I need help with Internet Speed / WiFi Connection Issues / Hardware changes?

This post is long, but there is a lot going on. I need help working this out.


I recently changed from TWC Standard Internet to Spectrum Internet.

My intention is to Stream Full time (Netflix/DirecTV NOW/web browsing, etc).
Currently I have the following connections:

Room #1

TWC/Spectrum Cable line in ---> Split
Split ---> Coax 1 ---> Cable DVR (REMOVED)
Split ---> Coax 2 ---> Cable Modem (Ubee Modem Model: DDM3521)

Cable Modem ---> Linksys Wired Router (Model: BEFSX41)
(BEFSX41) ---> PC
(BEFSX41) ---> Samsung SmartTV
(BEFSX41) ---> TP Link Powerline #1 ---> Wall Outlet

Room #2

Wall Outlet ---> TP Link Powerline #2
TP Link Powerline #2 (A) ---> ROKU
TP Link Powerline #2 (B) ---> Amazon FireTV
TP Link Powerline #2 (C) ---> Linksys W.A.P. (WAP54G)
Linksys W.A.P. (Model: WAP54G) --WiFi--> Laptop
Linksys W.A.P. (Model: WAP54G) --WiFi--> Tablet


I'm having connection issues with my Laptop & Tablet. They keep loosing connections. My internet speeds are not fast enough. I'm scheduled for a tech visit to "fix" the internet speeds. But should I replace/upgrade my networking hardware?

Should I stick with the supplied modem? Would I see better service with any of these?

ARRIS SURFboard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem
ARRIS SURFboard SB6183 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem
ARRIS SURFboard SB6190 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem
ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem

Which would work with my service for at least 2-3 years.

I currently have a Linksys Wired Router (BEFSX41) & Linksys W.A.P. (WAP54G). My current router seems to be working fine, but the W.A.P. isn't. What option would help resolve my issues?

(1) Replacing my Linksys W.A.P. (WAP54G) with this: https://www.linksys.com/us/p/P-WAP300N/
Or
(2) Replacing both my Linksys Wired Router (BEFSX41) & Linksys W.A.P. (WAP54G) with this: https://www.linksys.com/us/p/P-RE9000/


[/b]Option A[/b]

Room #1

TWC/Spectrum Cable line in ---> Cable Modem (Ubee Modem Model: DDM3521)
Cable Modem ---> Linksys Wired Router (Model: BEFSX41)
(BEFSX41) ---> PC
(BEFSX41) ---> Samsung SmartTV
(BEFSX41) ---> TP Link Powerline #1 ---> Wall Outlet

Room #2

Wall Outlet ---> TP Link Powerline #2
TP Link Powerline #2 (A) ---> ROKU
TP Link Powerline #2 (B) ---> Amazon FireTV
TP Link Powerline #2 (C) ---> Linksys W.A.P. (WAP300N)

Linksys W.A.P. (WAP300N) --WiFi--> Laptop
Linksys W.A.P. (WAP300N) --WiFi--> Tablet

Option B

Room #1

TWC/Spectrum Cable line in ---> Cable Modem (Ubee Modem Model: DDM3521)

Cable Modem ---> Linksys Wired Router (Model: RE9000)
(RE9000) ---> PC
(RE9000) ---> Samsung SmartTV
(RE9000) ---> TP Link Powerline #1 ---> Wall Outlet

Room #2

Wall Outlet ---> TP Link Powerline #2
TP Link Powerline #2 (A) ---> ROKU
TP Link Powerline #2 (B) ---> Amazon FireTV
--Linksys(RE9000)--WiFi--> Laptop
--Linksys(RE9000)--WiFi--> Tablet


Would either Option A or B work with any of these modems? Which would work for me for the longest time?

ARRIS SURFboard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem
ARRIS SURFboard SB6183 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem
ARRIS SURFboard SB6190 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem
ARRIS SURFboard SB8200 DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem



Please help me get this worked out so I can get my cord-cutting system going.

Thx,

This question is straight out of 2003... Other than the powerline and the Roku.

Ditch the router and the WAP. Get something less than 15 years old, and you should have a better time of it.

mwarps said:

This question is straight out of 2003... Other than the powerline and the Roku.

Ditch the router and the WAP. Get something less than 15 years old, and you should have a better time of it.

Click to expand...

Would this be a good option for my situation? https://www.linksys.com/us/p/P-RE9000/

3WAYsplit said:

Would this be a good option for my situation? https://www.linksys.com/us/p/P-RE9000/

Click to expand...

Only if you replace the router with that extender's complement such as the EA9500.

This is the internet plan I have Spectrum Internet up to 100 Mbps


I replaced my old Wired Router & W.A.P. with Linksys MAX-Stream AC1900 MU-MIMO Gigbit Router Model# EA7500


The good news: My laptop & tablet connection issues are gone.


I just ran a few speed tests.


1/28/18

Speedtest.net 3:05AM
DL 71.22 Mbps
UL 11.77 Mbps

Xfinity Speedtest 3:06AM
DL 72.93 Mbps
UL 12.17 Mbps

AT&T Speedtest 3:07AM
DL 72.93 Mbps
UL 12.17 Mbps

Verizon Speedtest 3:08AM
DL 67.27 Mbps
UL 12.22 Mbps

Centurylink Speedtest 3:10AM
DL 68.0 Mbps
UL 11.9 Mbps

Spectrum Speedtest 3:16AM
DL 70.06 Mbps
UL 11.98 Mbps

How do my results look? Should I be getting better results than this?
Or am I getting good speeds for my plan?

Would a tech visit improve on this?

I did also pick a ARRIS SURFboard SB6190 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem.
Should I use this instead, or are me speeds fine?

To know if your results on wireless are good, you'll need a baseline of the physical wired connection -- so you'd need to connect direct over the wired network to the router temporarily.

Your modem is already DOCSIS 3 compliant. DOCSIS 2.0 or 1.0 only have one channel, with half your available bandwidth. So that's fine. I'd personally use the Arris regardless because the cable company likes to steal your bandwidth for public wireless (well, Comcast does.. not sure if yours does)

Those speed tests are from my wired connection.

You're rockin and rollin.

So having a cable tech check it out would be a waste of time? You think my speeds are fine for a up to 100 Mbps plan?

If I switch use the ARRIS SURFboard SB6190, my speeds should be better? Would they be closer to 100 Mbps?

**** Update***

I switched out the Ethernet cable that I had connecting my Modem to Router. Then I reset my modem. The light pattern on my "Ubee" modem switched from this light pattern:

Power (green)
Ethernet (flashing green)
DS (blue)
US (blue)
Ready (green)

to:

Power (green)
Ethernet (flashing blue)
DS (blue)
US (blue)
Ready (green)

I ran some more speed tests. Here is what I found:

2:32 PM
**Speedtest:
Ping 123
DL 104.02 Mbps
UL 3.07 Mbps

2:36 PM
Verizon:
DL 118.12 Mbps
UL 10.59 Mbps

2:37 PM
AT&T:
DL 119.1 Mbps
UL 7.65 Mbps

2:38 PM
CenturyLink:
DL 117.8 Mbps
UL 10.3 Mbps

2:40 PM
COX:
DL 111 Mbps
UL 9 Mbps

2:42 PM
Xfinity:
DL 159.55 Mbps
UL 15.64

2:44 PM
Spectrum:
DL 115.40 Mbps
UL 10.82 Mbps



Wow what a change. Id that just because of the cable, or is it time of day?

Do I need a tech to check my lines? Or am I right where I need to be?

Yep, it was just the cable. The blue light indicates a gigabink link vs fast ethernet (100mbit). With a 100mbit link, you'd be lucky to see near 100Mbit, but as you can see, with gigabit you can get the speeds you pay for now.

As far as speedtest websites go, I use dslreports.com/speedtest with multiple isps and it's always accurate.

You definitely don't need the modem, and just for kicks, swap in your old linksys equipment and see how much of a speed drop there is. I have a WAP54G that I use as a wireless/wired bridge for a wireless printer, and when I ran a speedtest on it I got just over 10 down and 6 up...my connection is 300/30.

I don't know if you speeds would be 100Mb, but I had a friend that had a Ubee branded router that was complete crap. After he bought a SB6141 and used a pc with pfSense, he got much faster speeds.

heman22union said:

I don't know if you speeds would be 100Mb, but I had a friend that had a Ubee branded router that was complete crap. After he bought a SB6141 and used a pc with pfSense, he got much faster speeds.

Click to expand...

It probably wasn't the modem that was an issue, rather the isp's provisioning configuration sent to the modem. At one of our sites we have a ubee that's been rock solid for several years now with a 60/5 service.