Help! My Internet Has Fallen And Can't Get Up

[barkode]

Help! 

My Internet is terrible and I have never made a network. When it comes to Networking, i am a complete idiot.

Please, if someone gives me advice on networking/ what I should use for a network, I would be thankful.

 

Network at the moment: Stock comcast router/modem/pile of poo

Up/ down mbps: 3, 8 

I live in houston

[Arty]

Well you have not listed a problem other than your using comcast

[Jaybird]

Well sucks to suck but you can't get better service without going through your ISP. We can only help you on the back end being how to give you better coverage with your wifi and potential router issues.

[Shaqo_Wyn]

Vaguest post I've seen in a while... 

 

Nice quip with the whole Life Alert thing.

 

[Arty]

Move to Austin and get google fiber

[barkode]

Okay

1. didn't realize how vague I was

2. Here are some actual questions that I need help with.

   - Would the purchase of a new router improve/affect the speed and/or range of my internet

      -If so what would be a fairly low price/entry level router

   -Would the purchase of a new modem improve/affect the speed and/or range of my internet

     -If so what would be a fairly low price/entry level router

   -what are the merits of a wireless access point and do I need to get one/them.

 

 

Also, more info incase you need It

• The current router is centrally located, but against a wall
• My big issue is that the internet is okay/average next to the router, but it falls off the face of the earth when you get more the 10 feet from the router. And my desktop I'm using is 20 feet away and It thinks out network doesn't even exist

Sorry for being an idiot with a bunch of questions, but please help.

[connorpiper]

Every 11 minutes someone falls and can't get up.

 

On topic now: Comcast can do whateverthefuck they want. I hate them. You have to deal with it.

[connorpiper]

Okay

1. didn't realize how vague I was

2. Here are some actual questions that I need help with.

   - Would the purchase of a new router improve/affect the speed and/or range of my internet

      -If so what would be a fairly low price/entry level router

   -Would the purchase of a new modem improve/affect the speed and/or range of my internet

     -If so what would be a fairly low price/entry level router

   -what are the merits of a wireless access point and do I need to get one/them.

 

 

Also, more info incase you need It

• The current router is centrally located, but against a wall
• My big issue is that the internet is okay/average next to the router, but it falls off the face of the earth when you get more the 10 feet from the router. And my desktop I'm using is 20 feet away and It thinks out network doesn't even exist

Sorry for being an idiot with a bunch of questions, but please help.

 

What router do you have now? 

Are you also using a modem? or a router/modem combo thing?

[barkode]

What router do you have now? 

Are you also using a modem? or a router/modem combo thing?

Router: Arris TG862. Comcrap standard

Router thing that my friend gave me and have no idea what it is that I have pluged in that is right next to it: D-Link DIR-655

[Bloodshed Romance]

alright, a few things..

what is the speed you pay for from comcast?

 

It sounds like you have a modem connected to a router and then to your computer/devices.

if you can, plug a network cable from the modem to a computer/laptop and goto http://speedtest.net and run a speed test. If your speed is better while connected directly to the modem rather than in the router, then the router has an issue.

If your speeds don't match closely to the amount you pay for and you're "renting" a modem from comcast you have 2 choices. Buy your own and have it be your responsibility or contact them and tell them that the modem has an issue and to come replace it.

 

In most cases that i've had experience with the Modem from the companies are usually the issue.

 

Another thing you could do is factory reset the router if you find that the modem is giving you better speeds than the router.

If you factory reset your router and its a wireless one then you need to go back into it and set a WiFi password. I can help you with that if need be later, or google it.

 

The merits of a wireless router would be that smartphones/tablets/laptops could all connect without the use of a network cable.

there are different versions of wireless network types.. b/g/n/ac the scale goes from left being the worst and right being the best. They are all backwards compatiable. Wireless N would be what I recommend because wireless AC is still pretty new and only newer devices would take advantage of it. The "range" of wireless would depend on the band (b/g/n/ac) and then the type of router (internal antenna/external antenna). But before you look into buying new hardware i'd do the troubleshooting first.

 

Most wireless routers are standard routers aswell so you don't need wireless adapters for desktops unless you don't want to run a cable. To use a desktop on a wireless connection you would need a wireless adapter. The types of wireless adapters are PCI (internal) wireless cards and USB wireless adapters. But thats a whole other category. If you want more information about those then i'd be happy to help you out.

 

DISCLAIMER: i'm not a professional "network" guy but I love computers and understand basic networking and hardware troubleshooting.

[barkode]

alright, a few things..

what is the speed you pay for from comcast?

 

It sounds like you have a modem connected to a router and then to your computer/devices.

if you can, plug a network cable from the modem to a computer/laptop and goto http://speedtest.net and run a speed test. If your speed is better while connected directly to the modem rather than in the router, then the router has an issue.

If your speeds don't match closely to the amount you pay for and you're "renting" a modem from comcast you have 2 choices. Buy your own and have it be your responsibility or contact them and tell them that the modem has an issue and to come replace it.

 

In most cases that i've had experience with the Modem from the companies are usually the issue.

 

Another thing you could do is factory reset the router if you find that the modem is giving you better speeds than the router.

If you factory reset your router and its a wireless one then you need to go back into it and set a WiFi password. I can help you with that if need be later, or google it.

 

The merits of a wireless router would be that smartphones/tablets/laptops could all connect without the use of a network cable.

there are different versions of wireless network types.. b/g/n/ac the scale goes from left being the worst and right being the best. They are all backwards compatiable. Wireless N would be what I recommend because wireless AC is still pretty new and only newer devices would take advantage of it. The "range" of wireless would depend on the band (b/g/n/ac) and then the type of router (internal antenna/external antenna). But before you look into buying new hardware i'd do the troubleshooting first.

 

Most wireless routers are standard routers aswell so you don't need wireless adapters for desktops unless you don't want to run a cable. To use a desktop on a wireless connection you would need a wireless adapter. The types of wireless adapters are PCI (internal) wireless cards and USB wireless adapters. But thats a whole other category. If you want more information about those then i'd be happy to help you out.

 

DISCLAIMER: i'm not a professional "network" guy but I love computers and understand basic networking and hardware troubleshooting.

Oh thank you so much.

I plug my laptop into my modem: 60 mbps

I unplug it: 5 mbps

 

Factory Reset did nada so Im going to get a new modem

Thank you so much yet again.

[Bloodshed Romance]

Oh thank you so much.

I plug my laptop into my modem: 60 mbps

I unplug it: 5 mbps

 

Factory Reset did nada so Im going to get a new modem

Thank you so much yet again.

you need a new router, not a modem. Unless you're gonna get a all in one which I personally don't recommend cause routers are easier to replace.

[Bloodshed Romance]

That makes no sense... By those results, it works fine directly to modem and not when its not? That mean its your router [? you didn't specify] not the modem by the sounds of things

 

barkode means router. he doesn't know anything about the hardware side of things. I gave a brief overview trying to not make it super confusing. Its a learning process.. just hope he sees it before getting a modem when he means router.

[barkode]

1. lol

2. yes, 3rd party routers are in general going to be a lot better [signal strength, quality, and features]

 - http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320091 n66u seems to be a favorite on this forum and is actually good

 

Doesn't matter how good a router is, the environment such as wireless interference and physical objects such as fish tanks rape wireless signal. If you get a good router and it doenst resolve your issue, running an ethernet cord or buying an Ethernet over power line kit is worth looking into.

 

Also why call it 'comcrap' if you do not understand how it works? I'm assuming you don't understand how it works because you said "When it comes to Networking, i am a complete idiot."

Half of this thread [not to be an ass] seems like people just want to complain and blame ISP; which seems to be a trend on this forum. Though yes there are so HORRIFIC stories, stuff like 'comcrap' and "When it comes to Networking, i am a complete idiot." just doesn't make sense to me unless you just hate the company. If that's the case then my bad, if not then I kind of question a lot of peoples knowledge...

 

 

 

 

That makes no sense... By those results, it works fine directly to modem and not when its not? That mean its your router [? you didn't specify] not the modem by the sounds of things....

1. I say comcrap because their internet may be meh, but they have the absolute WORST support, but thats a different rant.

2. *15 mbps. I have a broken keyboard. The 1 key is spotty, sometimes working sometimes not, but mostly working.

[Bloodshed Romance]

1. I say comcrap because their internet may be meh, but they have the absolute WORST support, but thats a different rant.

2. *15 mbps. I have a broken keyboard. The 1 key is spotty, sometimes working sometimes not, but mostly working.

so you still understand if you get 15 when plugged to your router and 60 in the modem the router is whats bad not the modem right?

you need a router.

[barkode]

so you still understand if you get 15 when plugged to your router and 60 in the modem the router is whats bad not the modem right?

you need a router.

Yes I do. Looks like com-notcrapbecausetheISPisokaybutisStillmeh pulled through and had the modem work