Dear Friends,
I recently have moved to a new apartment and purchased my own internet, an XFinity plan with 400 mb download speed. I have my computer plugged via ethernet (it is one of those Netgear ones that plugs into the router and then the wall, then the wall into the computer) and other than me and my girlfriends phone, it is the only thing on the internet. I get no lag when I play games, however for some reason my download speed tops out and 1mbps. It takes hours to download any games, any suggestions on how to improve it?
If i understand correctly, you’re using a powerline adapter, if you can, try having both the router, and the pc connected on the same circuit breaker, powerline adapters are kinda finnicky, you might want to just get a cable from the router to your pc instead
You need a new router made for higher bandwidth. No router $140 and cheaper can offer decent I/o
Lol, we have a cheap-ass $60 linksys at our cabin. I can easily download at a sustained 300mb on our 400mb rated service.
first i would run a speed test https://www.speedtest.net/
see what you are truly getting, im betting its not 400mbs - considering attenuation and the provide possibly throttling.
Second, your router should have an ip address on it with login credentials. if not just google the model of the router and how to log into it.
Open your browser, type the ip, login and check download settings to make sure you aren’t limiting your download speeds.
Beyond that you might want to consider a new router or getting an ethernet splitter to run Ethernet straight to your pc as well as the router.
You’re using a power line adapter, my guess is the adapter is struggling to make the connection work. Try other outlets in the room and if possible get them on the same wall.
Call Xfinity, your cable internet provider…
Have you tried a different cables(on both router>wall and PC>router)?
Have you tried different ports(same as above)?
Try a different router?
If Windows, go to Control Panel>Network and Internet>Network Connections>your network adapter>Propterties>Advanced>scroll down to Speed and Duplex and make sure it’s set to auto-negotiate.
Do a Speedtest on your phone. If it’s significantly faster than your PC, the power line adapter (or more specifically, your in wall wiring) is your problem.
Try using a different cable to see if that improves the situation and make sure the network drivers on your computer are up-to-date.
Also, the Netgear powerline adapter you mentioned might be limiting your speed. Test your internet speed with a direct Ethernet connection to the router, bypassing the powerline adapter, to see if there’s a difference.
It’s the ethernet through the wall plugins, that is most likely the issue. You’d probably get better speed via wireless.
What I suggest isn’t for the faint of heart, but if you’re using a power line adapter and you can’t move it to another plug you could switch the wires in the breaker box to a breaker of the same amperage but on the same phase as the one in the other room. You need to have a firm understanding of your electrical panel though. More than likely they are on a different leg in the breaker box.
Powerline is completely hit or miss, could be the place you start is on a different circuit than where you end, aka you have to go through the breaker, killing your signal. Could be the circuit also has noisy devices (tv, monitor, air conditioning, the DSL line itself being parallel to it etc.), killing your signal. Could be the endings of a copper cable in your house are bad, killing your signal. Could be the copper cable is too long, killing your signal. And that’s just a few of the reasons why powerline can be great, or straight out unusable.
