Looking for a reliable modem/router combo.

[AutonomousRedux]

Afternoon, all. I'm currently seeking a modem/router combo that won't start flaking on me in three years. I currently have a Netgear c7000v2 Nighthawk AC1900 modem/router that, for some reason, seems to only be able to hit 100ish mbps. According to my ISP (spectrum), I'm supposed to be getting 500mbps. I've run speed test right next to the router with my S21 and hardwired a laptop to the device, but it won't break 120mbps.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Senzelian]

What makes you think that the router is the issue? Which speedtest did you use?

[MrSimplicity]

Your ISP (Spectrum) is throttling your connection to compensate for bandwidth usage across their entire coverage area. I pay for gigabit but during the day I'll maybe get 400mbps on average. If I ever do get my full speed it's because it's 3am and no one in my area is even awake. Also routers run 24/7 and almost guarantied to slow down after a year or two. The most effective way would be to build your own router out of an old PC. Modems on the other hand are even more important when it comes to your connection speeds and again also run 24/7. Both units have a processor in them and get decently warm which eventually will degrade them.

 

Unfortunately your best option, not that I'm recommending it, would actually be to get the modem/router combo from spectrum. Then if it ever slows down you can just return it and they'll give you a new one. which could be once a year or every couple of months.

[AutonomousRedux]

33 minutes ago, Senzelian said:

What makes you think that the router is the issue? Which speedtest did you use?

Ookla's, Spectrum's, and the browser one you can google. Furthermore, when I was testing at about 2am, I was still getting the same speeds.

[AutonomousRedux]

31 minutes ago, MrSimplicity said:

Your ISP (Spectrum) is throttling your connection to compensate for bandwidth usage across their entire coverage area. I pay for gigabit but during the day I'll maybe get 400mbps on average. If I ever do get my full speed it's because it's 3am and no one in my area is even awake. Also routers run 24/7 and almost guarantied to slow down after a year or two. The most effective way would be to build your own router out of an old PC. Modems on the other hand are even more important when it comes to your connection speeds and again also run 24/7. Both units have a processor in them and get decently warm which eventually will degrade them.

 

Unfortunately your best option, not that I'm recommending it, would actually be to get the modem/router combo from spectrum. Then if it ever slows down you can just return it and they'll give you a new one. which could be once a year or every couple of months.

I tested during the day and during the graveyard hours. Same results. So I'm pretty certain that it's the unit.

 

Well, that's unfortunate. I just returned mine yesterday saying "I don't need it as I already have a capable device at home."

 

I have been toying with the idea of making my own router. Is there a way to make a modem that won't so heavily degrade? Or am I stuck buying production?

[MrSimplicity]

18 minutes ago, AutonomousRedux said:

I tested during the day and during the graveyard hours. Same results. So I'm pretty certain that it's the unit.

 

Well, that's unfortunate. I just returned mine yesterday saying "I don't need it as I already have a capable device at home."

 

I have been toying with the idea of making my own router. Is there a way to make a modem that won't so heavily degrade? Or am I stuck buying production?

I'm not aware of being able to build your own modem so I have no idea on that front. Side note it will always be better to have the units separate. So if you do go back to spectrum just get their modem and use your own router. That's how I run it.

[Zando_]

1 hour ago, AutonomousRedux said:

I currently have a Netgear c7000v2 Nighthawk AC1900 modem/router that, for some reason, seems to only be able to hit 100ish mbps. According to my ISP (spectrum), I'm supposed to be getting 500mbps. I've run speed test right next to the router with my S21 and hardwired a laptop to the device, but it won't break 120mbps.

Checked the hardware connections, made sure QoS is disabled (if that router supports it then it should be off by default IIRC, but worth checking just to make sure it isn't doing anything weird), called Spectrum and asked them to take a look at it? 

[AutonomousRedux]

17 minutes ago, MrSimplicity said:

I'm not aware of being able to build your own modem so I have no idea on that front. Side note it will always be better to have the units separate. So if you do go back to spectrum just get their modem and use your own router. That's how I run it.

Aight. Might give that a shot if all else fails. Grazzi.

[OhioYJ]

55 minutes ago, AutonomousRedux said:

I have been toying with the idea of making my own router. Is there a way to make a modem that won't so heavily degrade? Or am I stuck buying production?

You can't make your own cable modem. 

 

Before I built my own router, I found my speeds always slowed down during extended downloads, or with some routers I needed to reboot every so often. I started adding heatsinks, or extra heatsinks, and fans to both my router and modems, and my problems went away. I did this for a long time and no more issues. 

 

I found some airflow through the device helped quite a bit, even if you couldn't necessarily get a fan in the most ideal location. 

 

Here are some images of some of my past devices to give you an idea:

 

Modem:

 

 

Routers:

 

 

 

[Donut417]

2 hours ago, AutonomousRedux said:

I have been toying with the idea of making my own router. Is there a way to make a modem that won't so heavily degrade? Or am I stuck buying production?

You cant make a modem. But as shown above you can add cooling to one. If you dont want to mod like above, you can look at a laptop cooler, I used one of those on a router I flashed with DDWRT that liked to overheat. I have the Netgear CM1000v2 if you are looking for suggestions. Its limited to up to 940 Mbps due to only having Gigabit Ethernet.

 

3 hours ago, AutonomousRedux said:

I'm supposed to be getting 500mbps. I've run speed test right next to the router with my S21 and hardwired a laptop to the device, but it won't break 120mbps.

 

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

According to the modem/router documentation that model is only good up to 400 Mbps with Spectrum. So I doubt you will ever achieve 500 Mbps. So if you do buy a new modem go for a Docsis 3.1 model. One issue you could have is maybe the signal coming in isnt that great. I dont know if Spectrum lets you have access to that information however. I know Comcast does. If some of your downstream channels are running out of spec it would mean less downstream channels available to use. Further more as mentioned it could be a congestion issue. You are running at the max of what that device is rated for on the Spectrum network, meaning if any of your downstream or upstream channels are congested you will get slower speeds. Having more channels on a slower tier of service is better because it can help stop with the issues of congestion as you can have your traffic spread across more channels.

[AutonomousRedux]

Aight. A spectrum tech came out. Redid the drop so we know the cable is good. He says the modem part works fine, but my wifi module is shot. 

[AutonomousRedux]

2 hours ago, Zando_ said:

Checked the hardware connections, made sure QoS is disabled (if that router supports it then it should be off by default IIRC, but worth checking just to make sure it isn't doing anything weird), called Spectrum and asked them to take a look at it? 

It's the wifi module. Tech came out, redid the drop. Connected to the modem part just fine.