Computer talk

[Mach123]

As I'm typing (in Safari) I'm watching a YouTube video that my iPhone is casting to my Samsung smart tv through the Fire tv stick. ( ended up with ads bummer)

Edit: Back to the YouTube app.

 

[VioletButterfly]

If anyone can help me with this, I'd greatly appreciate it!!!!! :)

I have just moved and changed cable/internet providers back to Spectrum because ATT U-verse was horrible where I was last living. The problem is that the Spectrum internet is beyond horrific!

I have run a speed test countless times using all three browsers I have onboard and it the Ping ranges between 9-56 (it varies that greatly - even the tech thought that odd), the download ranges from 8.56 - 26 and the upload ranges in the low 20's. The tech told me the upload was normal, but didn't understand the download issues because he was getting in the 200's. I have an older computer running Windows 7, but it shouldn't be this slow. Also, my phone takes forever to do anything and drops texts. This is all via wireless. When I hardwired it into the modem, the download did increase, but really?!?! I don't want to be hardwired. The tech told me that my equipment would only allow me to access the 2G instead of the 5G with Spectrum and that I would need to get new equipment so that I could access the 5G and get better service/speed. Hmmm. Yes, I have $2000, minimum, lying around to buy a new computer and phone so that I can access your networks. Um, nope!

So, I called ATT. This yappy girl told me that their lightening speed internet would have me up to their maximum speed no matter what kind of equipment I had. Huh? Not making sense. Someone's not telling the truth here. Plus, she was trying to sell me a max package which was $70 more than what I found online. I asked if a tech could swing by for a test-drive and was told yes, then she pulled a hard sell and told me I could schedule an install with pre-approved credit, etc... Um, I just had your service for 13 months on auto-pay and you want to want to ding my credit with a credit check? WTW? Who are you!?! Nope!

So, I'm very confused. I had ATT where I just moved from and the speed maxed around 100 mbps for the download. That's doable for me as I don't do a lot of streaming stuff. I'd be happy if Spectrum could do that as I don't want to change-out their cable service which I've experienced as much better. On Demand ROCKS with Spectrum, DVR not so much, but well.... ATT pixiliated for 13 months with numerous calls/tech visits to no avail. Blech!

So any of you tech-smart folks have any advice?? Help! Tks. VB

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I have run a speed test countless times using all three browsers I have onboard and it the Ping ranges between 9-56 (it varies that greatly - even the tech thought that odd), the download ranges from 8.56 - 26 and the upload ranges in the low 20's.

Do you have 300 X 20? I don't know what market you're in (city & State) as it varies. Central Florida always gets speeds first then rolls to Tampa and then if steady it rolls to all Markets, one by one. So not sure what your Ultra speed is in your market but you have Ultra b/c of your upload speed being 20.

Are you running it while on wifi or are you hardwired in? Remember no ISP can guarn speeds while wireless. Hardwire a PC in and the easiest way to get to Spectrum's speed test is speedtest.spectrum.com.

On the 300 X 20 Ultra I don't have it memorized but Spectrum guarn 70% or higher while hardwired. If you have 400 X 20 Ultra then it's 280 mbps or above DS and 14 mbps or higher US. If you have 300 X 20 then the 70% DS will be lower.

Then run a speed test on another device. A 2nd device hardwired is best because then its squarely on Spectrum at that time but while wireless you can go to fast.com on a mobile browser. That test is pretty accurate. Then if still slow call them.

Main number 1-855-222-0102. Will end up sending a tech if still slow on mutiple devices but doing all of that first makes your call way faster.

I have an older computer running Windows 7, but it shouldn't be this slow

Absolutely could be but that is why you run a speed test on multiple devices.

Oh, if you have your own wireless router, you will need to bypass that and at that point be forced to hardwire. On Ultra, you don't get the free wifi anymore but if you have Spectrum's wifi, cool. If not, bypass the router. Again, will make the call much shorter and less frustrating for you.

So, I called ATT. This yappy girl told me that their lightening speed internet would have me up to their maximum speed no matter what kind of equipment I had. Huh? Not making sense. S

Sales at ATT is lying. No ISP can guarn higher then 70%. No one can guarn you wont have a device causing slow speeds or packet loss which would cause slow speeds all the way to intermittent to no internet. So, yeah, a lie! Terms of service that you agree to says all of that too.

Be careful with ATT. They have contracts. 100 X 100 (I believe what they are offering) but you don't need that much upload unless you are doing video to video gaming a lot. There are other uses for upload but the typical residental house doesn't use that much upload. And you are lowering your Download which is where the bulk of your usage is. I also believe that AT&T has contracts. Spectrum doesn't.

Have you called Spectrum about the slow speeds? If not, give Spectrum a chance to fix it. If so, how many times? If its multiple times about the same thing with in a month or even a bit longer timeframe now, there are escalation processes to ensure your issue is resolved.

ETA: If it's slow on a speed test on just one device, it is that device (no matter how bad you don't want to believe it is). If it's just slow on wifi, but not hardwired in, then it's the wifi. Likely wifi interference but if you have Spectrum wifi, call them. If not, that would be on your router, not supported by Spectrum. If it's slow on everything (on a speed test) across the board then that's on Spectrum and call them. Ensure to hardwire at least one device but two is best.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Also, something else I mentioned but forgot to advise to do the back work is technically called packet loss. But it can be caused by a device (let's say a virus for an example. But programs can cause packet loss as can apps). It will cause slow speeds on everything up to loosing internet completely. If you have called Spectrum already and they don't see an issue, this is possibly why.

So, to do the back work, turn off all devices. Everything that can get online in your home, turn it off. Some devices stay connected even while powered off if they are plugged in. An Xbox One as an example. But many streaming devices do this. So Gaming Consols, smart TVs, bluerays...anything that can stream, unplug it. As for phones and tablets, just turn the wifi off on them. Power down all other devices. Most esp the Windows 7 computer.

Now, turn one device on and speed test.

If not ok speeds, turn it off and another on and speed test.

If both not ok, call Spectrum and advise of the top back work in my last reply and this info and they will take it from there.

If the first is ok, leave it on, turn another on, let it connect and do it's thing and speed test. If ok, turn the next on, let it connect and do its thing and speed test and keep going until all are back on.

If you get to one that slow it all down, that device is causing the issue and that is on you. Get it looked at. If a PC then a PC tech. If a cell phone, then the cell carrier. If a streaming device then it's manufactor.

 

[VioletButterfly]

Hi @lostforgottensoul - Thank you for your responses and suggestions. :) I had called Spectrum 3 x and had a tech out to my place last Saturday. So many different answers and suggestions, including the one to buy new equipment! After reading your first response, I called again and worked with another tech, telling him everything I'd been told thus far and had experienced concerning internet connectivity (or lack there of). Anyway, he was kind of shocked at what I was told and then we jumped through his diagnostic hoops. When connected with the Ethernet cable correctly, the speed was up near 100 and he checked the capacity in my settings as well which was 100 with the cable. He thought it strange that my computer didn't automatically connect to the Ethernet unless the setting was changed. Instead, it created a LAN between the Ethernet cable and the WiFi connection. Anyway, I know now that I have to manually select the adapter in the settings when going between Ethernet cable and Wifi connections for my laptop.

With regard to the Wifi connection, the tech determined that I have 3 selections to get my speed above 25 mbps dowload: go with the hardwired option (uh, uh), go with ATT and see what they can do with regard to speed, or try an AC1200 Wifi USB adapter. I'm going to try the adapter as I really don't want to fool with ATT. I agree with all points you made with regard to them. I loved the phone service I had with them, but the Uverse side of the house was really not good at all. So, fingers crossed, I'll try the USB and see how it goes.

I did try the power off option you described and it didn't make a difference with regard to the download speed either. :( No simple solutions for me, I guess, so I'm off to Walmart.

If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

With regard to the Wifi connection, the tech determined that I have 3 selections to get my speed above 25 mbps dowload: go with the hardwired option (uh, uh), go with ATT and see what they can do with regard to speed, or try an AC1200 Wifi USB adapte

So, a bit confused here.

What speed do you pay for?

Also, it sounds like your NIC card (the hardware that the ether cord plugs into) is only capable of 100mg which would make sense for a Win 7 PC so he's giving you options for a 1 gig connection. When you get a wireless adaptor, get a 1 gig one but the PC can only go as fast as it can go.

What about your other devices? Did you talk with them about your other devices going slow? Or is it just the one PC going slow?

ETA: Forgot this. Remember 5G goes faster but not as far and 2G (or the non 5G) goes further but not as fast.

 

[VioletButterfly]

@lostforgottensoul - I'm on the 400 plan. I did tell the tech that my iphone is slogging as well. He didn't comment on that. It's an older iphone though, 4s, which he said couldn't work on the 5G and so is using the 2G.

Re: the speed. When we were checking the speed using the Ethernet cable, the tech had me hop to a page and told me that this reflected that the max speed while using the Ethernet cable would be 100 mbps. The tech told me that with the USB adapter, the Wifi could go faster than the 100, but at the very least it would go faster than 20 and up to 100, fingers crossed. He suggested that I try this first before going with ATT.

Does that make sense? I'm kind of out of my knowledge base area here. Tks. for your help!!

Edit: The tech suggested a dongle and not an adapter. I just looked this up and there appears to be a difference. So, he suggested an AC1200 USB dongle. Does that make sense? Non techy VB here. :(

 

[lostforgottensoul]

AC1200 USB dongl

Yeah. That will give you an AC1200 speed which transfer more data through the wireless.

I'm confused at why you are paying for the 400 X 20 Ultra package when you have no devices capable of that speed. You may have been given a package promotion but it's still $20 more a month. I'd talk to billing and see how much the 100 X 10 standard package is, personally. It won't speed anything up but you'd be paying more to try to get more speed to come through older, non-capable devices if that makes sense.

 

[VioletButterfly]

@lostforgottensoul - Well, the simple answer is that I did what I was told by the Spectrum sales person. It wasn't until I got to today's phone tech and you that I was told to "downsize" my plan. Once I get the ac1200 and see if it works (tomorrow or Monday), then I'll call billing to get my credits. It was kind of a crazy plan anyway, the sales person had me also sign up for a voice line as well so that I could get a free install, then I was supposed to call back and have it cancelled. Kind of nutty, but that was the promotion she suggested. Wheeuuww - I hope this fix works as I don't want to get on another not-merry-go-round with ATT. Thanks for your help! :) VB

 

[VioletButterfly]

@lostforgottensoul - In case you check-in, I wanted to give you an update. I just bought a Netgear AC1200 USB adapter and installed it. That was fun. ;) Prior to the install, the download speed was 20.6, after the install and being able to upgrade it to the 5 G network (my computer isn't able to do this on its own), the download speed is bouncing between 121 and 110. Pretty darn good increase! Now, I just have to find a less expensive version of the adapter/dongle on the Internet and return this to WM. Thanks again to you and the tech I spoke with at Spectrum on Saturday. :)

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Prior to the install, the download speed was 20.6, after the install and being able to upgrade it to the 5 G network (my computer isn't able to do this on its own), the download speed is bouncing between 121 and 110.

Yep. 5G will give you better speeds and its a new wireless card that you are putting in which is why it will give your PC more speeds. Remember it doesn't go far so if you take your PC even a room away the signal will drop. You can use a wireless range extender to get it to go further but that's another $20 bucks. And after all of that, you are paying $20 more a month for the 400 X 20 and you are getting 120 mg Downstream.

FYI, the provisioning on the 100 X 10 is 120 X 15 (if I am remembering off the top of my head correctly. Could be 12 mg US). So, the speeds will drop a tad if you downgrade. Which, I'd recommend.

You'll probably end up averaging 80 to 110 on the 5G.

 

[VioletButterfly]

I called to adjust the package with sales, as per your and the on-phone tech suggestion, and was told the price was the same for the 100 and the 400, it was the TV package selection and phone that were the variables. I kept the Internet and television as is, and dropped the landline. I'm trying to keep it as basic as possible as I'm still without a job.

With regard to speed with the USB, it did drop when I walked into the bedroom and dining room to about 89 in bedroom and 99 in dining room. Not sure where I'll put my desk; it's still a bit of a box-ridden mess in here from the move. All in all, it's better than 20 for a download speed and I'm thankful that maybe I can close out this file on my "To Do" pile as soon as I can get a cheaper USB. I need another one of "me" as the administrative assistant here with me, lol!