Router Bottlenecking

[Tugas]

Hi guys,

I don't really know much about networking.

At my local town I'm paying for 50mbits per second down and I'm only getting about 20.

Is that normal or could it be the cheap Tp-link wireless n router (1 antenna version) or the cheap modem that is somehow bottlenecking the bandwidth. (I'm using lan btw)

And would a higher end 5ghz router affect the results positively?

THX!

[Matt_98]

Just now, Tugas said:

Hi guys,

I don't really know much about networking.

At my local town I'm paying for 50mbits per second down and I'm only getting about 20.

Is that normal or could it be the cheap Tp-link wireless n router (1 antenna version) or the cheap modem that is somehow bottlenecking the bandwidth. (I'm using lan btw)

And would a higher end router affect the results positively?

THX!

 

the wierless n router will be bottlenecking it they are crap

[Tugas]

2 minutes ago, Matt_98 said:

the wierless n router will be bottlenecking it they are crap

It supports up to 150mbits 

[Matt_98]

Just now, Tugas said:

It supports up to 150mbits 

yea but they have 100mbs ports and a crap processor

[Matt_98]

Just now, Tugas said:

It supports up to 150mbits 

did your isp not give you a router with built in modem?

 

[Tugas]

Just now, Matt_98 said:

did your isp not give you a router with built in modem?

 

No, they only gave me a modem and so I just used the router I already had.

[Matt_98]

Just now, Tugas said:

No, they only gave me a modem and so I just used the router I already had.

then it will be the router, they wouldn't give you a modem that couldn't handle your speeds

[Tugas]

Just now, Matt_98 said:

then it will be the router, they wouldn't give you a modem that couldn't handle your speeds

so you think upgrading to a better router might improve speeds?

[Matt_98]

Just now, Tugas said:

so you think upgrading to a better router might improve speeds?

yes

[ARikozuM]

8 minutes ago, Tugas said:

so you think upgrading to a better router might improve speeds?

No. If you're getting 30/5 Mbps from your ISP, getting a better router will not help you when browsing the internet.

[Tugas]

1 minute ago, ARikozuM said:

No. If you're getting 30/5 Mbps from your ISP, getting a better router will not help you when browsing the internet.

What do you mean by 30/5? I am paying for 50 down and 10 up but I am only getting 20 down and 4 up.

[ARikozuM]

3 minutes ago, Tugas said:

What do you mean by 30/5? I am paying for 50 down and 10 up but I am only getting 20 down and 4 up.

If you're paying for 50/10 and your router supports 100Mbps wire[less], your connection is limited by your plan.

 

Can you link your wireless router? It'd be useful to know how many bands and what the speeds are.

[Tugas]

Just now, ARikozuM said:

If you're paying for 50/10 and your router supports 100Mbps wired, your connection is limited by your plan.

 

Can you link your wireless router? It'd be useful to know how many bands and what the speeds are.

http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/details/cat-9_TL-WR741ND.html

[ARikozuM]

Looks like it only has one band feeding the 150Mbps. You can get a better signal by forcing it to use wireless-N rather than switching to b/g, but you may find other devices unable to connect if they don't use N.

 

How far are you from the router?

Can you afford a TP-Link Archer C7?

[Tugas]

1 minute ago, ARikozuM said:

Looks like it only has one band feeding the 150Mbps. You can get a better signal by forcing it to use wireless-N rather than switching to b/g, but you may find other devices unable to connect if they don't use N.

 

How far are you from the router?

Can you afford a TP-Link Archer C7?

I'm connected directly to the router through ethernet wall plugs. And yes I can afford the archer c7 (which I have been considering). But I dont want to invest 100$ only to realize that it actually isn't the router's fault.

[ARikozuM]

1 minute ago, Tugas said:

I'm connected directly to the router through ethernet wall plugs. And yes I can afford the archer c7 (which I have been considering). But I dont want to invest 100$ only to realize that it actually isn't the router's fault.

I don't think it is. Do you know what wires were used when the plates were added? Can you check your router settings for the MAC address (most ISP's requires it to match a computer on the network).

 

This isn't the router's fault then as it can transmit 100 Mbps and you're paying for 50Mbps. Check the cables and make sure that they aren't an old revision of Ethernet.

[Tugas]

1 minute ago, ARikozuM said:

I don't think it is. Do you know what wires were used when the plates were added? Can you check your router settings for the MAC address (most ISP's requires it to match a computer on the network).

 

This isn't the router's fault then as it can transmit 100 Mbps and you're paying for 50Mbps. Check the cables and make sure that they aren't an old revision of Ethernet.

They are cat5 cables. And what do you mean by the "added plates"?

[ARikozuM]

6 minutes ago, Tugas said:

They are cat5 cables. And what do you mean by the "added plates"?

The wall plugs are known as plates, but who cares.

[Tugas]

1 minute ago, ARikozuM said:

The wall plugs are known as plates, but who cares.

Hmm, I mean this hole building was built last year so it is probably fast enough.

[ARikozuM]

2 minutes ago, Tugas said:

Hmm, I mean this hole building was built last year so it is probably fast enough.

There's no reason for you to not be hitting your max speed. Can you transfer a large file to another computer in-network and see what the speeds are like?

 

check your router settings as well.

[Tugas]

1 minute ago, ARikozuM said:

There's no reason for you to not be hitting your max speed. Can you transfer a large file to another computer in-network and see what the speeds are like?

 

check your router settings as well.

what would I have to check on the router settings?

[WatfordJC]

1 minute ago, Tugas said:

I'm connected directly to the router through ethernet wall plugs. And yes I can afford the archer c7 (which I have been considering). But I dont want to invest 100$ only to realize that it actually isn't the router's fault.

While a pain (because it'll disconnect everything else from the Net), connecting directly to the modem should let you run speed tests from your machine so you'll know if the router is the bottleneck.

 

I say 'should' because it depends on how the modem and ISP deal with logging in and the encapsulation they use. Assuming the modem handles logging in, and gives the public IP to whatever is plugged into Ethernet using DHCP, it'll just be a case of connecting something directly to the modem with an Ethernet cable for a few minutes to run some speed tests.

[Tugas]

2 minutes ago, WatfordJC said:

While a pain (because it'll disconnect everything else from the Net), connecting directly to the modem should let you run speed tests from your machine so you'll know if the router is the bottleneck.

 

I say 'should' because it depends on how the modem and ISP deal with logging in and the encapsulation they use. Assuming the modem handles logging in, and gives the public IP to whatever is plugged into Ethernet using DHCP, it'll just be a case of connecting something directly to the modem with an Ethernet cable for a few minutes to run some speed tests.

I just unpluged my pc from the router and pluged it in into the modem straight. I got the same results. Should I wait couple of minutes?

[WatfordJC]

Just now, Tugas said:

I just unpluged my pc from the router and pluged it in into the modem straight. I got the same results. Should I wait couple of minutes?

No, it should be immediate. It could be the Ethernet cabling your side of the modem (doubtful as I'd expect even a bad cable to do at least 100M half duplex), the cabling between the modem and the wall, or the cabling the ISP's side of the socket.

 

I'm assuming we're talking about vDSL, and not DOCSIS or FTTP, so it could well be ISP side. If you call your ISP they will likely run you through some tests, such as powering off the modem for 30-60 seconds and powering it back on, changing filters, unplugging anything else in the phone line, plugging the modem directly into the test socket in the master socket (if applicable in your country), testing for noise on the line, etc.

 

It is possible that the speed you are getting is all your line is capable of. With vDSL you not only have issues of (copper) line length, weather interference, and the other things that affect ADSL too, but also the issue of crosstalk between fibre lines.

 

Unless your modem has a Web interface which can give you your line stats, your ISP might be able to tell you if what you are getting is the best it can do (at a minimum they should see what speeds your modem is synced at). Calling your ISP, choosing the broadband fault option in their automated menus, and moaning about not getting the advertised speed should get you through to the right people that can check things for you.

[Tugas]

12 minutes ago, WatfordJC said:

No, it should be immediate. It could be the Ethernet cabling your side of the modem (doubtful as I'd expect even a bad cable to do at least 100M half duplex), the cabling between the modem and the wall, or the cabling the ISP's side of the socket.

 

I'm assuming we're talking about vDSL, and not DOCSIS or FTTP, so it could well be ISP side. If you call your ISP they will likely run you through some tests, such as powering off the modem for 30-60 seconds and powering it back on, changing filters, unplugging anything else in the phone line, plugging the modem directly into the test socket in the master socket (if applicable in your country), testing for noise on the line, etc.

 

It is possible that the speed you are getting is all your line is capable of. With vDSL you not only have issues of (copper) line length, weather interference, and the other things that affect ADSL too, but also the issue of crosstalk between fibre lines.

 

Unless your modem has a Web interface which can give you your line stats, your ISP might be able to tell you if what you are getting is the best it can do (at a minimum they should see what speeds your modem is synced at). Calling your ISP, choosing the broadband fault option in their automated menus, and moaning about not getting the advertised speed should get you through to the right people that can check things for you.

Thanks man! Ill defenatly give them a call. Thanks for taking your time!