Correct answer: Not getting 4 - 7 mbps

c0lnag0 · ‎02-21-2011

I have the same issue as everyone else. I'm paying for 4 to 7 mbps download speed, but I only get ~4 mbps during the day, and less than 1 mbps in the evenings. I still have my original verizon Westell Wirespeed modem (Verizon didn't upgrade my modem when I upgraded my plan). Any pointers?

c0lnag0 · ‎02-27-2011

All,

I think I found my problem. After reading elsewhere on modem/router issues, I started taking a closer look at my own router (Cisco/Linksys E2000). On the Advanced Wireless Settings page, there is a setting for Transmission Rate. It was set to 5.5mbps, which should have been fine, since the fastest I had seen was just over 4mbps. I changed this to 54mbps, and instantly saw download speeds of over 5mbps. I also read a suggestion to change my Beacon Interval to 75 (default on my Linksys was 100), and the RTS Threshold to 2304 (default was 2347). After these changes, I'm seeing download speeds of ~6.5mbps.

This all happened at about 10:45PM on a Sunday night. I'll have to monitor my speeds over the next week, to see the overall effects, but even at the quietest moments, I never saw over ~4.2mbps until tonight, so this is very promising. Also, even though I made the changes on the Advanced Wireless Settings page of my router, I had the same improvements with a CAT5 direct connection to my router. Since many of us have had similar stink-o download rates, I hope others get a chance to check their router settings, and see if it's the router that is causing the bottleneck, and not Verizon. If you do see changes, please post them.

I'll post back in a few days, after I get some more testing done.

Thanks,

Joseph

View solution in original post

dslr595148 · ‎02-21-2011

#1 What is the exact model of that modem?

#2 What is the brand and model of your router?

c0lnag0 · ‎02-21-2011

Modem is Westell Wirespeed B90-210015-04, build date 11/2003. Yep, it's old, but Verizon didn't send me a newer modem when I upgraded my service (even though their installation instructions suggested getting a new modem).

Router is Linksys E2000. Before that, I had a Linksys WRT54G, but the E2000 offered gigabit connections for the hard-wired ports, so I figured I would go ahead and upgrade.

My PCs run Win7 and WinXP, but this is also affecting Netflix instant downloads to my XBox, so it's not just a Windows problem. I've scanned for viruses and spyware, and I'm clean.

jmw1950 · ‎02-21-2011

Please post you transceiver statrstics

dslr595148 · ‎02-21-2011

Ok.

You will need to get the transceiver statrstics from the modem and post them.

As how to get them, here are your options...

#1 PC with a LAN Static IP Setup, connected to modem.

#2 PC with two NICs wtth LAN Static IP Setup, connected to a Hub/Switch that is connected to the modem.

---

Directions....

#1 No matter optoin what you want to do:

a) Go to

http://www.dslreports.com/faq/7553

#2 Download that Tool, addressed that FAQ.

--

Directions for PC with a LAN Static IP Setup, connected to modem:

#1 After download the tool, disconnect your computer from behind the router.

#2 Setup a Static IP on for that wired NIC of computer.

Here are the steps to do so on Windows XP...

a) Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections.

b) Right click on the NIC and select properties.

c) Select properties

d) Click Internet Protocol(TCP/IP) and then the Properties button.

e) Select, Use the following IP Address.

f) Enter in 192.168.2.6 for the IP Address and enter in 255.255.255.0 as the subnet mask.

g) Press Ok, Ok, Close.

#3 Disconnect your router from the modem.

#4 Connect your computer to the modem.

#5 Install that tool addressed in the FAQ.

#6

Once installed, don't forget to use ** CTRL-ALT-F7 ** to reveal several "hidden" tabs, the signal levels and error counters, so forth.

#7 Go to the DSL Tab.

#8 Get the data from there.

#9 When done getting the data from there...

a) Disconnect the computer from the modem.

b) Connect the router to the modem.

c) Change the computer back to use DHCP.

d) Connect the computer back to behind the router.

e) Post the info that you saw with that tool.

---

Directions for PC with two NICs wtth LAN Static IP Setup, connected to a Hub/Switch that is connected to the modem.

#1 Disconnect your router from the modem.

#2 The other end of the wire that was connected to the router, connects to the port next to the Uplink Port of the Hub/Switch.

#3 Connect a wire to the router's WAN port. This wire goes to any other port but the Uplink or the port in use by the modem.

#4 On a wired NIC on your computer, set a Static IP and use those settings that I gave in my first example.

#5 Connect that wired NIC to the any other port other than the uplink port or the port(s) in use.

#6 Install that Tool addressed in the FAQ.

#7

Once installed, don't forget to use ** CTRL-ALT-F7 ** to reveal several "hidden" tabs, the signal levels and error counters, so forth.

#8 Go to the DSL Tab.

#9 Get the data from there.

#10 Post the info that you see in there.

#11 Points to http://www.dslreports.com/faq/7267 (the Recommended method that the FAQ owner wrote about), and quotes an important fact.

For security precautions, unbind File and Print Sharing and the Client for Microsoft Networks from the second NIC.

c0lnag0 · ‎02-21-2011

Sorry, guys, ran out of time tonight. I'm having trouble connecting to my modem, so I'll work on it tomorrow. Thanks for the tips, dslr595148; I know they'll come in handy. I did try to connect to the modem, but didn't see it at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.1.254 (which I thought were default addresses for the Westell). Didn't try the 192.168.2.X subnet, though. I'll let you know what I find.

c0lnag0 · ‎02-22-2011

Okay, for my upload/download stats, here's what I have:

Noise: N/A 12.0

Output Power: N/A N/A

Attenuation: N/A 25.0

Data Rate: 864 7616

I also found the following error statistics on another tab:

FEC Errors: 8905

CRC Errors: 24

HEC Errors: 688

Signal Lost: 0

Frame Loss: 0

FEC = Frame Error Checksum

CRC = Cyclic Redundancy Checksum

HEC = Header Error Checksum

From another forum, it looks like these are corrected errors (errors that are detected and corrected before being processed). Also, my modem apparently does not provide any upload stats, which is why I have a bunch of N/A entries above.

Finally, my modem software version is 1.00.35, model B90-210015-04, and transceiver version MR7 07.01.254.

On www.speedtest.net, I have a ping time of 41ms, download speed of 0.80Mbps, and upload speed of 0.73Mbps at 7:30PM Pacific Time.

So, any thoughts on anything that can reveal any possible solutions? It all looks grand, but it's not that different from any of the other posts on here talking about slow download speeds. At least I'm in good company.

Anyone have any experience, good or bad, with MediaCom? They're my other local internet provider, but I have no experience with a cable modem. But if I'm only getting a tenth of the speed I should be, maybe it's time to look.

Thanks for letting me grumble.

c0lnag0 · ‎02-22-2011

Just a note of interest. I checked my connection speeds all night long. The best that I saw was just over 1Mbps, until 11:01. Once I was past the "magic hour", my speeds jumped up to 4Mbps. Not anywhere near the 7Mbps I'm paying for, though.

dslr595148 · ‎02-23-2011

Ok.

#1 In the Linksys go to Wireless -> Basic Wireless Settings

#2 Is Wireless enabled?

#3 If so, in the Linksys go to Wireless -> Wireless Security

#4 It is enabled, right?

#5 If Wireless Security is not Disabled, what is it set to?

For security/privacy reasons, please do not post the Key/Passphrase.

#6 In the router go to Administration-> Management

#7 What is the current setting for UPnP?

#8 Do you have at least two special computers that support UPnP where you can not define the ports that they use?

A perfect example. At least two game consoles. Any two (Two Xboxes, two Playstations, One Xbox and one Playstation).

#9 In the router go to Status -> Router

#10 What is the current firmware version on your router?

c0lnag0 · ‎02-23-2011

#2 Is Wireless enabled?

Yes

#4 It is enabled, right?

Yes

#5 If Wireless Security is not Disabled, what is it set to?

WEP

#7 What is the current setting for UPnP?

Disabled

#8 Do you have at least two special computers that support UPnP where you can not define the ports that they use?

No

#10 What is the current firmware version on your router?

v1.0.00 build 026<script type="text/javascript">// replace_date("Jan. 27, 2010"); // </script> Jan 27, 2010

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