Internet slowdown on a daily basis. Help needed!

Thanks for getting back with me Chris. As mentioned above, I have tried plugging my computer directly into the cable modem (thus bypassing the router) but the issue still persists. I'm at work now so I do not have direct access to my equipment but I am really hoping I got the firmware update overnight.

This guy has the same exact issue -  http://forums.cox.com/forum_home/internet_forum/f/5/t/7948.aspx

I am having the same problem.  Internet speed has signicantly decreased in the last two months.  Can open video, can't update Facebook without it hanging up......

I can verify that I received the firmware upgrade however I am still experiencing the Internet slowdown today. 

Chris,

Please read carefully. I am experiencing slowdowns REGARDLESS of whether my computer is connected into the cable modem or router. I have five other computers in my house and they are all affected as well. To recap the situation, after 4 or 5PM everyday for the past month, my downstream speed will suddenly plummet to a staggering 5Mbps and remain there till after midnight. If I sit there and run speedtests continually sometimes it will go as high as 90Mbps but for most part it remains at around 5Mbps. I don't believe the issue lies with the cable modem itself as I get fantastic speeds in the morning and afternoon, rather I think there something wrong with your network infrastructure or node around my area. Whenever my downstream speeds drop it is almost as if the line is congested. You can continue to check my cable modem status all you want but I am certain the issue lies somewhere else. I am also unsure as to whether the issue is just with Ultimate and Premier subscribers, but recently many users including myself have been experiencing the same issue, and what is most alarming is that we all live in different states.

http://forums.cox.com/forum_home/internet_forum/f/5/t/7948.aspx
http://forums.cox.com/forum_home/internet_forum/f/5/t/7992.aspx
http://forums.cox.com/forum_home/internet_forum/f/5/t/8008.aspx
http://forums.cox.com/forum_home/internet_forum/f/5/t/7986.aspx
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r29282184-LA-Ultimate-Tier-Speeds-Dropping-at-Night
http://forums.cox.com/forum_home/internet_forum/f/5/t/4308.aspx

The current situation is unacceptable. If possible, I would like to escalate this issue to a Cox engineer. Thanks. 

I've been following this thread and several similar ones.  I also see very different speeds in the evening from time to time.  Having just upgraded to a DOCIS 3 modem, I have ready to post about my situation.  I am still collecting observations and eliminating possible explanations from my end.

However, I did want to point out that although your comment about wireless traffic is a good one, a few posts above yours, the OP says "read carefully"  and goes on to say that he sees the same problem whether he connects directly to his cable modem or his router.

It's 1:15 AM and my speeds are where they should be however I was getting no higher than 30Mbps (again the average was 5Mbps) a couple hours ago. I am extremely frustrated. Please look into this Cox. 

Chris, how can you blatantly claim that my router is "old and may not be up to speed for modern Internet speed offerings" without having done any kind of research on the model? My router's Ethernet ports are all RJ45 Gigabit, and if you had paid close attention to what I had said above you would have known that I am experiencing the slowdowns regardless of whether my computer is plugged into my router or cable modem. All of my PC's in my house have onboard or dedicated Gigabit Ethernet controllers, so when I have them physically plugged into the network they are operating at 1Gb/s. I'm more than certain my equipment is not as fault as I experience fast speeds during the mornings and afternoons but the speeds plummet significantly during peak hours. I am experiencing what others are experiencing, and for the life of me I cannot fathom why you or your support team would repeatedly request that we try connecting our computers directly into the cable modem when we have repeatedly told you that have done this and it yields the same results. It is as almost if you all are not paying attention to what we're saying or completely ignoring the situation and not wanting to look into it further and instead suggest scheduling techs to come out to our houses. We are not all clueless computer users you know. 

Howdy Chris!

I had hoped that I might be able to help clarify communications in this thread with my original post, but I have failed, and I would like to apologize.  The message Chris sent was directed to me, and he is directly on target. 

My router is a Raspberry Pi model B, to which I have added a USB-Ethernet adapter.  Yes, this lashup is rate limiting, but at home I'm not allowed to run machines 24x7 unless they're very low powered.  Right now with this gear I'm able to get speeds of 36 Mb "on a good day".  For the moment, that is good enough.  Before I upgraded to DOCSIS 3, I was maxing out at about 20 Mb.  Yes, I am aware of my limitations at home.

But I still see similar fluctuations in speed - 36 Mb is possible, but we're often a good bit below that.  I do not believe my Raspberry Pi is fluctuating in its handling of packets. 

You mentioned that your speed was fine at 1:15 AM.  And outside a window of about 7 - 10 PM, things are mostly OK.  I have a question for you.  When do you suppose that folks near you are doing the most video streaming?  I am not really sure how all this works, but I believe that each of us shares bandwidth with our local group when our ISP is a cable system.   I'm not trying to throw stones here, but in order to find an answer to what is going on, we do have to have a good understanding of how the system works.  Given the information you posted earlier, I think it is time to consider the effect from outside your home on you connection speed.

Just an FYI - I finally got a technician to check the route here.  He said there were a lot of modems on the node I am on.  He said there were 600+ and they like to keep nodes under 400.  So for me its a saturation issue.

They are considering splitting the node, but until then I am SOL.

Tech said that is the reason I have low download speeds on weekends and at night.

Pat,

I am considering having a technician come out to my house but don't they charge like $60 a pop? Do you know if there is a way for Cox to check how many modems are a node without having an actual tech on the ground? 

Thanks!