topic Re: Low Internet Speed in Electronics

Low Internet Speed

kismet — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 13:34:33 GMT

Was wondering if anyone can tell me what would cause a slow speed on the internet. When I use my computer in the family room where the cable comes in I get about 26. I mostly use the computer in a bedroom and I get as little as 10 in here. I live in a one story that is about 85 ft. long. I checked the speed going all the way to the end of the house using the hallway by the bedrooms and it's about 18. When I go into the bedroom just a few feet from the hall my internet slows way down. If I go toward the window it picks up to about 18. What would interfere with getting a higher signal in here. I just got the new Comcast router/modem hooked up and it's not that. I've had the same problem with my router and a Comcast modem. I prefer to use the computer where it's quiet or I would use it in the family room. Is there something that would block the signal from being strong at this distance.

Re: Low Internet Speed

AngelPuppy1 — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 13:39:02 GMT

Have you checked with your cable company to see if they could offer some assistance? It does sound like there is some type of interference from some where. They might be able to figure out what is going on.

Re: Low Internet Speed

betteb — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 13:48:24 GMT

Are you using a wireless (WiFi) router? If so, I would say look in to an upgrade on that.

Re: Low Internet Speed

glb613 — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 14:39:40 GMT

Make sure the router is in the center of the house. If you can't, get a range extender and put it near the problem area where you still get a good signal.

Re: Low Internet Speed

Nuttmeg — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 17:04:48 GMT

You may want to consider buying a faster speed from Comcast. You have to look at how many wireless devices are being used. These device share this bandwith.

Re: Low Internet Speed

Caffeina — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 01:13:25 GMT

customer.comcast.com/help-and-support/internet/improve-your-wireless-home-network

Re: Low Internet Speed

kismet — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 03:03:42 GMT

I do have WiFi. Just put in the new modem which has it's own router in it from Comcast. The modem is at the far end of the other side of the house. I was thinking, not knowing much about connections, that we should of had it put in the dining room. It wouldn't be in the center of the house but better than where it is now. I would bypass the kitchen. I have it in kitchen on a counter. My suspicion was that there is a full bathroom next to this bedroom and the wall with the tile is just on the other side of one of my walls which would block the signal.

Another thing is I live on a private road and we have a booster for our TV because as Comcast said we are at the end of the road and get a weaker signal. Wondering if Comcast would do anything since we do get a good signal where the modem is.

Found out today that since we put in the new modem that people can't leave a message on my phone. We called our number from our cell and it said we have to put a code in. So will have to call them about that too. Sometimes new isn't better. They may have to move the cable. Most of the time I'm the only one on the computer, my husband will go on later at night and I'm usually off so not like we have high usage.

I did read the webpage to Comcast and it seems I may have a lot of things blocking the signal.

Re: Low Internet Speed

glb613 — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 11:01:02 GMT

As I posted, put the router/modem in the center of the house or buy a range extender. Range extenders are cheap compared to paying Comcast an additional charge for activating a cable connection in another room.

Re: Low Internet Speed

gardenman — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 13:32:59 GMT

Don't take this wrong, but 10 mbps is pretty darn fast. I'd be surprised if you truly needed more than that for most uses. The only way to get consistent speed through the house is to use a wired network instead of wireless, or to use multiple access points/extenders connected by cat 5 cables into the router. Wireless extenders will cost you a little speed (not much) but if you really want optimum speed then more cabling is the answer.

As you've discovered the speed of a wireless network diminishes over distance and the further you get from the router, the slower your speeds are. Once again, 10 mbps is pretty darn fast even at your worst reading, so I wouldn't be overly alarmed by that drop-off in speed. In fact, I'd be pretty happy to be getting 10 mbps. Unless you're planning on streaming 4K HDTV programming, 10 mbps should be perfectly adequate for anything you're likely to do. I wouldn't bother doing anything to upgrade from that. I'd leave the router where it is, I wouldn't buy an extender or access point, I wouldn't call the cable company to move the modem/router combo. For the vast majority of what you do you won't see a real difference between 10 mbps and 26 mbps. Would it be nice to have the full 26 mbps everywhere? Sure, but 10 mbps isn't bad.

Re: Low Internet Speed

kismet — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 09:25:50 GMT

Well just to see if something was blocking the signal we moved the microwave and moved the toaster oven. No change. Could be the refer but can't move that but it is on the same side of the house. So guess I'll just have to move closer to the other side of the house if I want a faster speed. It is better than the years of dial up I had. Just that 26 is so fast compared to 10. I'll just let it be.

I just got my printer in tonight since we got the new modem. Our phone still won't take any messages so have to call Comcast. Seems like it's always something.

Just for some information to others, we didn't hook up the newer modem because my husband didn't get to it. Comcast charged me $10. for a modem that wasn't used, which it was since we still had the old one in. I was charged for the new one too. We got a credit for that $10. Then I just got another bill this week with another $10. charge. We were told in a letter to just take the old modem to recycling or send it back whichever we wanted. So have to straighten that out with the letter. My neighbor said she heard Comcast had a lot of problems with the new modem and said she hasn't put hers in yet. Asked if she got a charge for the old one of $10. and she said she didn't check her bill. Ours is going back this week.

Re: Low Internet Speed

Luvtoshopathome — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 09:48:56 GMT

Comcast is rated way down on the list of Cable providers but I certainly don't believe any list. You should call them and tell them you want a technician to come out and check your modem and wiring. Just FYI, do not ever switch to Fios. I just switched from Direct Tv to Verizon Fios and I curse the day I ever switched. They claimed that Fios was #1. They're #1 in having the worst CS, Executives and Tecnical Support. I've had to call every day for a month and all my problems are still not solved. They are a disgrace.

Re: Low Internet Speed

glb613 — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 11:11:42 GMT

On 3/16/2015 kismet said:
Well just to see if something was blocking the signal we moved the microwave and moved the toaster oven. No change. Could be the refer but can't move that but it is on the same side of the house. So guess I'll just have to move closer to the other side of the house if I want a faster speed. It is better than the years of dial up I had. Just that 26 is so fast compared to 10. I'll just let it be.

I just got my printer in tonight since we got the new modem. Our phone still won't take any messages so have to call Comcast. Seems like it's always something.

Just for some information to others, we didn't hook up the newer modem because my husband didn't get to it. Comcast charged me $10. for a modem that wasn't used, which it was since we still had the old one in. I was charged for the new one too. We got a credit for that $10. Then I just got another bill this week with another $10. charge. We were told in a letter to just take the old modem to recycling or send it back whichever we wanted. So have to straighten that out with the letter. My neighbor said she heard Comcast had a lot of problems with the new modem and said she hasn't put hers in yet. Asked if she got a charge for the old one of $10. and she said she didn't check her bill. Ours is going back this week.

You'll never get speed as fast with a wireless connection as you do wired. I have Comcast, get 30 mbps when connected via a Cat 5/ethernet cable and 15 mbps connected via wireless. What you're talking about is normal.

The other thing that determines how well your wireless connection works is the wireless signal strength. It's similar to the number of bars you have with your cell phone. If that is low, it will definitely affect your computer's performance when online. The placement of the router, layout of your house and the construction materials will effect the strength of the signal. You have a wireless signal strength indicator on your device. If it's low, get a range extender or move the router.

Re: Low Internet Speed

Nuttmeg — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 12:03:07 GMT

You may want to take this problem to DSL Reports Comcast forum. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/comcast. You will get some suggestions to help with this problem.

Re: Low Internet Speed

Mindy D — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 12:25:40 GMT

Any landline phone line plug without a filter can cause this. Do you have any phones plugged into phone outlets without filters?

Re: Low Internet Speed

kismet — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 06:58:03 GMT

I don't know if there are any filters on the land line. I can ask my husband or call Comcast. This afternoon my husband was using his computer in the family room and he is having a lot of trouble with the network bars going out. I looked a the computer and it was strange. I did notice too that there are a lot more people on our ""Connect To"" than there use to be. I counted 13 others that were online and only 3 had the new modem. So others haven't hooked them up yet. I'll wait and see if Comcast comes up with some way to push the signal. I feel if more people hook up and get what I get then they will complain. I think we can buy our own modem also which my husband said would be better. For now I feel we should just wait. Surely others will start complaining.

Just a while back I got on my computer and I noticed that while a page was trying to load the connection was reset and my page didn't come up. I go on the speedtest and it said .42. That's the lowest I've ever gotten. I noticed the ping was 33 on that. No wonder the low signal. The old modem with our own router was faster and better.

We've been on Comcast for almost 10 years and I've never had a problem with them. They've always been here and always on time. They had to rewire our house when we went on wireless since they said our wiring was old and it was. I guess it all depends on where you live.

My son-in-law was on I think it was Direct TV and brought up some box to see if we could get a signal here and we can't. We have a lot of evergreens around the house and can't pick up a signal. I would get a dish if we could pick the signal up. We really have no choice other than Comcast right now. I was thinking about FIOS but have heard what the other poster said.

We did get our land line fixed yesterday. It took them about an hour to fix it.

I'll check out the Comcast link you sent.