2Gbps slow speeds
Hello, I recently upgraded my modem to the pw8. A couple days after they shipped it, a cox rep called and convinced me to upgrade from 1Gbps to 2Gbps speeds. Problem is, I plugged straight in with e...
Forum Discussion
If you have fiber, the only way to have 2 Gb wired connection is with third party equipment. Is this a case I can bring up to the BBB as Cox can't promise customers the speed they pay for unless they buy extra equipment? Is there an asterisk I missed somewhere the cox stated I had to buy extra equipment?
The fix for Cox for this is to not sell 2 Gb speeds to folks until they get better panoramic WiFi modems that have more than one 2.5 GB port and have techs that can actually test the 2 Gb speeds on site. Their equipment only can test up to 1 Gb
All the models that they provide only have 1 2.5 Gb port. For fiber customers that port is taken up by the uplink to the house. This is cox selling something they are not prepared to support. I have no issues with speed up to the modem. I get 2 Gb consistency, but they should not be selling this service. Everything I've seen tells me that their executives said "oh we can get 2 Gb to the house let's sell them on it! We have the fastest internet in Vegas!"', but obviously can't provide the service that we pay for without extra equipment.
Is there an asterisk I missed somewhere the cox stated I had to buy extra equipment?
I don't know what was shown when you ordered because I can't replicate your order process. Cox fiber isn't available in my area. I did find this, which says:
"For customers served by fiber to the premises technologies, Cox-provided routers/gateways cannot support download and/or upload speeds of more than 940 Mbps per individual compatible device. Customers can reach a total of 2 Gbps via speed test when using multiple compatible devices at the same time. For other network architectures, Cox provided routers/gateways may support up to 2 Gbps download speeds on an individual compatible device."
The way I read that is the gateway can handle 2Gbps of traffic, just not to any one device at a time. They also have a list of 2Gbps Capable Retail Routers here. However, on that same page they list your gateway as capable of 2Gbps. They just mean that in the way they described above, so you make a valid point. The problem is Cox leases the platform they use for internet/TV from Comcast so there pick of gateways is specific to a handful of devices but a few manufactures and none of them offer devices with more then one 2.5Gbps port. That should change soon though as the XB10 and XER10. The XB10 is a Wifi 7/DOCSIS 4.0 gateway while the XER10 is a router specifically designed for fiber(FTTP) service. I am not sure about the XB10, but the XER10 will have two 10Gbps ethernet ports. See here for more info. DOCSIS 4.0 on Comcast is being planned for second half of 2024, so it should be available in some areas of Comcast soon. Cox is usually about 6 months behind Comcast so you might start seeing the XER10 sometime in latter part of 2025? Or Cox might decide to go another route. Either way, you will need to buy your own equipment for the time being or downgrade until they offer fully compatible hardware.
Ohhhh interesting. So if you have coax coming from the pole, the box bolted to your house does nothing and you must have a modem, but with fiber the box bolted into the house (ONT) IS the modem? So just get a router that supports 2 or more Gbps and you're golden? Throw the cox modem/router away?
if you have coax coming from the pole, the box bolted to your house does nothing
It depends. In most places, the box on the side of your house is for what is called your demarcation point, or demarc. This is where the coax connects to your electrical ground for safety. If you have more than 1 coax outlet in your house, it is also where your splitter is. Fiber is seperate. Since it's glass/plastic, it doesn't need to be protected from electrical surges using a ground. If it is armored underground fiber(which can have metal in the fiber's jacket) then sometimes it will be grounded, but I haven't seen it done with the way Cox does it. The fiber comes from outside directly into your ONT, which is usually inside to protect it from the weather. Sometimes there is a fiber terminal box that connects the fat fiber wire on the poles to the thinner fiber(with the green plug) that connects to your ONT and THAT can be outside. What kind of ONT depends too. The newer ones are black and made by Nokia.
So just get a router that supports 2 or more Gbps
Yes, pretty much. It needs to have TWO 2.5Gbps(or faster) ports. One for WAN(the internet) and one for LAN(your computer or switch). Many routers labeled "Multi Gigabit" or say "2.5Gbps" only have one 2.5Gbps port, and that puts you in the same situation you are in now. Check the specs and look at pictures of the ports to make sure. Also, if you have more then 1 PC that you want 2Gbps speed, you will need a 2.5Gbps switch. Last, make sure any computer you want 2Gbps service on has a 2Gbps port/NIC. To check your NIC in Windows press Windows key + X > Device Manager > Network adapter > Look for your ethernet adapter. You can also see it by going to Windows key + R > NCPA.CPL > Look under your ethernet connection. It if isn't obvious, google the name to check it's specs.
Throw the cox modem/router away?
NO! The gateway is Cox property. Even if you aren't paying for it, it's a free lease. If your not paying for it you should keep it so you can hook it up if you ever have problems with the service and need to contact Cox. Cox will only support their gateway. If you are paying for it return it to a Cox store and make sure to GET A RECEIPT. If you forget to return it and cancel service you can be charged 200-300$.
Good find on the small print on what assume is probably on contract when I signed up for this. From what it looks like to me, this protects them from my complaint I might have since they state my exact scenario in the sentence. I had no idea until all the troubleshooting I've done. You'll get a kick out of the stuff I've tried not even thinking about the port on the modem itself.
I did a test with the Cox Wifi up and sure enough I'm getting 2000+ Mb/second, so I was thinking it had to be something on my network (very simple network). I first ordered a usb 2.5 Gb to ethernet adapter and 4 port 2.5 Gb dummy switch (which I needed since the built in NIC card in my PC is limited to 1.0 Gb.) After that I ordered a PCIe 2.5 Gb card, and as you can imagine same results, when I checked the link speed on the NIC settings in Windows it was stating 2.5 Gb so I was thinking it was a Windows issue somewhere. What I realized was the 2.5 Gb was stating the link speed to the next device it was connected to (the 2.5 Gb switch). When I plugged the laptop directly into the available ports it stated 1.0 Gb. I think installed a Linux distro booted into that and did some speed tests and still got 1.0 Gb, so in my head I ruled out Windows. That's when I finally posted on here :)
I will probably downgrade and complain about the issues I had and get the promo price for the 1.0 Gb, since this felt a little scammy to me.
