Windstream Sagem F@ST1704 issues

I am new to the forum and am not a real techie, but up till now have been able to fix most of my own issues. This one has me stumped, but first I'll describe my residential setup. Getting 12MB service from Windstream, have the new SagemF@ST1704 wireless router. My computer is hardwired with Cat 5 cable, and we also use a Roku (wireless hookup) and a wireless laptop (only occasionally). We get constant dropout on the Roku but we don't seem to be losing the total internet connection, just the connection to the network. Same thing happens less frequently to the computer (Windows 7 Pro). Speeds in evening near 11-12M but go down to 2M during the day.
I've spent hrs on the phone with Windstream techs, and have replaced the router. No changes. Since I am an electrician too, I will probably just wire the Roku directly, but that probably won't fix everything. The strange part of this dilemma is that when I look at my network on the computer, I see 1 router under Network Infrastructure but also anywhere from 2 to 100 (the count builds until I do a Refresh) other routers under Other Devices. They all have the same IP address and unique ID number when I click on Properties.
Are these problems related, and how do I fix them?
Any help would be appreciated. I DO NOT trust a Windstream tech who might come out, to take the time to actually fix this properly. He will no doubt just swap the router for a 3rd identical one.

 

Have you tested the speed/performance using both a wired and wireless connection at the same time of day? To do this, go to a bandwith speed test site such as http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ and run the test on your notebook with the WiFi connection. Next, turn off the WiFi, hook up the PC to the router (Cat5/6 cable) and re-run the test.

If you see significant upload/download speed differences between a wired and wireless connection, it points the finger at the WiFi transmitter/receiver in the router.

This clue suggests the root cause may be the DSL service itself and has little (if anything) to do with the router.

First, if your DSL service is on the same wiring as a landline phone, use of the phone cuts into the amount of available bandwidth - an "oh, by the way" thing Windstream and other DSL providers fail to tell customers.

Second, all service providers (Windstream, Comcast, Clear, etc.) only have a limited amount of bandwidth in any given area to split between all customers. If a third of the neighborhood is hitting Netflix or World Of Warcraft online at the same time, it creates an online traffic jam that will cause your speeds to tank until fewer people are jockying for the available bandwidth. If you're in an area where Windstream has a lot of business DSL customers, this may explain why daytime speeds suck.

Don't shoot the messenger; however I hope these answers help.

 

thanks Gman. More info--the low speeds were recorded using a wireless laptop and the high speeeds with my desktop. However I will do a comparison. Also, I live about 3 blocks from the Windstream offices, near the uptown area of a small town. I'm sure many local businesses use their service, but I had hoped that the close proximity would keep the bandwidth and speed pretty high. (My needs really aren't 12M, but I was able to upgrade from 6M for next to nothing, so took the deal. I was used to Road Runner at about 6-8M fairly consistently, but went to Windstream for the package with phone, and dumped the VOIP I had previously.)
Any ideas on the multiple routers weirdness that Windows is seeing?