Can I Switch My Broadband Router To Test Line Speed

Can anyone help with advice please.
I am having discussions with my ISP regarding download speed of their "fast broadband" This is not at my house but at my son's house who is disabled and cannot manage these types of things.
When I discovered the problem he was getting 240kbps (yes that's kbps) - after much discussion with technical we got it to 2.3mbps - still not good enough, they are contracted for an average of 11mbps.
N.B I performed these tests when connected via ethernet to the router to exclude any wifi issues and get a true speed to the router.
I have managed to arrange an engineer visit to assess the line, if however he finds the fault is internal (i.e. the router) I will be liable for the engineer call out fee.
The current router is a 10 year old Zyxel which I cannot even find of the Zyxel website so have no information about it's speed capabilities.
Is it possible the router is limiting to 2.3Mbps?
If so, is it possible to temporarily swap it for another router just to see if the speed improves - then I can cancel the engineer. If so is there any special consideration to the replacement router i.e. can I just use another that accepts the small (RJ11?) plug that comes from the splitter plugged into the BT line socket?
thanks

 

You sure? I suspect it really says "up to" some value.

Let's make sure we are on the same page concerning the device in question.

Do you really mean "router"? A router is a device to connect (or isolate) two networks and really has nothing to do with the ISP or the internet. A router with an Ethernet switch (typically 4 ports) allows you to form a LAN (local area network) by connecting multiple devices together. You can have a LAN with just one computer connected to a router.

A "modem" on the other hand, serves as a "gateway" device to provide access for the computers on your LAN (or a single computer connected directly to the modem) to the Internet via the ISP's network.

You don't need a router to connect "a" computer to the internet. You do need a modem.

Clear as mud, huh?

There's more.

Now "wireless router" is an integrated device that includes the router, an Ethernet switch, and a WAP (wireless access point). These are 3 discrete network devices that just happen to share a common circuit board, case, and power supply.

Computers connect to a router via Ethernet cable, or to a wireless router via Ethernet cable or wifi.

A separate router (or wireless router) can easily be swapped out by the user with no interfacing with the ISP.

A router (or wireless router) connects via an Ethernet cable to a separate "modem", then out to the Internet.

A "modem" is not as easy to swap out because it has to be registered with the ISP to gain access authorization to the ISP's network. This is so they know, and can control who is connecting to their network so they can get their money.

Then there is a "residential gateway" device. This is yet another integrated device that includes the modem inside the same case as the router, switch and WAP. A residential gateway device is what ISPs commonly provide if you get (lease) your device from the ISP instead of buying your own.

Because the residential gateway device includes the modem, and a different modem would have to be registered with the ISP, users cannot simply swap them out for testing purposes without getting the ISP involved.

So do you really mean "router" or do you mean modem, or do you mean the gateway device?

How are you checking your speeds? I use Speedtest.net.

 

AHA.. Well I have been told off for referring to the device as a modem, so now call it a router.
In fact it is a "wireless router" (I don't lease it - I think it was the cheapest device the initial broadband provider could get) It has ethernet connections for wired devices and a Wifi Access point for wireless devices. It connects to a BT socket via a splitter with a cable that has smaller than RJ45 plugs (I know about these have had to connect many RJ45 plugs to twisted pair ethernet cables) Not sure if the smaller plug is RJ11 - never had to wire these.

I myself use speedtest and always use an ethernet connected device to exclude any wifi issues, but the ISP (TalkTalk) insist I use the speedtest on their website as others "may not be accurate" - I doubt this but do not argue with their technical support.

Basically, I want to avoid being charged for an engineer if he finds the "wireless router" to be defective. If it is the line then TalkTalk pay.

 

If this is a separate wireless router device that then connects to a modem, and you own the router, then sure, you should be able to swap in a different router with no problems. Just power all devices (including their modem) off. Completely power off connected computers. That is, unplug from the wall or flip master power switch in back. This removes all power. Shutting down really puts the computer in standby - not good enough.

Swap in the new router. Then power on their modem and wait for the lights to settle down. Then power on your router and wait for its lights to settle down. Then power on your computer.

Yeah, that is nonsense. The reason why they want you to use theirs is so they can control which end to end servers SpeedTest uses. They want you to use one that is just across town, and not on the other side of world. They have a point as that avoids latency issues not in their control. But the fact is, if you can reach distant lands at good speeds, then you can reach across town too at fast speeds.

My ISP does the same thing but I always pick a server in Washington DC simply because it is exactly (according to SpeedTest) 1000 miles away from me.

 

www.speedtest.net is not that accurate in speed test i use https://speedsmart.net/ it's more accurate.

 

I disagree. It does not take any special technique or technology to measure these speeds. You can run the same test from the same provider 3 times in a row and get different results.

More significantly, different providers use different end-point servers, and different routes (hops) to get there.

FTR, I just ran Speedtest from Omaha to Washington DC and got 598.79Mbps down and 50.22 up with 48ms ping.

Then I ran Speedsmart from Omaha to their Washington DC server and got 528.5Mbps down and 58.28 up with 46ms ping.

Then I ran Waveform and got 609.0Mbps down and 55.6 up.

I ran each 2 more times and each were different from previous runs, but still similar.

IMO opinion those are essentially the same.

You can also go with Fast.com or Testmy.net or Bufferbloat and Internet Speed Test.

The real lesson learned, IMO is to pick then stick with one provider. Run the test then use the same provider to compare with the first. This most likely will ensure the same endpoint and route is used each time.