So, after moving to my new place, I got cable internet, and it blows goats. I've run a few tests on Broadband Reports and discovered that I'm getting some fairly bad latency and a lot of packet loss. I am doing everything within my power not to call Comcast tech support, because screw that, I hate tech support.
Here's what happens: When I browse the web, it will often take me a lot of time to connect to a page. I've tried switching DNS servers and that's a no-go. Downloads will just stop partway through and then pick up again. Games over the net, such as Warcraft III, have lots of lag and packet loss. It's pretty much impossible to play Warcraft, since I get drophacked out of every game.
I'm fairly sure the problem is with the settings either in Windows or my router. Both are nearly brand new and so I'm sure it's not a hardware issue. Or it's Comcast's fault, in which case I'm proper fucked.
One thing I'd like to find is the lease time on my IP. IPConfig shows the lease that my router issues to my computer but not the one issued by the modem to the router. So, if somebody can tell me how to do that, aces.
My router is a Linksys WRT54G with the latest firmware installed. I haven't adjusted any of the settings aside from firmware and setting up a wireless network. Yes, it is secured, and I regularly check to see if any dirty pirates are stealing my bandwidth.
Here are some test results from Broadband Reports:
http://www.dslreports.com/linequality/nil/2244471http://www.dslreports.com/linequality/nil/2244493http://www.dslreports.com/tweakr/block:11b733b?service=cable&speed=6000&os=winXP&via=normal
The first two are line quality tests, the third is a tweak test. I've run the tweak test a few times and only about half the time will it show evidence of packet loss.
So, in short:
Help.
Posts
A while back we had that problem - we'd have internet, slow internet, no internet. I had just gotten a router a week before and figured it was crapping out. Eventually I called Comcast and they had me do all the normal crap. It actually fixed it.. for all of five minutes. Eventually they got a tech out here and it turns out our whole street was getting some faulty signal. So it does happen.
MTU, or Maximum Transmissable Unit, is the maximum size of data packet, in bytes, that a connection can support. By default, most routers are set to automatically determine the MTU, or are set at a static setting of 1492. If you can find the MTU setting in your Router config pages, you can try dropping it down to something like 1400 or even 1200, just to see if that stabalizes your connection.
If that doesn't help, if you call Comcast, they should be able to check the link between your modem and the local branch router, including signal strength and loss. It could be an infrastructure problem for them, but interference could also be caused by bad cabling in your house or even EMI from electric motors or speakers near any of the network components (cables, routers, modem).
The biggest thing when calling Comcast is not to accept bullshit answers. They tried to tell me at one point that my packet loss could be caused by my neighbors cell phones interfering with my wireless connection.
I use DDWRT for my WRT54G
― Marcus Aurelius
Path of Exile: themightypuck
Also if you have to call tech support they will ask you to do tracert on www.yahoo.com to see the packet information, but do it to their site and google. I found out to avoid you more or make them avoid sending out tech. They will ask for one tracert report, and be like "ohh we think its just the website" or other bs story. By sending more than one website proves they are at fault and CC people who are in same situation.
When you are calling tech support and the machine says if you want to take a survey after your support call, say YES!!! you wont wait long on the phone and the person will make things at your favor. When survey comes hang up.
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Wall jack -> modem
wait
Wall jack -> modem -> router (i.e. add the router to the chain)
wait
Wall jack -> modem -> router -> powered-down computer
wait
turn computer on
I'd say as long as your speaker isn't rediculously large, 1-3 feet should be enough space, as long as you don't run any of the data cables directly over/around it.