Will increasing my broadband speed help my Network Extender Perform Better?
katiel021
Newbie

Hello,  sorry if this isn't posted in the correct area.  I'm new to this community and couldn't find a Network Extender specific category.

Background: I live in a "low spot" and have shoddy phone service in my home.  As a result, I purchased a Network Extender about 1.5 years ago.

I've been limping along for some time with my 1.0 Mbps basic internet service but am now working from home frequently and taking calls though the day and if my internet is being used by anything else in the home (PC, iPad, Kindle - etc).  my calls either get really choppy or I drop the call.  Since I'm working from home computer based this is quite annoying and I'm finally to the point that I'm just going to get a home phone if I can't figure out.

Question:  If I increase my broadband internet speed to perhaps a 10 or 12 Mbps will this help with the strength of the Network Extender and prevent calls getting choppy and/or dropped?

Also, I should add that my current internet service is advertised as a 768 Kbps but speed tests say it's 1.0 Mbps.  Also - between my husband and I we've had several different phones on the extender and all are the same so I don't believe it's phone-device related.

Thanks in advance for any input, it's greatly appreciated!

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Re: Will increasing my broadband speed help my Network Extender Perform Better?
katiel021
Newbie

bump/anyone??

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Re: Will increasing my broadband speed help my Network Extender Perform Better?
lewisr13
Champion - Level 1

What about a landline?

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Re: Will increasing my broadband speed help my Network Extender Perform Better?
katiel021
Newbie

That's what I'm trying to avoid but is my last resort.

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Re: Will increasing my broadband speed help my Network Extender Perform Better?
fralexandr2
Newbie

What do you use your internet for?  If you only use it for web browsing, you probably don't need to upgrade your internet.  You should probably setup the QOS on your router to optimize for traffic from the Network Extender.

If you frequently download files or watch youtube or something, then upgrading your internet will probably fix it.  It is really hard to diagnose network issues.  Maybe try upgrading your internet for a month to see if it helps (don't get a 1yr/2yr agreement).

When you say help with signal strength, do you mean you're getting very few bars even with the Network Extender?  This might mean there is interference (microwave oven/some types of light bulbs/lots of walls or obstructions/dense wireless network environment)

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Re: Will increasing my broadband speed help my Network Extender Perform Better?
silver6056
Specialist - Level 1

katiel021 wrote:

Hello,  sorry if this isn't posted in the correct area.  I'm new to this community and couldn't find a Network Extender specific category.

Background: I live in a "low spot" and have shoddy phone service in my home.  As a result, I purchased a Network Extender about 1.5 years ago.

I've been limping along for some time with my 1.0 Mbps basic internet service but am now working from home frequently and taking calls though the day and if my internet is being used by anything else in the home (PC, iPad, Kindle - etc).  my calls either get really choppy or I drop the call.  Since I'm working from home computer based this is quite annoying and I'm finally to the point that I'm just going to get a home phone if I can't figure out.

Question:  If I increase my broadband internet speed to perhaps a 10 or 12 Mbps will this help with the strength of the Network Extender and prevent calls getting choppy and/or dropped?

Also, I should add that my current internet service is advertised as a 768 Kbps but speed tests say it's 1.0 Mbps.  Also - between my husband and I we've had several different phones on the extender and all are the same so I don't believe it's phone-device related.

Thanks in advance for any input, it's greatly appreciated!

Verizon says the minimum should be 1Mbps, so even though a speed test might show that you get that speed, going on a rated 768Kbps sounds a little risky, especially when there is any contention for internet. 

I would also check prices.  What will it cost to upgrade the internet speed vs getting a landline (perhaps as part of a bundle)?  Of course, upgrading the speed might have other benefits unrelated to calls (once you surf at higher speeds it is very hard to go back).

Also, doesn't the network extender still  use your wireless minutes for calls?  If so, you might want to look into other VoIP vendors where you use a landline type phone that plugs directly into your connection. This will still probably need you to upgrade your speed to work well, but you may be able to reduce your wireless minutes to offset the cost of the upgrade and the VoIP vendor.

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Re: Will increasing my broadband speed help my Network Extender Perform Better?
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Hello to you Katiel021!

Welcome to the community!  I completely understand what it's like to work from home and need your phone service and your internet to work at the same time.

Since our minimum requirement for the Network Extender is 1 Mbps and you're using your internet at the same time it can definitely cause difficulties.

You truly should need much more though depending on what you're doing on the internet.  Possibly try then next package up!

I hope this helps.

Thanks,

MelissaM_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @vzwsupport

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