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COX_sucks1's avatar
COX_sucks1
New Contributor

Upgraded to 100mbs only getting 40mbs

I upgraded to 100 mbs. After a few speed tests I'm lucky to get 40mbs over wifi. I know with wifi you will lose some speed, but 10-15mbs is reasonable. 60mbs is not. 

I called support and they said since I do not have an ethernet port they cannot do anything to help me figure out why. It's 2017 and a lot of computers, specifically macs, don't have ethernet anymore. Is there anything I can do? I'm in the same room as my router and nothing is working. I own my own router, it's a Motorola SBG6580. It's not the best, but the specs of this should be MORE then enough. Support wouldn't recommend a SINGLE action for me to take. I'd ask questions and nothing. Nothing we can do because you don't have an ethernet port... You are kidding... BS. 

Is there a better modem/router I can get? 

I really wish an other option was available. But COX is unfortunately the only provider... They and their support ***. 

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  • ChrisL's avatar
    ChrisL
    Former Moderator
    @COX_sucks

    That modem only supports 2.4Ghz wifi so trying to get 100Mbps is probably asking a lot of it. Assuming you only have 1 wireless-N device and no interference in your area you might be able to achieve 80Mbps. I highly recommend testing an Ethernet connection first to see if an upgrade would help. If the wired speeds are also slow upgrading your equipment may not help.

  • Tecknowhelp's avatar
    Tecknowhelp
    Valued Contributor II

    Cox only supports wireless networks it installs and you pay them to support. Cox can't be blamed for Apple not using ethernet anymore then they can be blamed for them not having headphone jacks anymore. To troubleshoot a wireless connection, you first have to test the wired connection. If you can't do that then you can't isolate. 

    Have you tried troubleshooting a possible wireless issue? Check other wireless networks are around you and what channel they are on? How do you have the gateways wireless settings configure? See here for info.

  • COX_sucks1's avatar
    COX_sucks1
    New Contributor

    Wrong. My modem supports 5Ghz wifi. I've tried that doesn't help anything just messes with my range. 

  • Tecknowhelp's avatar
    Tecknowhelp
    Valued Contributor II

    I wonder if the issue could be related to this Apple thread.  Basically, it says it helps to disable WMM and Power Save options when using the SBG6580 with Apple computers/devices. WMM is a service that give priority to certain kinds of traffic, IE video over email, and VOIP over video, etc. See here for instructions on how to disable WMM/etc.

    If you want more suggestions to make the wireless better, please show a screenshot or a description of how the wireless is set up now; what band, mode, channel, security type, etc. Last, what model computer? Mac Book Air?

  • AllenP's avatar
    AllenP
    Valued Contributor

    COX_sucks said:

    Wrong. My modem supports 5Ghz wifi. I've tried that doesn't help anything just messes with my range.

    It may be dual band but not simultaneous and only 802.11n, not ac. Per speedguide dot net:
    "802.11n - 40-50 Mbps typical, varying greatly depending on configuration, whether it is mixed or N-only network, the number of bonded channels, etc. Specifying a channel, and using 40MHz channels can help achieve 70-80Mbps with some newer routers. Up to 100 Mbps achievable with more expensive commercial equipment with 8x8 arrays, gigabit ports, etc."

    If you haven't already, you can try setting the 2.4GHz bandwidth to 40MHz (20MHz is default) and see if that helps. Also, select n only if all your devices support n. Finally, try changing channels, try 1, 6 and 11, to see which is best. All of these changes are on the WiFi radio settings window. Good luck, really to get these faster speeds, you need hardware supporting wireless ac which only runs on the 5GHz band.

  • P_E_'s avatar
    P_E_
    New Contributor

    I have never had any luck with a combo modem/router with Cox.  If I am right, they don't recommend one (but I haven't checked that out in the last year or so).