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Recommended 3.0 docsys Modems are decreasing internet speed
Hi,
After about 6 months of trial and error and 9 visits from Cox technicians, I managed to discover why I was not getting the speed I am paying for (100 Mbps download)
What we did with the technicians:
With 2 different technicians in 2 different occassions, we went outside to the "tap" control panel that is outside my building. A coaxial cable was ran from the tap to the technician's truck where we setup a modem and a computer (just like you have inside your home). Surprisingly speeds were ranging from 65 to 93 Mbps using cox website and speedtest.net. We also took speeds using 2 different modems (motorola and netgear) and we still got low speeds.
However, while measuring speeds with the technician's hand-held device (those weird looking devices they carry) speeds were measured at 130 Mbps. (but, are these hand-held devices accurately measuring internet speeds or not, perhaps yes, perhaps no ???)
Leasson learned:
When compared against Cox's hand-held device measuring 130 Mbps, The 3.0 docsys modems that Cox recommend to use in your home, were factually decreasing the internet speed by about 10-30%.
Why Cox is not aware of this issue:
Because the policiy procedure that Cox technicians use, does not require technicians to utilize real-world equipment (like the modem & laptop you use in your home) to measure internet speeds from the "nodes" (big boxes on the street) and from the "taps" (control panels outside your building), but instead they only use those weird looking hand-held devices they carry (which show much higher internet speed readings)
Be aware of other issues we found:
- Trying different modems can improve speeds, but at the same time decrease the consistency of the speed. Also, some modems, might require to be rebooted more frequently than others.
- We observed that even with the most powerful Cox recommended modem (the motorola SB6183) we still got lower speeds and an inconsistent internet performance.
- As far as the inconsistency of the performance, we verified that no matter what modems you use, the inconsistency continues to happen. So, the inconsistency is a "street level problem" related to the "nodes".
Possible solution to the problem:
Perhaps, if Cox substancially increases your internet service, then you could get the internet speeds your are paying for. In my case, I am paying for 100 Mbps, so if Cox increased the cap limit of my internet service to (lets say 150 or 200 Mbps) perhaps, then I could reach the average 100 Mbps I am paying for.
ChrisL
Former Moderator
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AK
New Contributor
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Hello Chris,
Thanks. In response to your answer:
The issues we found still need to be researched in more depth, so to find the specific cause or causes:
1-Perhaps Cox hand-held device is not giving accurate speed readings. It shows 130Mbps, but how do we know without a doubt if this instrument is accurate?
2-If the problem is modem related, then we need an on-site test of different Cox recommended modems in order to resolve the speed & consistency issues
3-The inconsistency issue is likely not 100% related to the modem. Unfortunately, the technicians procedures do not simulate "real-life" conditions, so they just go to the street nodes and take a few readings with their hand-held divice...and that's it !...there is no long-term monitoring.
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AK
New Contributor
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Tiffany,
I had 9 technicians visiting my home and checking all my equipment and PCs, tried different modems, different cables, different PCs. Finally we found out that this is a Cox problem at the street level (nodes).
It is annoying that Cox customer S, keeps replying to this, so to try to protect Cox image. If you have any questions about this case, check my account and talk to the technician "Kevin", which is the latest technician that came to my house.
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