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Post by gato on Jul 14, 2020 10:11:32 GMT -5
Nerd question here, regarding internet speed/strength.
I was considering getting one of those "Ring" video doorbell set ups.
The recommended minimum wi-fi for the device is 2MBs
Standing 3 ft away from my router, using a speed tester, I get 2.43 MBs download and 6.14 MBs upload.
If I stand about where the Ring would be mounted, the results I get are 1.47 MBs download and 3.35 MBs upload.
So .... buy a range extender?
Am I correct in assuming that an extender is only going to get me (at best) the same signal strength in another room, as being 3 ft away from my router?
In other words, I can't "boost" a weak signal my ISP provider (Spectrum) is giving me at my source, by adding an extender in another room, right?
And ... a new router can't boost the incoming signal, right?
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jul 14, 2020 11:27:06 GMT -5
No experience with extenders but if your router is old and dated you will see an improvement in performance with a new one, specifically 4 antenna ones.
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Post by toml on Jul 14, 2020 11:28:29 GMT -5
What kind of speed are you seeing directly cabled to the router, rather than wireless? A new router could possibly improve the speed you see if it has a faster CPU, but I wouldn't expect anything earthshaking. It could definitely improve range however. That's partially dependent on transmit power, the particular band (2 GHz vs 5 GHz), antennas, etc. But if Spectrum is only giving you about 3 meg/sec to begin with, that's not much.
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Post by gato on Jul 14, 2020 12:44:41 GMT -5
What kind of speed are you seeing directly cabled to the router, rather than wireless? A new router could possibly improve the speed you see if it has a faster CPU, but I wouldn't expect anything earthshaking. It could definitely improve range however. That's partially dependent on transmit power, the particular band (2 GHz vs 5 GHz), antennas, etc. But if Spectrum is only giving you about 3 meg/sec to begin with, that's not much. How do I measure the speed "directly cabled to the router"?
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GmanNJ
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Post by GmanNJ on Jul 14, 2020 13:24:02 GMT -5
if you look at the new 802.11AC routers you get a true 2.4/5.8GHz mesh network Range extenders dont really bring bandwidth but a reduced connectivity. The Wifi routers from the providers are crap
I bought a NetGear Orbi with a satellite (not an extender) which gives me near wire speeds on wifi for about 4000 sq feet. I can get my home wifi next store. I got the one that includes a cable modem so I dont have to pay monthly rent on the providers one. That saves $17 a month right there.
***TECH MUMBO JUMBO There are 2 bands (2.4 & 5.8) and the router picks the best one. There is a 3rd 5.8 used for management of the signals It has a true guest network so only family gets on the home network It provides an individual stream to every device so its not a shared stream and the perception is its tons quicker
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Post by Rhino208 on Jul 14, 2020 16:57:07 GMT -5
Man. Those are very slow numbers. When was the last time you updated equipment. I can’t believe it’s that low.
What speed are you paying for? That’s a good starting point to see what you should be getting on the speed test.
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Post by De ville on Jul 14, 2020 18:09:55 GMT -5
When you're testing, your transfer rate my be limited by the device you're testing with. For example if you're using a very old laptop to test, its old wireless adapter my be limited. Still the numbers you are reporting are amazingly low even then.
As mentioned above, it would be good to first know what your actual connection speed is at your modem. The best way to test this, is with an Ethernet wired connection to a decent computer, and go to Speakeasy and test up and down.
If you have good numbers there, you should be able to get that connection extended from the modem with a good wireless system whether that be a wireless router, or perhaps even a new wireless modem, which would save you some $$ if your renting.
For comparison, I have high speed cable internet, I'm paying 80.00 per month, my down speed is 210mbs to NY from the west coast, and my up speed is 6mbs which is fine as I don't send much data.
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Post by Stratluvr on Jul 14, 2020 18:39:06 GMT -5
Look into a Mesh system. They work great for larger homes.
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Post by 009 on Jul 14, 2020 19:11:54 GMT -5
I have Spectrum also, 100Mbps that works OK with multiple devices. During the early years with Spectrum, the internet service was a little shaky. One day a Spectrum tech guy stops in and tells me they are making sure that all their customers had an adequately strong signal. He tells me that mine is on the weak side. After a brief survey of my house with its cathedral ceiling, making it pretty impossible to feed a new wire through to my man cave, he wants to drill a hold outside of my room through the brick exterior. I declined, since my cable service was "good enough." He seemed a little put off.... Anyway, after researching, I bought a signal amplifier. I chose a single port Arris BDK-B1-RA, which apparently isn't made any longer, but it has been working well. The Internet coax cable goes into the amp, a short coax cable goes out the amp to the modem, ethernet wire goes to the router. This is a powered device; gets pretty warm. I place my really warm small devices/amps on a small regular brick, just to be safe. You should run a speed test to check your upload & download speeds, like De ville says. I think we "talked" about this before, that my speeds were frequently dropping down to a crawl; fixed with a new modem. But check this: you can call Spectrum tech support and they can tell you how good/bad your signal strength is; i.e., they can analyze it remotely (and your speed, I'm sure). With my amp, my signal is very good. Your modem mfr. may have a web link that will tell you everything you would ever want to know about your signal via its modem. Here's the link for my Arris modem: You have to read up a little to see what a good signal strength is, etc. But, it's probably easier just to call tech support and tell the robot, "My internet isn't working." Here's a little primer on signal amps, not great: beyondthecablebox.com/cable-signal-booster/That combo unit that Gman has sounds pretty cool. I bought a Synology router with minor NAS capability - has an USB port that I can connect a HDD to. I thought I could make a wireless music system with my music stored on the HDD; can't figure it out. Anyway, FWIW....
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Post by 009 on Jul 14, 2020 19:16:04 GMT -5
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Post by Ragic on Jul 14, 2020 21:11:56 GMT -5
I have Spectrum 100 mbps. I have Spectrum's modem but I have 2 TP-Link AC3150 routers on opposite sides of the house (wired together with cat 5 with one in AP mode) I get awesome distance and full speed. I have a ton of smart home crap and cameras. Everything works great all the time. I'm still pulling 25 mbps at my neighbors house 2 houses down.
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Post by gato on Jul 15, 2020 5:43:31 GMT -5
Did some further checking: even using Spectrum's own speed test, I end up with a download speed of 70 MBs and an upload speed of 6 MBs.
That's the ethernet connection speed.
Checking my Wi Fi speed, standing a few feet away from the router, it's 2.43 MBs download and 6.14 MBs upload.
And if I move to the front door, (about 40 ft away) where I had envisioned placing a Ring video device, it drops to 1.47 MBs download and 3.5 MBs upload. The Ring literature says it's looking for at least 2 MBs to work properly.
Tried calling / chatting with Spectrum, but they are, of course, backed up until we colonize Mars.
My Spectrum provided modem and router have got to be at least eight years old, but I have to use one of their products or else one that meets their standards, based on which "tier" of internet speed I'm paying for. Good luck finding that listed on the bill! They still have me listed as "Extreme" on my speed, and that Time Warner classification no longer exists (therefore my trip to the Spectrum website)
If I wait for a visit from a Spectrum tech, he'll probably find my desiccated corpse, slumped over my keyboard.
Update: I moved my modem and router up on top of my desktop tower. They had both been in kind of a cave of tangled wires and hemmed in on one side by the metal of the tower itself. While still dismal, this improved my Wi Fi speed by about 50 percent.
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009
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Post by 009 on Jul 15, 2020 7:36:40 GMT -5
Yeah, you should get the router positioned high, in an elevated position. Most of my electronics sit on a legal sized two-drawer metal file cabinet next to the right side of my desk, in a corner of the room. The best place for the router I could determine (somewhat closer to the center of the house) was on top of a tall bookcase, which is located across the room nearly diagonal from the modem (on the file cabinet). I run differently colored Ethernet cables from the router - modem and computer. I get pretty good coverage. When I upgraded my router and modem, I also upgraded the Ethernet cables to Cat. 6 (I think that’s it; relatively cheap stuff that is backwards-comparable.).
Somewhere buried in the Spectrum web universe is a list of compatible equipment.... I called tech support to confirm my choice of modem before making the purchase.
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Post by 009 on Jul 15, 2020 10:17:49 GMT -5
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Post by tahitijack on Jul 15, 2020 10:43:04 GMT -5
Are you prepared to spend $500 on a new router to add a $75 Ring doorbell? Are you even certain you need it. BTW keep in mind the Ring will be one more drag competing for space your wifi...laptops, cellphones, alarm systems, lighting controls, streaming music, Kendle, Echo/Alexa...
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Post by GmanNJ on Jul 15, 2020 11:18:27 GMT -5
nothing says you cant keep the spectrum router and from the Ethernet port add another wifi only router. Just be sure to turn the spectrum WiFi off in the router admin web page. Configure the new wifi router with the same name and password as the spectrum one and you wont have to redo all your devices
I would add that if you do this you probably gain a guest wifi with the new device. On the private side enable MAC address authentication so only machines you allow in can use it. put all your devices on and then go into the admin web page and add them. When complete turn on the filter Anyone else, friends family etc can be on the wild west of your guest wifi with a name and password. The streams never cross and you are one more layer safe
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Post by De ville on Jul 15, 2020 12:20:58 GMT -5
Okay, so you have a very decent internet bandwidth, at 70 down. Nothing wrong with that at all. You just need to work out if you want to get a new router, and plug it into your modem, or get a new modem that has the wireless built in. Your current router is obsolete, or junk if you're only getting at best 5mb sec close by. You shouldn't be spending 500.00 dollars to upgrade. Heck, my top of the line Motorola modem with built in wireless was about 170.00ish. It has been a fantastic modem with robust two ban 2.4, and 5 GHz wireless signals. If you are renting a modem, and decide to own, make sure to pick one out that is specifically compatible with Spectrum. Like this sexy linked unit. If you need a modem with phone connections, don't buy this one.
Not impossible you could still need a range extender with the linked modem, but I think you should be able to cover well over 40' unless you have some major signal obstacles such as concrete basement walls, metal siding, or lots of walls.
You want to have a good wireless connection throughout your home, so you can utilize the bandwidth you're paying for regardless of the ring purchase.
So I guess my point is, get your wireless where it should be already, and then go from there. If the ring has trouble connecting, ring does make their own range extenders. Check requirements, I can't recall if mine piggyback off my modems wireless, or off my alarm base station, OR you can purchase range extender from a different manufacturer should it come to that.
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009
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Post by 009 on Jul 15, 2020 14:56:57 GMT -5
Here's the specific Spectrum page regarding compliant modems and various combo units, incl. telephone-capable ones.... Not many items shown (approved?) There is some sort of mfr. relationship between Motorola and Arris... That Motorola combo unit looks pretty good -- just call tech support and confirm Amazon's compatibility claim. www.spectrum.net/support/internet/modems-routers-wireless-adapters/
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Post by gato on Jul 15, 2020 16:00:06 GMT -5
Thanks for all the feedback. This electronic gobble-d-speak is very confusing to me. On the one hand I'm told that 70 MBs download is respectable, but if you look at the bundles Spectrum advertises, 100 MBs is their absolute slowest speed.
The fine print on the pages with the modems and routers boggles the mind. (That's my mind, obviously, not yours) Reminds me that while I can easily handle a carburetor / distributor tune up ..... I am entirely out of my element when it comes to computerized fuel injection and ignition moules.
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Post by De ville on Jul 15, 2020 18:45:25 GMT -5
You should be fine with 70mbs unless you have a ton of people streaming HD video simultaneously. IIRC, for HD video 8mbs is plenty. So assuming you have a good wifi setup you should be able to have 7 devices simultaneously streaming HD video. I doubt you are using that.
Again, if your home phone comes through your internet modem, this would not be the modem for you.
These days, you don't have to understand everything to do with these modems. There will be a setup guide in the box. If you can't get through it, you can call your internet provider, and they will walk you through a manual setup. They will ping your new router.
After your modem is up and running, you will then open a browser, and in the web address bar, type in the modem's own web address (which is located on the bottom of the modem along with default user name and password). Once you locate the web IP address type it in the address bar, and hit go, then you will get a login pop up. Put in the default log in credentials which are usually "admin" and "password" and then log it.
Once your in you can navigate internally to change the default log in password, and user name (write this down), and you can also set up your SSID (wireless acess points name) and passwords, write all this down too, and don't lose it.
It sounds complicated, but it' really not. Once you designate your SSID, and passwords for your new wireless signals being broadcasted, those are the credentials you will use on all of your devices to gain secure access to your new wireless channels. Here is a video that shows someone logging into their modem, and assigning a new SSID name and password to be used for connecting devices.
All of the above will work if you do the setup on a computer that has a cat5 cable going to the new modem. If your doing the setup via a laptop via a wireless connection, then you will first need to connect to the new modems wireless signal by logging in with the new modems default wireless login credentials. These should also be printed on the bottom of the modem. What I just described is what your seeing being done in the last video I linked. After he's done changing the default credentials, the last thing he does is reconnects his computer to the wireless with the new credentials as now the default one's would no longer gain him access to the wireless network.
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Post by Ragic on Jul 15, 2020 21:59:51 GMT -5
Gato... This will work with your Spectrum modem. You will get awesome speed and be able to reach all of your smart home, or future smart home crap. Believe me. Netgear router
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Post by jdawg on Jul 15, 2020 22:08:42 GMT -5
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Post by slacker 🐨 on Jul 16, 2020 9:00:08 GMT -5
Strange, I swear I replied to this thread, but my post isn't here. Not sure if somehow I posted something offensive (just a description of my setup) or if, somehow, it never got posted. Oh well, lots of good advice here. I'm not going to recreate my post, but I will say the Ubiquiti makes great borderline commercial grade stuff for not much money, I covered my 5500 sq ft house with 3 wifi access points and a dedicated router for about $375. It is dead nuts reliable.
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Post by slacker 🐨 on Jul 17, 2020 6:52:42 GMT -5
Sounds like the primary issue is your wifi. My son convinced me to set up a Ubiquiti system for my wifi and the results are staggeringly good. Our old system, even with 100 MB/S from our cable company, we'd have issues streaming movies with buffering and, at times, our network seemed to slow to a crawl. In addition, at times it would just stop working and we'd have to go cycle power on the wifi router.
With the new system (Ubuquiti router and several wifi access points), we have had zero downtime in 4 years at two different houses. The speed is exceptional and I get great wifi anywhere in my house or yard. I spent about $325 on it, but easily worth the money.
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Post by gato on Jul 17, 2020 8:31:00 GMT -5
Aside from placing my modem and router higher up (unblocked), I have installed a $20 wi-fi extender in another room, about 40 ft. from my tower and router. I was pretty sure it wouldn't work, but went through the 3 steps in the instructions anyway. Which meant plugging it in and pushing a couple of buttons.
I tested the wi-fi speed in the room with the new extender, and was stunned to see almost double the speed I'd had without it. In fact, there is now enough to install a Ring doorbell .... which I've decided not to install after all.
Question: if I install other extenders "down the hall", do they leap frog from each other, or are they instead, each just amplifying the signal from the source (router)?
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Post by krrf on Jul 18, 2020 16:01:47 GMT -5
I'm late to the party, but you should not be seeing 2mb down 3 feet from the router unless you have some very old hardware or are on a wifi channel that is overpopulated signal wise. The skinny on wifi extenders/repeaters is that while they do provide greater coverage, there is almost always a loss of speed.
What device are you using to test the wifi? A PC, a phone, a tablet? I'd suggest taking your router down to the Spectrum shop and saying it "died". If you are paying for the unit (almost always a dumb idea as a great router will pay for itself faster then what Spectrum will lease you), they should just hand you over a new unit.
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Ragic
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Post by Ragic on Jul 19, 2020 7:55:25 GMT -5
WiFi extenders and repeaters are a waste of money. Even if as you said your speed doubled, from crappy to a little better than crappy, you still need to get a REAL ROUTER! As a side gig, I set up home networks. I even set up the network at our police department, and 9 police officers houses. Most are really easy and a REAL ROUTER solves most problems. Don't throw money away on repeaters (extenders) Just get one REAL ROUTER! Here is one example of a good, solid, proven REAL ROUTER that is UNDER $100. Netgear Router
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Post by slacker 🐨 on Jul 19, 2020 9:39:36 GMT -5
WiFi extenders and repeaters are a waste of money. Even if as you said your speed doubled, from crappy to a little better than crappy, you still need to get a REAL ROUTER! As a side gig, I set up home networks. I even set up the network at our police department, and 9 police officers houses. Most are really easy and a REAL ROUTER solves most problems. Don't throw money away on repeaters (extenders) Just get one REAL ROUTER! Here is one example of a good, solid, proven REAL ROUTER that is UNDER $100. Netgear RouterYep. I fell separating your router from your wifi is a good move. That's why we went with Ubiquiti....
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Ragic
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Post by Ragic on Jul 19, 2020 20:55:38 GMT -5
WiFi extenders and repeaters are a waste of money. Even if as you said your speed doubled, from crappy to a little better than crappy, you still need to get a REAL ROUTER! As a side gig, I set up home networks. I even set up the network at our police department, and 9 police officers houses. Most are really easy and a REAL ROUTER solves most problems. Don't throw money away on repeaters (extenders) Just get one REAL ROUTER! Here is one example of a good, solid, proven REAL ROUTER that is UNDER $100. Netgear RouterYep. I fell separating your router from your wifi is a good move. That's why we went with Ubiquiti.... If he doesn't want to go the mesh route, and not to confuse someone that really doesn't know WiFi... A simple, single powerful router is probably his best and least expensive option.
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Post by slacker 🐨 on Jul 21, 2020 10:53:01 GMT -5
Yep. I fell separating your router from your wifi is a good move. That's why we went with Ubiquiti.... If he doesn't want to go the mesh route, and not to confuse someone that really doesn't know WiFi... A simple, single powerful router is probably his best and least expensive option. Yep, as long as his house isn't too big. We're at 5400 sq feet. One access point wasn't going to cut it for us. That being said, even with one access point, I think there's value to separating the router from the wifi. I don't think the typical all-in-one unit handles wifi very well. Until we went to ubiquiti, we had constant wifi problems and were constantly rebooting our router. We tried three different wifi routers and had issues with every one (mostly they would just stop working...no wifi until we reboot). With Ubiquiti, I've been up and running for 4 years with zero issues.
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