Hello Chuck, On 3/29/2011 3:34 PM, Chuck Cole wrote: > Have searched Google, Motorola, and Linksys, but don't find answers for > these 4 questions... > > Four questions: > > 1) Is there a reason for a DOCSIS 1.1 modem to have some dropout and speed > anomalies when connected to Charter? Most likely hardware limitations. It is fairly easy to run out of memory/cpu time when you have a bunch of connections open. using torrents are a great way of saturating, try downloading a popular torrent with 30 download slots, then try 3000. You modem needs to keep track of all the dynamic port forwards (NAT). Keep an eye on when the slowdowns and dropouts occur, if it is fairly random, it *may* be your modem, if it is always between 6PM - 10PM, it probably means your local hub (cable modem termination system) probably does not have enough provisioned bandwidth (Charter issue). > 2) Is a DOCSIS 2.0 modem likely to cure those anomalies? Is DOCSIS the only > relevant spec? DOCSIS is a specification for providing IP over CATV lines. So yes, if you are using a traditional cable provider (such as Charter). If you get a beefier modem this may alleviate the issues you are noticing. I haven't read the spec. so I really couldn't tell you the differences between the revisions. > 3) Download rate by WiFi in a clear 54MHz G channel with high S/N is only > about half the rate of a wired LAN connection.. why? > You may be confusing frequency with bandwidth. The Wireless G specification provides maximum of 54Mbps, or 6.75MBps, a titch over half of a standard 100Mbps port. > 4) Can I fix my WiFi download rate to be nearly the same as wired LAN rate? Look at the Wireless N specification and devices. They provide ~300Mbps with a adequate wireless N client access card. I may have happened to read the question wrong also, so I will answer the alternate (Can you achieve the same /internet/ speed with WiFi and wired). If you receive ~15Mbps from Charter but you only see 7.5 via WiFi you are most likely on a busy WiFi channel. Try different channels, or perform a site survey and make sure to not choose a neighbors channel. > > > Info: > > I have only "Internet Express" basis service from Charter. As of Jan 1 or > so, Charter increased download speeds. They said I needed a modem upgrade > and that Linksys BEFCMU10 V1, 2, & 3 modems are "blacklisted", but would not > identify what spec I did not meet, nor what spec I needed. Just wanted me > to buy from them. I bought my own used. I had some mysteries, so I > "upgraded" from a DOCSIS 1.1 modem to a DOCSIS 2.0 model. Supposedly, both > specs are compatible with Charter, and each spec has a large "headroom" from > its maximum download or upload rate (ie, download is about 1/3 max rate). > > Using my old DOCSIS 1.1 modem, I had 12.4 mbps download speed by wired LAN, > but I had very infrequent unexplained interruptions (2-3 weekly) of my VOIP > phone connection that I had not experienced before the Charter speed > increase. > > When asked at escalated tech support levels, Charter's USA-based tech > support says "we're not trained to answer specification questions, nor to do > the Cisco supported upgrade of a Linksys v3 modem to DOCSIS 2.0". > Apparently, they are only monkeys trained to make settings on the brands and > models they sell. Tier 1 or non-USA help is not that good. > > With a DOCSIS 2.0 modem, download speed by wired LAN is 15.8mbps. Have not > experienced VOIP dropouts, but those are rare and hasn't been a week yet. > > > > Only get approx 1/2 download speed via WiFi as from wired LAN connection per > Charter's speed test at > > http://spt01rochmn.roch.mn.charter.com/ > > most helpful Google link was: > > How to Fix your Slow Internet Connection > > has test suggestions > > http://www.labnol.org/internet/fix-slow-internet-connection/13619/ > > > > Test #3. To ensure that none of the viruses or spyware programs are > responsible for your slow Internet, open command prompt and run the > following command: > > netstat -b -f 5 > > ( no -f option in any variant of netstat I can locate ) > > > > See no excesses with netstat -b What tool might show an activity or > overhead in my WiFi link? > > > > Chuck > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota > tclug-list at mn-linux.org > http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list