Answer to terrible internet

[pjboches]

Hi, I'm completely new to the use of forums but I enjoy Linus Tech Tips videos. So I'm having a major problem with my internet. I have comcast xfinity and my father pays for the second highest package which is unbelievable expensive. His PC knowledge is very little because he is a Mac user and assumes everything Apple related is the lastest and greatest. He has a Cisco system modem and an Apple Airport the newest one. My internet upload and download speeds are insane. I get around 20 ms on all my PC games. I'm a pretty hardcore PC gamer and use Ethernet which is connected to the Apple Airport but I have no speed advantage over wifi. So when my dad uses wifi for his business related stuff he destroys the internet uploading huge files. That's when the internet works but half the time it doesn't. I can't even watch my daily YouTube videos or just brows the web. He gets into yelling matches with Comcast and it's never helpful. 

 

All I need to know is what is the best home Wifi solution. I live in a big house so my room barely gets wifi. I've been reading about mesh networks which have good ranges but my house is old and is reinforced with bricks in between. I'm currently also building a new gaming rig intended to upgrade my YouTube videos. So I'm going to need some hefty speeds for uploading high quality videos. I've read and talked to "experts" and everyone says everything is fine. I'm also thinking of business related networking. Price isn't much of a problem. Thanks

-pj

 

[Tsuki]

what speeds are you actually paying for, and what is the model number of your modem?

and the first thing i would do is get rid of that apple airport. its crap

[LienusLateTips]

Unifi AP Pro

 

enterprise, and it's good value.

 

 

also try changing your DNS i heard comcast's is bad

[pjboches]

2 minutes ago, Tsuki said:

what speeds are you actually paying for, and what is the model number of your modem?

and the first thing i would do is get rid of that apple airport. its crap

The Cisco unit is DPC300 and I'm not exactly sure what package of internet but I remember it's the 2nd highest. And yes I've been telling to to get rid of the Apple Airport

[pjboches]

4 minutes ago, JDE said:

Unifi AP Pro

 

enterprise, and it's good value.

 

 

also try changing your DNS i heard comcast's is bad

Looks like Unifi AP Pro are extenders or can they be used as single units because the way my internet is setup right now is a modem connected to Apple Airport. My dad definitely taught my the wrong things because I'm hella confused about simple stuff. Can unifi AP pro be used as a router with extenders? Also what other internet service would you recommend?

[Tsuki]

3 minutes ago, pjboches said:

The Cisco unit is DPC300 and I'm not exactly sure what package of internet but I remember it's the 2nd highest. And yes I've been telling to to get rid of the Apple Airport

dpc300 or dpc3000?

the DPC3000 only supports 160Mbp/s so if you're paying for more, you need a new modem

[LienusLateTips]

Just now, pjboches said:

Looks like Unifi AP Pro are extenders or can they be used as single units because the way my internet is setup right now is a modem connected to Apple Airport. My dad definitely taught my the wrong things because I'm hella confused about simple stuff. Can unifi AP pro be used as a router with extenders? Also what other internet service would you recommend?

A wireless router is actually 3 parts in a box. The router, a switch and a AP. The unifi ap pro is a AP, without the other stuff.

[LienusLateTips]

1 minute ago, pjboches said:

Also what other internet service would you recommend?

BTW I'm talking about DNS, not internet service providers

 

Comcast usually is the only option and is better than AT&T (at least that's what I heard, I live in Canada where all the providers are trying to kill each other with super low pricing), so stick with that. Here's a free tip that may or may not make your internet faster, but whatever. Follow this guide (for Windows 10, tell me if you need a guide for different OS): https://www.windowscentral.com/how-change-your-pcs-dns-settings-windows-10

 

Set the primary to 8.8.8.8 and the secondary to 8.8.4.4

[pjboches]

1 minute ago, Tsuki said:

dpc300 or dpc3000?

the DPC3000 only supports 160Mbp/s so if you're paying for more, you need a new modem

Definitely good to know. I'm not even exactly sure what a modem does because I've got a modem and apparently a Apple router but my friends just got a router?? Idk but what router would you recommend? / whole wifi system?

[pjboches]

15 minutes ago, Tsuki said:

what speeds are you actually paying for, and what is the model number of your modem?

and the first thing i would do is get rid of that apple airport. its crap

Some bull crap. I just ran a speed test. 78 mbps download and 11 upload. I couldn't search google for the online speed test. I had to type in the website because my internet is dumb.

[pjboches]

1 minute ago, CUDA_Cores said:

better wifi solutions won't help you if your plan doesn't have the bandwidth for two people in the first place. 

 

We really need to know your bandwidth that you have available in the first place before evaluation appropriate equipment. there is no point in buying a $300 tri-band router if you internet doesn't have that bandwidth to begin with. 

Ok I'll go find that out

[Donut417]

11 minutes ago, pjboches said:

The Cisco unit is DPC300 and I'm not exactly sure what package of internet but I remember it's the 2nd highest. And yes I've been telling to to get rid of the Apple Airport

Defiantly make sure your modem is up to the task. A 8x4 modem will only be provisioned to 200 Mbps so generally people tend to go to the 16x4 or higher modems to make sure they can do any and all speed tier. Ive been told that the SB6183 or the CM600 are good modems. Also, you stated your father uses a shit ton of the upload, you need to keep in mind that most cable company's have limited bandwidth on the upstream. I mean shit, Comcast can only provide 35 Mbps up for the 1Gbps tier. 

 

This is a time where you might need to look in to QoS, if the router has good options. Many dont.  

[Tsuki]

i would also suggest getting a dual band router at least.

keep the mobile devices on the 2.4Ghz band and the computers on the 5Ghz

[pjboches]

15 minutes ago, CUDA_Cores said:

better wifi solutions won't help you if your plan doesn't have the bandwidth for two people in the first place. 

 

We really need to know your bandwidth that you have available in the first place before evaluation appropriate equipment. there is no point in buying a $300 tri-band router if you internet doesn't have that bandwidth to begin with. 

Would changing the frequency make a difference. From 2.4 to 5? Do you think there is too much noise around me?? I live is a populated area

[LienusLateTips]

Just now, pjboches said:

Would changing the frequency make a difference. From 2.4 to 5? Do you think there is too much noise around me?? I live is a populated area

5Ghz just is faster.

[pjboches]

Just now, JDE said:

5Ghz just is faster.

Ok thanks

[pjboches]

1 minute ago, Tsuki said:

i would also suggest getting a dual band router at least.

keep the mobile devices on the 2.4Ghz band and the computers on the 5Ghz

Ok dope I'll go do that.

[pjboches]

I'm understanding a lot more because it's more simplied based on my needs instead of reading and watching videos that make me more confused. Thank you all for the advice. What would you generally say what be some of the solutions. Money isn't an issue. I'm willing to look into pretty expensive stuff but more price to performance. I'm going to look into upgrading my Comcast internet plan to the highest but what other products / things should I do? Aka DoS, DNS, 2.4-5 ghz. I also don't know how to tag people in this.

[LienusLateTips]

Just now, pjboches said:

DNS

you can just change it for free

 

I gave you a guide earlier

 

 

1 minute ago, pjboches said:

2.4-5 ghz. 

Just plug in a new AP and turn off the wifi on the old router