Download speed varies

Gjac wrote:
Just tested this morning and I see 13.71 mbps, and we are having a snow storm so everyone is home. Tested 5 mins later and it is down to 3.71. So if I get 13.71 doesn't that say that it is a wifi issue rather than an issue of lines coming to my house?

NO.

Why don't you listen?

PLUG AT LEAST ONE PC INTO ROUTER THEN CHECK SPEED.

Your Wifi speed is only as good as the DSL speed coming into your modem/router.

As they say, GARBAGE IN = MORE GARBAGE OUT

Just because the Phone Co "says" your modem is good and they "detect" no problem it doesn't mean that the problem ISNT the PhonE Cos problem.

You CAN also connect to your modem/router via your PC, but in most cases to do so you MUST do it through the hardwired connection.

The IP address, administrator name and password are typically found on the underside of the modem/router.

To get in to the DSL modem/router you open your browser, type in the IP address and you should get a prompt for administrator name and password.

Once in you should be able to view the DSL line status information, run diagnostics, might even have logs of what IPs have connected to your system (open with no password or family has shared passwords with others) and so on.. Phone Co cannot access much of the router other than some of basic diagnostics if they even can do that..

Back when I had DSL, I had replaced my DSL modem with my own DSL modem and router due to lightning damage.. Phone co had absolutely no way to access my Modem/router.. They didn't care either.

As far as Wifi traffic goes, you do know that you CAN check to see how many Wifi access points are in reach of your PC.. Just do a Wifi search and all Wifi access points will show up that the SSID is not hidden.. Make sure you are connected to YOUR access point.. It is easy to get on the wrong Wifi if it is open (IE no password)..

But seriously, plug in the wired network and check speed directly. You can easily compare speed from wired vs the Wifi to figure out if it local wifi congestion (I doubt).

I really think you have a issue with the ISP line/service or possible failing DSL modem/router..

You need to hardwire direct to modem/wireless device with an ethernet cable.
That is too much of a drop!

Just tested this morning and I see 13.71 mbps, and we are having a snow storm so everyone is home. Tested 5 mins later and it is down to 3.71. So if I get 13.71 doesn't that say that it is a wifi issue rather than an issue of lines coming to my house?

wa8yxm wrote:
There are a few things. First restart your modem and/or router (I got a Spectrum modem and router long about NOV-1 and I had to reset router TWICE today due to other reasons )Q(@#$*@#) POS) (If I string a cat-5 from modem to "office" (router is in other room) I may send the POS back to Spectrum) What's worse is I have to reset it via the internet.. Can't do it via local control.

But do a scan of Wi-Fi nodes live in your area.. MANY routers come factory set to 6 You will likely find a lot of 'em on 6 Don't matter if they are encrypted or not... You need to be at least 3 channels away from most of them.

Channel 1 is.. Well. I'm licensed for a whole lot of power on Channel 1 (Compared to your router) so are a lot of others.. Now I, myself, do not use 1 But I don't recommend you do either.

Those "Wi-fi" war dial apps can be your friend when it comes to finding the least popular channel.

Another thing is that today Streaming Video is getting more and more popular. I've done it myself. But it eats bandwidth (I prefer to download and watch off line and can do that with MOST you Tube videos even though hoops are required)

Just now I'm streaming audio.. Multiple streams (two of them ham radio related one music)

First of all, when troubleshooting anything, you try to eliminate ALL or as many "variables" as possible.

Wifi is a variable.

Other items use Wifi is a varible, BT uses Wifi frequencies, Microwave oves operate in those frequencies, other peoples tables, phones and laptops trying to use Wifi can cause issues..

Phone Company DSL is a variable.

Notice the problem?

Yeah, Wifi use is a huge varible..

But just plugging into the wired Ethernet port totally eliminates one huge variable.

If it works find hardwired then the issue becomes Wifi which could be router radio, PC radio or other interference..

If wired does not help, then the issue is the DSL which can be the Phone Co's end (Plant, wiring or dsl modem).

Keep in mind the OP IS dealing with a PHONE COMPANY and phone companies are no longer maintaining existing copper equipment allowing all copper customers to wither on the vine.. They WILL ALWAYS tell you that there is nothing wrong on their end now days.

OP will HAVE to enter the router setup, and verify/check the connection speed, the signal strength and the SN level of the DSL line themselves.

Something else the OP can do is to go out to their phone company termination box and BYPASS the home wiring, there should be a customer access on that box which has RJ-11 phone connectors, remove the one serving the house and plug DSL modem directly into the termination box.. If improves then may have home wiring issue..

No improvement then home wiring is good..

There is a second door on that box that needs a socket wrench to open, if they have not put a seal on there you can remove screw and gain access to the phone co wiring in the box and examine the wire connections for corrosion.. If any wire has corrosion, remove one at a time and clean them up shiny..

The recheck..

If nothing works then OP may have no other choice but to seek a new ISP that is interested in doing business.. My Phone Co didn't care, didn't want to help and as a copper customer I was a burden to them.. Irritating enough Phone co Fiber lines run right across my front yard, terminate in a box less than a 1/4 mile from my home but Phone Co couldn't be bothered..

enblethen wrote:
New driver came with Win 10 updates. As I said, mine went in with normal updates, but Boss's failed.

Never allow WU to install "updated" drivers unless the newest OS refresh borks something..

It is one of those things that really grinds my gears with W10, you have a pretty good chance of an update blowing up a hardware driver.. Good intentions just badly executed on MS part, not to mention some of those updated drivers are nothing more than just added "features" that are not needed to get the basic hardware to function and sometimes those "features" break the real function or slow it down..

It is one of the main reasons that I buy Win10 PRO that so many folks here on this forum feel is not needed because they are "home users".

Home versions of 10 can be somewhat worked around but it isn't as easy as Pro version since many of the tools needed to fix your PC in the event of disaster from a update have been removed by MS.

Gjac wrote:
I just tested about 1:30 today, Sunday.

The point was to check if you could see a pattern related to when it was fast or slow.

If it's slow on weekdays during business hours and fast early morning/late night, it's probably just that you are competing with your neighbors for bandwidth.

With everyone working/schooling from home, the residential systems are being taxed at peak times beyond what they were designed for. That's not to say there won't be demand on Saturday mid-day (especially if there is something like a snowstorm keeping people at home).

The WiFi modem/routers that are typically supplied from internet providers are pretty basic, and pretty weak. There are many things that can cause interference and speed issues, some may be in your house, or possibly coming from the neighbors house. Also any wall, ceiling, floor that the signal goes through weakens and slows it down.
Test your speed with a Ethernet cable plugged into your modem. If you are getting the correct speed there, it is a WiFi issue, and not really anything your provider can fix.
If it is WiFi issues, look into a Mesh network router, they are made by most router companies and they provide tremendously better performance. They actively monitor for interference and change frequencies/channels automatically. Also the use multiple units spaced around the house to cover the house evenly to eliminate weak/dead spots.
The downside to these mesh routers is they are expensive ($200-300). I use one made by Eero, and it has increase my speed in every area of my house, where I used to get 5-40mbps in many areas of the house, now I get 145-148mbps throughout the house.

Yes, disconnect the power for 10-15 seconds. then plug back in. It will take a little time to reboot. Maybe 10 minutes.

enblethen wrote:
Hi, Gary!
Have you tried resetting the router?
Running wireless isn't reading internet speed, but the wireless signal in the house. You would need to use an ethernet cable plugged into router and then computer to get internet speed.
Bud

Hi Bud, by resetting the router do you mean unplugging it then plugging it back in?

There are a few things. First restart your modem and/or router (I got a Spectrum modem and router long about NOV-1 and I had to reset router TWICE today due to other reasons )Q(@#$*@#) POS) (If I string a cat-5 from modem to "office" (router is in other room) I may send the POS back to Spectrum) What's worse is I have to reset it via the internet.. Can't do it via local control.

But do a scan of Wi-Fi nodes live in your area.. MANY routers come factory set to 6 You will likely find a lot of 'em on 6 Don't matter if they are encrypted or not... You need to be at least 3 channels away from most of them.

Channel 1 is.. Well. I'm licensed for a whole lot of power on Channel 1 (Compared to your router) so are a lot of others.. Now I, myself, do not use 1 But I don't recommend you do either.

Those "Wi-fi" war dial apps can be your friend when it comes to finding the least popular channel.

Another thing is that today Streaming Video is getting more and more popular. I've done it myself. But it eats bandwidth (I prefer to download and watch off line and can do that with MOST you Tube videos even though hoops are required)

Just now I'm streaming audio.. Multiple streams (two of them ham radio related one music)