Time for new router?

[Compnewbie01]

My internet has been awful this last year and Comcast claims it's because my modem and router are very old (5-6 years). Now I see that there are a lot of combination modem/wireless routers and want to know which one is best for my needs. I usually only connect with 1-2 streaming devices at a time and I online game as well. My home is 1200sqft with a few walls between router and computer.

I would like to get a single unit for both the modem and router but will consider two units if it is better. I see this on Amazon and wonder if it is any good since the reviews are mostly positive.

https://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Cer...-2-spons&keywords=wireless+router+modem&psc=1

I'd like to keep it under $120 if possible and also pickup a new wireless access point for my computer if I can keep it all under $150. Any recommendations?

 

[UsandThem]

You want to make sure whatever modem you buy is on their supported list by going here:

https://mydeviceinfo.xfinity.com/

I'll let someone else chime in about the router portion as the router I use is well over your budget, but I'm sure someone here will have some experience of a more entry-level unit.

 

[mv2devnull]

pickup a new wireless access point for my computer

Do you mean by "wireless access point" a wireless network card of a client, rather than a "basestation" / "wireless router" to which wireless clients wirelessly connect to?

 

[Ezra. W]

This AP may fit your need: https://www.fs.com/products/20011.html. Just for your reference.

 

[JackMDS]

This AP may fit your need: https://www.fs.com/products/20011.html. Just for your reference.

If you read carefuly the OP you should notice that the FS solution (which is only an access Point) might be needed down the line but has little to do with the main problem. In addition an access Point that 300Mbps Business Pro Wireless-N Single Radio 2.4GHz is Not exactly the way to g in 2018 (or even 2016).
----------------------

As for the OP, the Combo Modem Router are mainly designed for ISPs so that they can provide inexpensive hardware to their customers.

Some End user who are more attracted to the way thing look like because it is one box (God forbid that One would have two Boxes it might Harm him/her ).

The combo can work OK when it is used in the same room for simple mundane use. it does not do well in a situation like yours where there are few walls that block/reduce the Wireless signal while Gaming and streaming.

You need a Good Modem. a Good Wireless Router, and even then it might be that you would need to add a secondary Access Point.

 

[Compnewbie01]

Thank you for the reply guys! I am not well versed in the networking side of things but the access point I was talking about is the PCi/PCie card that goes in my computer (are these still a thing?). I've been using a USB adapter lately and I'm just getting tired of youtube not loading and games "rubber-banding." Maybe access point means something different in which case I apologize.

It sounds like the combo device is out as I've been reading on them a bit and the consensus is that they are bad. How would something a long these lines work?

Router:
https://www.amazon.com/Netgear-R670...&qid=1520279946&sr=8-1&keywords=netgear+r6700

Modem:
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-down...&qid=1520280030&sr=1-1&keywords=netgear+cm400

It is getting slightly out of my budget but I imagine I can skimp on the modem a little. No matter what Comcast says I've never had anywhere near the speeds that a modem advertises. I am more concerned with connectivity and latency over download rates.

 

[Carson Dyle]

The Comcast CSR was blowing smoke up your butt.

But just to appease them, I would go somewhere local (or use Amazon) where you can easily return things (such as Walmart) and buy a new modem or combo that is on Comcast's approved list. Plug it in, have it register, etc., etc. (you might have to call Comcast, but usually not).

If your connection afterward is just as bad, the problem is Comcast's. INSIST that they send someone out. If the Comcast tech finds and fixes the problem and it appears to be stable, plug the old modem back in. Let it go for a couple of days, and when you're convinced that the problem has been fixed, return the modem to wherever you bought it.

(You don't say how fast your Comcast connection is, but it would probably be best to buy at least a 16x4 modem, such as the rock solid Arris SB6183, which is 16x4 - about $70).

 

[mv2devnull]

You need a Good Modem. a Good Wireless Router, and even then it might be that you would need to add a secondary Access Point.

I would do Modem, Wired Router, and Good Access Point, but that is not on budget.

The device that has the modem function has to be where the Comcast cable ends.
The device that has the access point function shoud be where the clients are.

 

[ch33zw1z]

My setup for Comcast

Modem: Arris sb6183
Router: ubiquiti er-x
WAP: ubiquiti uap-ac-lr

Works very well. The router can easily be setup via gui, WAP needs to use the ubiquiti controller software for intial config, but not required to run for my single SSID config.

OP might be better off with standard Soho router., The modem should be fine, it's about $75 on Amazon last I looked.

 

[rchunter]

lol yeah that's the first thing isp's blame is the router. ALWAYS. Probably nothing wrong with it but 5-6 years is pretty old and i'd get another one just to be sure.

 

[Compnewbie01]

I think I misunderstand what an access point is since I've only ever used a modem/router/pci adapter, but here is what I am looking at buying real soon unless someone has further advice.

Modem: $47 after coupon

https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-CM50...518&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=netgear+modem&psc=1

Router: $80 after coupon

https://www.amazon.com/Netgear-R670...pID=41vwx7bqtrL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Adapter: $48

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Arch...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B016K0896K

This places me at around $175 which is slightly above what I wanted to spend, but I can manage. The thing I still don't understand about networking is how to tell if something is "bottle-necked" since all listed speeds are MUCH higher than any internet speed I've been able to receive. I usually just pay the ~$50 for standard cable internet.

 

[ch33zw1z]

So that means the internet connection is your "bottleneck", as it's the lowest speed.

Any reason you can't wire up the PC?

 

[UsandThem]

I will say I recently had to replace two TP-Link wireless adapters after a Windows 10 update left them not working, and TP-Link no longer provides any driver updates for them. I replaced them with two of these cards (which uses an Intel chipset, so driver support will be much better):

https://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GC-WB11ACD-I-Wireless-Express-Components/dp/B0742RG2MX

It also has Bluetooth as well which my kids use for their wireless headsets.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I think I misunderstand what an access point is since I've only ever used a modem/router/pci adapter, but here is what I am looking at buying real soon unless someone has further advice.

Further advice (again) would be to not waste money on an 8x4 modem. I believe the Arris SB6183 is $62 right now with a coupon on Amazon.

The thing to understand about the number of downstream channels that are available through your cable modem is that, even if you usually have no problem maxing out your connection speed, when your local node (which is shared) is heavily used and congested, having more channels helps avoid any slowdowns.

The thing I still don't understand about networking is how to tell if something is "bottle-necked" since all listed speeds are MUCH higher than any internet speed I've been able to receive. I usually just pay the ~$50 for standard cable internet.

What is the speed of the Comcast service you're subscribed to? If you go to the page below, it should be shown on the right, just above the data usage graph.

https://customer.xfinity.com/#/devices

What is the model of the router that you're currently using? If your wireless access is fine, you can probably just use that router as a wireless access point and replace only the modem (if the modem even needs to be replaced).

I suggest registering at the DSLReports forums below. Explain your problem and ask the same questions in the Comcast XFINITY forum.

https://www.dslreports.com/forum/comcast

 

[Compnewbie01]

I guess that makes sense that the internet connection is the bottleneck. My current setup is a Linksys WRT54GL and and modem is a Motorola SB6120. I think I purchased the modem 6 years ago and the router possibly up to 8 years ago.

The Netgear I listed says 16X4 so I imagine that is better than 8X4? I was also looking at the SB6183 since it was near my price range.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I guess that makes sense that the internet connection is the bottleneck. My current setup is a Linksys WRT54GL and and modem is a Motorola SB6120. I think I purchased the modem 6 years ago and the router possibly up to 8 years ago.

The Netgear I listed says 16X4 so I imagine that is better than 8X4? I was also looking at the SB6183 since it was near my price range.

Sorry, I thought that was that the CM400. The CM500 should be fine.

So you're currently using a cable modem and a seperate wireless router. If you like, you could just continue to use the WRT54GL, although it's definitely a bit long in the tooth.

When you do an online speed test, are you doing it over wifi or through a machine connected by wired ethernet to your router? What speeds do you see?

Can you post a screenshot of your signal levels on the SB6120? Go to http://192.168.100.1 on your network to connect to the cable modem, then the Signal page.

http://arris.force.com/consumers/ar...ooting-Information/?l=en_US&fs=RelatedArticle

 

[Compnewbie01]

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2z524xl&s=9#.Wp-dKudG1aQ

I do speed test over wi-fi and usually get 1.5-3 Mbit/sec or worse. I think the Comcast package is 50 Mbit/sec. Wired connection isn't feasible in my current home even though I would REALLY prefer it. My roommate complains about the terrible internet also and he has a newer laptop and says it's bad even when right next to the router. It is noticeably bad during prime time hours (~6PM) where streaming of any kind will not work. Late at night or early morning I can view videos and such, but it is still disappointing.

 

[mv2devnull]

My roommate complains about the terrible internet also and he has a newer laptop and says it's bad even when right next to the router.

Can you test the wired speed when right next to the router? If you can, then you should be able to test wired speed with laptop wired directly to modem too.

Three scenarios:
* Only the modem
* Modem and router
* Modem, router and wireless

There are more, but these three should tell quite a lot.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Ditch the GL, if you ready to buy that gear, just do it. The GL is old AF, and the 6120 isn't supported by Comcast any.ore because it's old AF also.

The only variable I see in the mix is which wireless adapter you end up getting.

I still prefer wired for devices I either stream with or game on.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Ditch the GL, if you ready to buy that gear, just do it. The GL is old AF, and the 6120 isn't supported by Comcast any.ore because it's old AF also.

That's incorrect. The SB6120 is still supported by Comcast. Only the Comcast-leased SB6120 is no longer supported. They'll send you a new modem if you were leasing one from them. Their CSRs often get that mixed up and insist on telling people they need a new modem when they do not. The SB6120 is easily capable of speeds up to around 120 Mbps, but like I said above, more channels is better.

 

[ch33zw1z]

You can nit pick what I said, that's fine. I won't tell the OP to not upgrade to something more current. The 6120 is old AF. How we define "easily" must be different also lol.

I stand by my posts intent. Shed antiquated tech, especially when it's that old. There's just no need to cling to it when even moderately price upgrades are 2x+ better.

 

[Compnewbie01]

I wired my laptop directly to the modem and speed test initially jumped to 5Mb/s but then quickly fell down to 3 Mb/sec which is expected. I am convinced the internet service I am receiving is trash, I still want to upgrade my devices since they are old. I'm moving in a few months and will probably benefit from the upgrade when I get a better internet service.

EDIT: I meant Mbps instead of MBps

 

[ch33zw1z]

Ok, before you spend money on stuff, do you already know where you're moving to and what ISP's are available?

That's very low speeds. I would try replacing splitters, reduce amount of splits in the path down to one, checking connections to ensure they're snug and tight.

Either way, the GL router needs to go. But you may be able to squeeze a few more months out of the modem if you're moving soon.

 

[mxnerd]

3MB/s = 24Mbps, what's your current subscription speed?

SB6120 probably was released back in 2008. That's 10 years old.

You definitely need an upgrade.

 

[JackMDS]

I hope that you know the difference between 5 MB/sec (B=Byte) and 5 Mb/sec (b=bit).

If indeed you have 5 MB/sec it is Not the fastest in the world, but it is good functional Bandwidth.