Forum Discussion

halfdemon's avatar
halfdemon
New Contributor
5 years ago

Why 35 Mbps? Why the archaic limitations for absurd prices? No more artificial limits.

Why is upload limited to 35 Mbps? This makes no realistic sense. DOCSIS 3.1 specifies for up to no limit, based on bondable channels, which in my case would be 4 actively bonded based on my signal stats page and capable of up to 32x8 bonding (1Gbps x 200 Mbps). 4 upload bonds in docsis 3.0 is capable of up to ~100 Mbps. Considering the exceptional amount of bandwidth available due to the base frequency configuration of docsis 3.0 and 3.1 There's no good reason I shouldn't be able to get more upload speed. And don't say it's because its technically infeasible. Mediacom regularly achieves 50 Mbps and bursts up to 70 Mbps upload with no issue. What is the reason Cox will not provide more bandwidth capability when the capacity exists there? With todays ever growing file sizes and call home applications and offsite computer backup software, it's taking AGES to process even a single backup for my household. Is this an issue at the CMTS? Is there not enough capacity between the CMTS's and the actual routing backbone? We have 400 Gbps fiber and optics. We have equipment that can handle that type of routing throughput, at reasonable cost mind you. If you don't start preparing for the future, upgrading the core, fixing the idiosyncracies. You will get left in the dust and other companies will provide better options at cheaper prices. There's no excuse for these archaic limitations in this day and age. 

To those that don't know much about the actual infrastructure used by ISP's starting with reading some of DOCSIS documentation would be a good place to become a more informed consumer. Demand better of those that provide you services.

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOCSIS#Throughput
https://www.cablelabs.com/technologies/docsis-3-1

  • Dave9's avatar
    Dave9
    Contributor III
    5 years ago

    It's a business philosophy, not a technical limitation. And it's not just Cox. Most ISPs assume that residential customers are primarily consuming content, which requires a lot of downstream bandwidth but not much upstream bandwidth. Video conference requires more upstream bandwidth, but even 35 Mbps would theoretically be enough for 10 or more simultaneous HD Zoom meetings.

    Cloud backups are probably the best example of where a lot of upstream bandwidth would be very useful. Uploading videos to YouTube is the other example. Most other uses of upstream bandwidth (seeding torrents, multi-client streaming, running servers) are TOS violations for residential internet so the ISPs don't see any reason to provide bandwidth for those use cases. Not saying I agree with it. I wish I could get symmetric gigabit and I know the technology allows for much more than 35 Mbps, but I understand why Cox isn't offering faster upstream speeds.

    • halfdemon's avatar
      halfdemon
      New Contributor
      5 years ago

      Just as an FYI, torrents are NOT against TOS. It's what's in a given torrent that make it's use legal or not.

      • Dave9's avatar
        Dave9
        Contributor III
        5 years ago

        I guess that depends on how you interpret 12(c)(x) of the TOS: "using automated connections that allow web broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections or peer-to-peer file sharing". Does BitTorrent automatically connect to another machine to facilitate peer-to-peer file sharing? It's one of those rules they can enforce when they want to and ignore when they want to. Point being, they can use it as a justification for why they don't need to provide very much upstream bandwidth.

  • bearone2's avatar
    bearone2
    Contributor III
    5 years ago

    choices of what cox offers or is available in your area.....or choose another vendor.

    i recently changed from 300/30 to 500/10 but before i made the change the rep asked about my interests, gaming or streaming.

    i'm not a gamer & would rather have faster internet , which it is....400+ both wired + wi-fi.

    • halfdemon's avatar
      halfdemon
      New Contributor
      5 years ago

      I have the fastest available upload speed Cox offers without getting fiber because fiber isn't available in my area. As for 'Choose another vendor'. Not an option. The other vendor is centurylink and what they offer for the area is even worse.