but they cost next to nothing).
Wait, what is the Mocha?

Either way, you should have a cable running directly from the outside to the cable modem.
Ok, I see now. Yeah, that splitter in the box might be the issue. They really should be using a powered booster, which is really just a splitter that doesn't cause any signal loss. If it is just a standard splitter, that is bad.
It’s a standard Comscope 2 way Splitter with a loss of -3.5 db
 
I never said Wifi wasn't half-duplex. But that is not how half duplex connections work. They can only transmit in one direction at a time, but they can transmit in that one direction at full speed.

So if you have a 1Gbps half-duplex wired connection, you can still transfer a file from one computer to another at 1Gbps. However, if you start transferring in both directions at the same time, then both file transfers will happen at 0.5Gbps.

Wifi on the other hand is a completely different beast. Yes, it is half-duplex, but that's only part of what determines how fast you can transfer data.

When you connect with your smartphone to a Wireless network and it says it's connected at 867Mbps, that is just the rated maximum speed of the 802.11ac 2x2 connection. But in the background the wireless is doing lots of things to make sure you actually stay connected and don't drop a bunch of packets due to interference. The first thing it does is lower the actual connection speed.

Here is my laptop as an example:
View attachment 128067

This is on a 2x2 Wireless-AC card, and it's clearly getting faster than half of the rated speed. It isn't getting the full speed, because of interference. The wifi auto-negotiates in the background to lower speeds to give as stable of a connection as possible.



You aren't telling me anything I don't already know. I've used AT&T's FTTP. They offer great packages on their FTTP such as 6 Down / 1 Up, or 10 Down and 1.5 Up. Just because it's fiber doesn't mean it isn't still AT&T and they won't offer crap speeds and it doesn't mean it will be symmetrical either.

And, no Frontier isn't about cost. It's about their outdated DSL tech not being able to do anything better. Leaving Comcast to do and charge whatever they want. And even when there is some competition, in the areas with AT&T fiber, the packages are priced surprisingly similar and neither seems to ever bother to try to undercut the other. Kind of like gas stations...




Yes, you should be getting unlimited data. They hide it, but on that page, towards the bottom, it says you get unlimited data. It looks like you aren't getting it, so I'd call them and sort it out to make sure your account was upgraded to the xFi modem rental.

If you had unlimited, it wouldn't mention anything about courtesy months, it would say something about unlimited data there instead.



Ok, whoever they sent out to install the service didn't know what they were doing then, or were lazy.

You should have a direct line run from the box on the outside of your home for each device. The Comcast installer will run these lines for you, and it should be free. So, for example, I've got 2 TVs and the cable modem. So I have 3 lines running from the outside box into my home. With the 1Gbps service, you can't have any splitters before the modem, it has to be directly connected to the outside box. Otherwise the signal is too weak, and the connection will drop out. You can get away with a splitter on the TV lines, but you definitely need a direct cable running to the modem.

Call them, complain, and tell them you want a line tech sent out to check the lines. A line tech will probably run a direct line to the modem.



If you've already got the cable, go for it. It will still do 1Gbps without a problem.

6 and 10 might be available only option due to being further from the street cabinet
 
6 and 10 might be available only option due to being further from the street cabinet

Distance from the street cabinet shouldn't matter, that's the point of FTTP/FTTH...
 
Distance from the street cabinet shouldn't matter, that's the point of FTTP/FTTH...

Erm no, for fttn there is attenuation which will limit the speed. but on ftth there is none. Im about 2200 ft from a fttn they just havent converted over to ftth, i remember having atm-adsl
 
Erm no, for fttn there is attenuation which will limit the speed. but on ftth there is none. Im about 2200 ft from a fttn they just havent converted over to ftth, i remember having atm-adsl

You said no, then confirmed that distance doesn't matter on FTTH. Again, I'll repeat myself, I've used AT&T's FTTP(FTTH). They offer great speeds like 6 down and 1 up and 10 down and 1.5 up.

I'm not saying those are the only speeds they offer, but on fiber to even offer such stupid low speeds is ridiculous. Especially at the same price as Comcast offering 25/5 packages. But, like I said, it's AT&T.

Ok I have talked on the phone with 5 different people across 3 different phone calls and I tried different approaches and I don't think they're giving me that xFi thing...

So I talked with a Comcast Business rep yesterday. Apparently xFi hasn't been rolled out to the west coast yet. Sorry for the confusion.
 
Last edited:
Do you guys think the Nighthawk AC1900 is a decent router
 
Do you guys think the Nighthawk AC1900 is a decent router

Yes but I will not run any faster than the speed your ISP gives you on your internet.
 
my new steam speed as of today and after opting out of the wifi hotspot thing. plus not peak hours anymore.... the speeds are insane. Comcast has really stepped up there game.

d03e755505.png
 
Ive complained for 2.5 Weeks

And I can’t havw a direct line as I also have TV service along side the internet

I planned to do Cat5e because I have about 2000FT of cable


To qualify for the unlimited service: You have to rent Comcast modem for $15 and you have to subscribe to their XFi advantage service (it’s free) and than you’d get unlimited

I’ve been a customer with Comcast for awhile as well and I pay less now for

TV, Security, and 1000Mbps internet than I did before with just internet and my own modem.

I pay $189 now before I paid $170 due to overages
Did you get your speeds figured out yet?
 
We run a custom PC consulting firm and this is what we tell our customers when they have WiFi / ISP issues.
1. Any bad cable will affect speeds.
2. Common routers are not top of the line products. We use Ubiquiti Networks managed switches and access points (AC lite and pros)
3. Spectrum coax/fiber systems drop packets like hot potatoes, we use AT&T and it is all fiber, coax may appear outside of AT&T network. $95 USD a month no caps or throttling.

Annotation 2019-08-14 135545.png
 
Last edited:
1. Any bad cable will affect speeds.
I agree. And so many forget cables, yet they are critical network devices. And sadly, they are so easily damaged or worse, poorly made at the factory. So I always make my own. I get the length I want that way too. If I need a 26 foot cable, I can make a 26 foot cable instead of having to buy a 50 foot cable.
 
I agree. And so many forget cables, yet they are critical network devices. And sadly, they are so easily damaged or worse, poorly made at the factory. So I always make my own. I get the length I want that way too. If I need a 26 foot cable, I can make a 26 foot cable instead of having to buy a 50 foot cable.

If you work for a company such as AT&T or comcast you're going to want to use a patch cable that's pre-made because management wants the gripe and moan all the time, because a technician is moving too slow supposedly yet they want quality last I recall slow is smooth smooth is fast
 
I wouldn't know about AT&T or Comcast but premade cables make no sense to me - especially for companies that must go through so many all the time. It is much cheaper to buy 1000' rolls of bulk cable, boxes of connectors, a good crimper and cable tester for each technician. Plus, if you have to pull cables through walls, floors, or ceilings, it is easier if no connectors (plus the holes are smaller).

My modem and my router sit right next to each other. So that patch cable is about 8 inches long. Perfect.

I've had premade cables fail testing when brand new.

Yes, it takes some practice, a steady hand, good eyes and good lighting to get a good crimp and connection. But it does not take long to be proficient at it.

I know Cox here in this area make many of their own cables for both Ethernet and coax.
 
I wouldn't know about AT&T or Comcast but premade cables make no sense to me - especially for companies that must go through so many all the time. It is much cheaper to buy 1000' rolls of bulk cable, boxes of connectors, a good crimper and cable tester for each technician. Plus, if you have to pull cables through walls, floors, or ceilings, it is easier if no connectors (plus the holes are smaller).

My modem and my router sit right next to each other. So that patch cable is about 8 inches long. Perfect.

I've had premade cables fail testing when brand new.

Yes, it takes some practice, a steady hand, good eyes and good lighting to get a good crimp and connection. But it does not take long to be proficient at it.

I know Cox here in this area make many of their own cables for both Ethernet and coax.

AT&T RJ45 crimpers were crap because they wouldnt replace them when needed, older uverse accounts I would repair the manager's screw ups when they were techs themselves, aka replace all coax fittings due to improper seating.

25 ft cables were nice to have.

3 wire 3M Scotchloks too
 
It is much cheaper to buy 1000' rolls of bulk cable, boxes of connectors, a good crimper and cable tester for each technician.

Not if you factor in the labor you are paying the technician. It is significantly cheaper for my customers to just use a pre-made cable when possible than to pay me to make a cable for them. The same goes for comcast techs. Making a coax cable is quick, but RJ45 can be a pain, even with pass-thru style connectors. Any good tech is going to carry a box full of pre-made cables.

Plus, if you have to pull cables through walls, floors, or ceilings, it is easier if no connectors (plus the holes are smaller).

This is the only time crimping makes sense. I wouldn't try to pull a pre-made cable through a wall.

However, Comcast an AT&T both don't deal with network cables. They get the signal to their equipment and that's it. After that, it is the customer's responsibility to connect all their devices to the gateway.

Do you guys think the Nighthawk AC1900 is a decent router

It's a decent router, I just don't know if it will do 1Gbps. It has the same CPU as my RT-AC3200, and that wasn't able to do 1Gbps, it would max out at about 850Mbps with CTF enabled and only about 400Mbps with CTF disabled. I don't know if the Nighthawk AC1900 supports CTF.

Plus, I wasn't a big fan of the security risks related to enabling CTF. That's why I build a pfSense box.
 
Last edited:
My wife used to work for Time Warner/Comcast/WoW (and their subs) as an Operations Manager in a previous life. As far as premade drops or not... it varies by company and use. To pin it down to better or worse or who specifically does what isn't possible. I've seen one, the other, and both used by various companies (I was a recruiter for one of their subs as well).

I've seen premade drops fail when purchased (think patch panel) out of the package and I've seen bulk wire fail due to human failure and bad cable.

It isnt black and white. ;)
 
Not if you factor in the labor you are paying the technician. It is significantly cheaper for my customers to just use a pre-made cable when possible than to pay me to make a cable for them. The same goes for comcast techs. Making a coax cable is quick, but RJ45 can be a pain, even with pass-thru style connectors. Any good tech is going to carry a box full of pre-made cables.



This is the only time crimping makes sense. I wouldn't try to pull a pre-made cable through a wall.

However, Comcast an AT&T both don't deal with network cables. They get the signal to their equipment and that's it. After that, it is the customer's responsibility to connect all their devices to the gateway.



It's a decent router, I just don't know if it will do 1Gbps. It has the same CPU as my RT-AC3200, and that wasn't able to do 1Gbps, it would max out at about 850Mbps with CTF enabled and only about 400Mbps with CTF disabled. I don't know if the Nighthawk AC1900 supports CTF.

Plus, I wasn't a big fan of the security risks related to enabling CTF. That's why I build a pfSense box.

Hmm must of changed, we were responsible for getting STBs running and making Ethernet jacks hot, configuring stuff outside of STBs and the Provided gateway was end user responsibility.

If the pc connected via ethernet/wifi great, if not it is end user, those techs are pressured day in and out every second.
 
Speedtest done today

House wired with Quad shield coaxial cable 1000 foot roll ... used over 700 feet when I bought house ten years ago
New underground bury drop to pedastool done about 4 years ago..
all wiring wirefished to combo connection plate in each room coaxial & cat 6
Cat6 is all wired back to network switch

House 4 bedroom 2800 square feet

Linksys AC3200 Router hard wired To Cisco 24 port switch to Workstations with Gigabyte intel nic ... 3:58pm California time
Comcast service provider modem/ bridged
this isnt "Texas" folks


129250
 

Attachments

  • speedtest 8-14-2019.jpg
    speedtest 8-14-2019.jpg
    19.5 KB · Views: 146
Had to register to chime in on this. A little background, I've been a tech for a major comm provider on the east coast for over 20 years. Its a shame that folks on a tech site like this dont know better than to complain about a (seemingly) slow internet connection. Based on the speeds reported on the first page, your service is obviously provisioned correctly (BANDWITH). I go out on troubles like this everyday. I've also made 100 bucks for my company on all but three visits in the last 5 years. You do realize that the internet is a PUBLIC NETWORK and that your internet service provider's responsibility ends at the gateway router. We (service techs) could care less what your speedtest results are as they are internet based. Whatever service you are connecting to is also normally routed through an ISP. Data speeds from them are limited by the bandwith they (service provider) dedicate to the service divided by number of simultaneous connections they handle. Then that data still has to traverse the internet before getting to you. Once your data hits your home router it gets even more complicated. Normally after I've used our internal tests to check a customers provisioning and their bandwidth to our gateway router, I ask the customer about the capabilities of the equipment they are using to connect. 95% of the time they have no idea about any of it, i.e. 10/100/1000 ethernet??, what versions of the wifi standard does the adapter in the device your using to connect support?? Crickets! Then I leave and bill them. Folks have to realize that your are being sold/paying for bandwidth, and that is not a speed guarantee.
 
Had to register to chime in on this. A little background, I've been a tech for a major comm provider on the east coast for over 20 years. Its a shame that folks on a tech site like this dont know better than to complain about a (seemingly) slow internet connection. Based on the speeds reported on the first page, your service is obviously provisioned correctly (BANDWITH). I go out on troubles like this everyday. I've also made 100 bucks for my company on all but three visits in the last 5 years. You do realize that the internet is a PUBLIC NETWORK and that your internet service provider's responsibility ends at the gateway router. We (service techs) could care less what your speedtest results are as they are internet based. Whatever service you are connecting to is also normally routed through an ISP. Data speeds from them are limited by the bandwith they (service provider) dedicate to the service divided by number of simultaneous connections they handle. Then that data still has to traverse the internet before getting to you. Once your data hits your home router it gets even more complicated. Normally after I've used our internal tests to check a customers provisioning and their bandwidth to our gateway router, I ask the customer about the capabilities of the equipment they are using to connect. 95% of the time they have no idea about any of it, i.e. 10/100/1000 ethernet??, what versions of the wifi standard does the adapter in the device your using to connect support?? Crickets! Then I leave and bill them. Folks have to realize that your are being sold/paying for bandwidth, and that is not a speed guarantee.

A wall of Text won't get read here.
 
Back
Top