Router/Modem/Internet Speed

ScottyIce

ScottyIce

Banned
So, dumb it down as much as possible. How can I improve my internet speed? Should I get a new router/modem or just up my interenet provider speed up/down?

Help!!!

 
Think of it like a water hose. If you have a small hose, doesn't matter what kind of nozzle (router) you put on it, you're going to get a small amount of water out of it. You want higher water pressure (internet speed), you're going to need a bigger hose.

 
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Oh and one more thing, if it's cable you want that splitter where the coax comes into the house if at all possible for better speeds. Fortunately for me each of my cables are separate into the house.

 
What is the problem you are trying to solve, what is your service provider/type, and what is your network & client setup? These can definitely affect what would be your best option(s) and may provide an easy solution...

Anecdotally, some things to consider:

  • Verify your modem/router (or comparable network hardware) is capable of handling your subscriber plan. Out here, both CenturyLink & Comcast will often provide subscribers with modems that won't handle the full service level.
  • Unplug & turn off your modem/router/gateway for up to 15 minutes. With Comcast, Verizon, & CenturyLink (probably others) sometimes the modem/gateway updates don't take/rollback properly. This will address that type of situation...
  • Upgrade your plan with your ISP as A_A indicated.
  • As HILW pointed out, line signal strength is a very common problem and easy to fix.
  • Similarly, wifi congestion/interference/overlap can cause issues. Changing to a different channel or band can help a ton here. Also consider non-wifi interference... Link & Link
  • If you are in a high density congestion area (i.e. apartment building), using hard-wired connection may be the cheaper/faster option. At a minimum, test performance with a hard-wired connection to rule in/out issues.
  • Make sure your client is current & up-to-date.
  • Consider upgrading the firmware on your router/network device(s).
After the above, it gets into slightly more advanced territory. There are client-side network settings that can help depending on client O/S. Other than upgrading my ISP plan, the single biggest performance improvement I have seen is by using 3rd party firmware on my router (2x the wifi speed, 5x the wifi concurrent capacity). None of this is rocket-science but certainly beyond the "dumb it down as much as possible" category...

Good luck...

 
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I upgraded from 6/1 to 10/1 and already noticed a huge difference. Now, with 1 device going, I'm getting 8 download, when I was getting like 2-3 usually

 
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