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Preferred_With_'s avatar
Preferred_With_
New Contributor

Bandwidth Loss Through Router, New Tested Equipment, Has To Be Some Setting?

OK, I am at my wits end with Cox and Linksys and am really hoping someone here can help. I am going to go into allot of detail, because of how much frustration I have had with several "technical" support reps.

I have Cox Preferred Internet with 50 down 5 up speeds, I get 50+ at my modem, both my old Cox ePhone version and my new Linksys CM 3024 DOCSIS 3.0 24x8 cable modem (got rid of phone service and purchased my own).

Once I go through a router, the speed drops to ranges from 12-41 down, averaging around 35 down. This is wired or wireless and has happened on all routers I have tried.

I just purchased the Linksys Max-Stream AC1900 MU-MIMO Gigabit router to ensure bandwidth capacity. I have had an ASUS and a Belkin in the past, and again, never got full speed through them, always seems to cap around 35mb down.

I have been through the ringer with Linksys, examining every setting in my router that their "technical" support has to offer, which from multiple calls is just a scripted manual that inevitably leads to a misleading "device must be defective" outcome and request for an RMA. Unfortunately, I have tried this with 2 different models of the exact same unit and I can't believe I got unlucky enough to grab 2 defective units off the shelf. Especially since it was the same results with previous routers.

So I continue by going through Cox, and they check signal strength, reset modem, blah-blah-blah, typical phone support script, send out a technician, who verifies my findings but can't offer anything to resolve the issue at the router. I am stonewalled by service reps who have no technical knowledge and can't get to the issue.

I have googled and seen many similar posts, with the usual "update your firmware", "turn off IPv6", "check adapter settings", "get better cables", "disconnect/turn off all other devices", "set the router in a better place" (even though results are both wired and wireless), etc, etc. The only thing that even approaches touching on a possible resolution is when people talk about duplexing (but this shouldn't be the issue as I have gigabit ports, not just 10/100).

I feel like this has to be some sort of protocol conflict, or capping QoS setting internal to the signal or settings as it goes through my equipment.

I have tried changing from NAT to Dynamic Routing in the advanced routing settings, but I get no internet using Dynamic Routing. Perhaps some auxiliary settings need to be made when using Dynamic Routing???

I even checked the reporting on the Linksys router and it shows that the WAN is receiving in gigabit, but the LAN ports all show 10/100 connection (but this could/should be an auto detect defaulting to lowest bandwidth needed at the time). I brought this up to 2 different Linksys "technical" support reps, but neither even addressed whether the unit has an auto detect function, much less if the LAN designation can be manually set (never found a setting in all of my own searching).

So, to recap:

Cox Preferred Internet 50/5 service, signal good into residence.

Linksys CM3024 DOCSIS 3.0 24x8 Cable Modem, receives good signal, sends 50mbps+ download speed out the Internet port, 5mbps+ upload (never seem to have issues acheiving this).

New Cat6 cable to Router.

Linksys Max-Stream AC1900 MU-MIMO Gigabit Router, firmware up to date, ping tested, WPA2 set, receives via Cat6 in WAN utilizing Gigabit, LAN ports distribute showing 10/100 on new Cat6 cables, LAN and Wireless 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz only acheive average speeds of 35mbps down (have gotten a couple of results to hit 40, allot of results in 20's, some as low as 12), and usually get around 5mbps up (again, never really had an issue on the up).

I see several posts/complaints about this with several ISP's when I google for resolution, but no working suggested resolutions. Does everybody just give up and accept that they don't get what they pay for? 

This wouldn't be as annoying if I could even get solid 40mbps, but I get drops in speed that shut down streaming media or make downloads take forever. I just want the speed I request and require.

bandwidth
connecteddevices
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  • AllenP's avatar
    AllenP
    Valued Contributor

    First, since you say you are getting full speed at the Ethernet port of your modem, this isn't a Cox problem. They are delivering what is promised. Something is going on with your home network.

    Turning off NAT and enabling Dynamic Routing won't work, see here. NAT is required for ipv4 routing functions. Dynamic Routing enables RIP and only works if you have multiple routers in your network. You have only mentioned a single router so Dynamic Routing should be left off.

    What device are you using to test. Are you sure it has a gigabit lan adapter. Even today, some laptops only come with 100Mbps wired adapters. That shouldn't effect your testing as 100Mbps is fast enough to handle a 50Mbps internet connection. Are you taking advantage of the wireless ac available with your router? If you are connecting on the 2.4GHz band with wireless n, that could account for the 30-40Mbps wireless speed. Again, that depends on the WiFi adapter in your test device.

    "I feel like this has to be some sort of protocol conflict, or capping QoS setting internal to the signal or settings as it goes through my equipment." IMHO, no way this is happening. Plenty of customers do get advertised speeds, I'm one of them.

    I would start doing a factory reset of the router, get rid of any changes you made or Linksys had you make. Finally, your CM3024 modem uses the same Puma 6 chipset as the Arris SB6190 with known latency problems. It could be a firmware issue with the modem which must be updated by Cox once approved. You can rent a different modem from Cox, bring it home and test with it, then return it. It will determine if it's a modem issue.

  • Tecknowhelp's avatar
    Tecknowhelp
    Valued Contributor II

    " I get 50+ at my modem, both my old Cox ePhone version and my new Linksys CM 3024 DOCSIS 3.0 24x8 cable modem (got rid of phone service and purchased my own)."

    Were you getting 50+ with the DPQ3212 connected to the AC1900 or connected directly?


    "Linksys Max-Stream AC1900 MU-MIMO Gigabit router"

    What model? AC1900 is a wireless speed several different Linksys models are capable of. IE EA6900? WRT1900AC?


    " This is wired or wireless and has happened on all routers I have tried."

    Have you tried from a different computer wired? Also, have you tried with EVERYthing else disconnected from the router and the wireless disabled?


    "(but this shouldn't be the issue as I have gigabit ports, not just 10/100)"

     "but the LAN ports all show 10/100 connection (but this could/should be an auto detect defaulting to lowest bandwidth needed at the time)"

    What does your PC's connection rate show between the computer and router? Does it also show a 10/100Mbps connection? If so, have you tried swapping the ethernet between the one used for WAN and the one used to connect the router's LAN to the PC? Also, are they store bought ethernet  or ones you made by hand? Last, do you have a switch or anything else connected to the router besides the modem and computers?

    "I feel like this has to be some sort of protocol conflict, or capping QoS setting internal to the signal or settings as it goes through my equipment."

    Do you have QoS or anything else like that set up on the router or any other device on your network? Have a NAS, microcell, or server on your network?

  • Preferred_With_'s avatar
    Preferred_With_
    New Contributor

    Thanks, here are some answers for your questions:


    Were you getting 50+ with the DPQ3212 connected to the AC1900 or connected directly?

    I got 50+ out of the modems, but not through and out the routers, never had the AC1900 hooked up to the DPQ3212.


    What model? AC1900 is a wireless speed several different Linksys models are capable of. IE EA6900? WRT1900AC?

    EA7500

    What does your PC's connection rate show between the computer and router? Does it also show a 10/100Mbps connection? If so, have you tried swapping the ethernet between the one used for WAN and the one used to connect the router's LAN to the PC? Also, are they store bought ethernet  or ones you made by hand? Last, do you have a switch or anything else connected to the router besides the modem and computers?

    10/100 reflected on wired connection, all cables are new, store bought Cat6, swapped several times amongst all cables. No switches or any other devices connected when testing, as laid out in the recap.

    Do you have QoS or anything else like that set up on the router or any other device on your network? Have a NAS, microcell, or server on your network?

    No, don't have anything set up by me, used auto set-up first time, reset, manually set some channels and MTU per Linksys on second attempt.

  • Preferred_With_'s avatar
    Preferred_With_
    New Contributor

    Thanks for the reply, here are answers to your questions:

    What device are you using to test. Are you sure it has a gigabit lan adapter. Even today, some laptops only come with 100Mbps wired adapters. That shouldn't effect your testing as 100Mbps is fast enough to handle a 50Mbps internet connection. Are you taking advantage of the wireless ac available with your router? If you are connecting on the 2.4GHz band with wireless n, that could account for the 30-40Mbps wireless speed. Again, that depends on the WiFi adapter in your test device.

    Using the same laptop for all speed tests, on various speed test sites, wired or wireless, laptop is gigabit, 2.4 and 5.0 capable.


    I would start doing a factory reset of the router, get rid of any changes you made or Linksys had you make. Finally, your CM3024 modem uses the same Puma 6 chipset as the Arris SB6190 with known latency problems. It could be a firmware issue with the modem which must be updated by Cox once approved. You can rent a different modem from Cox, bring it home and test with it, then return it. It will determine if it's a modem issue.

    As I explained, no speed issues out of the modem, only occurs once it hits a router, 3 different brands, 2 different units of the current one I want to use, Linksys EA7500. Both wired and wireless, both wireless bands.

  • Tecknowhelp's avatar
    Tecknowhelp
    Valued Contributor II

    "10/100 reflected on wired connection,"

    What connection rate do you get when connecting direct to the modem? 

    Also, what does the internal speed test inside the router show?

    Last, do you have any VLAN setup?

  • Preferred_With_'s avatar
    Preferred_With_
    New Contributor

    Thanks,

    What connection rate do you get when connecting direct to the modem? 

    Gigabit connection from modem into router.


    Also, what does the internal speed test inside the router show?

    Router's internal diagnostic shows 8/2, but it tries a designated server in Chicago, IL


    Last, do you have any VLAN setup?

    No VLAN setup, not sure it would help for the complications in designating everything, I bring allot of different devices into my network when I bring work home. That and I'm not that brushed up on VLAN settings.

  • Preferred_With_'s avatar
    Preferred_With_
    New Contributor

    UPDATE 

    Got home tonight, literally had not changed a thing, decided to do a speed test for the fun of it after I settled in, was on my 5.0 wireless, got 50+, YAY!!!

    Was really wondering if it was real, so I pulled up a different test site, 50+ again. Feeling good.

    Grabbed another device (iPad), signed on to the 5.0, got 50+ again, Great!

    Went back to my Windows 10 PC, signed in to my 2.4 network, got 35. Yeah, couldn't last. But I live in an apartment complex, so I checked SSID's around me on the 2.4 GHz and found a clean channel, set my router to that specific channel, tested again and got 30. Well, what the heck?

    Grabbed the other device, signed on to 2.4, ran speed test, got a 10. Now I'm a little befuddled, but still encouraged from having 5.0 running full.

    Decide to go wired. Plug in the ethernet from the router expecting good news like on 5.0, run speed test, get a 32.

    Seriously? Now I'm pretty sure someone's messing with me.

    Ran all my diagnostics and reports to check settings everywhere, confirmed no changes (other than designating 2.4 GHz channel, which I flipped back to auto since designating the open channel was no better) and I'm leaving it at that for tonight, cause I need to just relax.

     My only last thought, and I swear to Bill Gates Mother's Grave, is that Windows 10 Forced update feature and Shared update setting has something messed up in my PCIe GBE Controllers and Wireless adapters. I will look at them all at some point soon and compare driver details and update notes, then maybe mess with rolling back or direct OEM updating if I see something fishy there.

    I don't think that should be the case with the 2.4 GHz wireless, though, since I have PC, Mac, and android devices with different wireless adapters (and definitely not getting shared updates).

    And the only thing I have here that has ethernet and isn't PC is an Apple TV, so, I'm going to have to research just how to find out anything about that controller, if it's even possible in Mac land.