is it my router?

i have a wireless connection that says it is "excellent" yet my downloads take FOREVER and sometimes give up. this started a couple of weeks ago while i was looking to watch a tv show online. i did a malwarebytes check and nothing showed up. the isp guy said maybe my router had reached its limit and i should buy a new one. this problem also occurs with a second computer upstairs. do i buy a new router or is it something else? thanks.

 

Did this start all of a sudden without you doing anything like installing a new program? Have you checked your current network speed against your advertised ISP speed. Use DSLReports SpeedTest and if it's around %80 then it's probably not them. They also have a database of major providers and what folks think about them.

 

thanks for advice, augie doggie. here's the results although it does say at the top, "results could not be recorded" whatever that means. latency to server was 102 ms, download 29 kb, upload 844 kb. i really don't know what this means. new router? also, yes, i think it just started after i was trying to watch a tv show and couldn't get any to work for me. no new programs. thanks.

 

OMG! 29KB is definately a 'forever' download!:-D Taking your upload speed into account then you should be getting around 7Mb/s down. I think your router is fine. Can you wire your main computer to the modem directly, do you have a cable available to attach between the computer and the modem? It's called an ethernet cable, your local computer guy will know what you need. If this works then it is your router at fault.

Have you tried turning the router off and on? Unplug it for 10 seconds and repower it? Too often ISP's blame the user so if your speedtest comes up short again when you're wired in, then they are at fault.

Sounds like you have cable.

 

so i turned the router off and on and no dice. thought i'd try the easy one first! now when we tried to hard wire it directly to the modem, i couldn't connect at all. would i have to change my internet connection to something else or would my same old wireless one do? thanks for your simple instructions for my simple old brain, augie doggie!

 

Sorry, turn the modem off for 10 secs, reconnect the power and once the modem lights look normal then reboot your machine. This will get you a new IP address.

BTW, just call me augie eh? No need to type all that.

 

ok, so i turned off and on the router and reset the modem just for fun. then i rebooted my computer and tried the speed test again. this time 244kbs and 794 upload. i tried to watch a tv show online and i think this did it! does that speed seem normal enough now, augie? i can't tell you how long i have been living with this and not knowing what to do. you are a life saver. THANKS!!! from canadarose

 

Ooh we're getting there now!:cool The download speed still sucks in my opinion, what download speed should you be getting according to your contract? It should be 10 times that much at the very least! You have DSL or cable and which ISP? Please answer this.

At least now you have some ammunition to throw at the buggers(ISP), people who say they have done all that you have and get a change in performance then get to the 2nd tier of customer service as knowledgeable people. Depends on the ISP though.

 

my isp is nexicom out of keene, ontario. i just did another check of speeds so i am sure. download 460 upload 851. my daughter usually takes care of all these things, so all i know is that it is not cable, it is wireless high speed. is that good enough? nexicom at that test site says it should be 768. boy am i getting tech savvy! haha.

 

OK, Nexicom comes through your telephone, right? Also, they serve a rural population and they offer a maximum 3Mbps connection, I wonder if they state their minimum download speed? The only other thing I'll ask of you is your telephone noisy? That could lower your speeds too. Who does the work on your phonelines? Perhaps you could bug them if it's noisy or at least do a check.

 

i mean it is out of millbrook,ontario.

 

Doesn't really matter, it all depends where their amplifiers are and how far away you are from them.

 

the phones aren't noisy unless you are on the phone next to the modem and router. then it's soooooooooooooooo noisy you really can't talk there. so that's a possible problem there? nexicom does come through the phones. they would do any repairs i guess, although i can't remember ever having them in. yes, we are a rural population. now my speed test says 206. why all this variation? should i call them and tell them about this? i don't know the minimum download speed. is that the speed that is on the icon on the internet connection on the right bottom part of my screen? that speed is 48 mbs. ok, thanks!

 

now it's only 90 download again. argggggggg

 

The variation is normal as more or fewer users are online, or how many folks are trying to download something from the same site, that's 'Internet Life'. As long as the speed doesn't crash like you started with. The 48Mbps is your wireless speed that your router and PC are capable of and your internet speed will always be way less than that especially in your case!

Still, ask them why you are so far below the 3MB.

 

we use land lines for all the phones except one. the one near the modem is a landline too. i surely don't know how to get into the modem to check the channel. is this something if i change and things don't work at all i could just change back and it would still be ok? thanks for taking all this time for me,augie.

 

Yes, if it doesn't work you can change it. You can get into the modem by typing in

Code:

192.168.0.1

into your browser and entering 'admin' or

Code:

192.168.1.1

and admin, depends on your modem maker.

BTW, I'm not going to be around much longer tonight though there's many more better folk than me here. At least we're getting somewhere your ISP rep. never even thought about.

 

right! i'll give it a go tomorrow. have a good sleep.