Comcast, higher upload than download over wifi.

[subversive27]

I posted this on Comcast's help forums with no luck thus far, so copied it and pasted it here.

I'm not a network expert. I've been doing lots of googling. A lot of the stuff I have read is meaningless to me.

I have what I assume to be the standard router issued by Comcast (TG862G). I have two desktops hooked up via ethernet cables. My internet, aside from very occasional disconnections that I can live with, works great on them. I pay for 50 Mbps; I get 59.

Wifi is another story. I have already called tech support twice. They boosted my speed the first time (I think), made sure router had current firmware, and they reset my router to factory defaults the second time. I have tried changing the channel on my router from auto to manual, and I have tried it on channel 1, 6, and 11. I have tried moving the router here and there. The tech support guy, at the end of my last phone call, told me that perhaps it's just the way it is since I live in an apartment with lots of interference from neighbor's wifi.

But my upload speeds aren't affected. My download speeds are inconsistent and occasionally test as somewhat normal, but that can change in seconds, and it's not unusual to see download speeds of 0-3 Mbps. Meanwhile, my upload speeds remain 10+ Mbps.

Basically, if I want to browse the web on my phone or a tablet while lying in bed, I can just barely do that with lots of frustration and inconsistency. If I want to watch Hulu or Netflix? Forget it. If I'm closer to the router, it seems to work better, but watching Hulu or Netflix still isn't going to happen....too much stopping and buffering and inconsistency. Also, I used an app to test wifi signal strength, and it really doesn't drop much from the router to the other side of the apartment. I don't think signal strength is an issue.

I keep coming across people talking about Comcast packets being configured with DSCP 8 and the packets being handled improperly. I saw a work-around fix mentioned multiple times that I cannot do on my router. The fix mentioned is to disable WMM. My router doesn't have this setting (or at least not visible to me).

In any case, what can I do? What should I tell tech support when I call yet again? Do I just need to buy my own modem/router?

As for the devices that have this problem over wifi, it's all of them. When company comes over, they also have this issue. Android phones, iPhones, iPads, iPods, desktops connected wirelessly, Windows phone, etc.

 

[g90814]

The combo modem/routers tend to have crappy wireless. The fact that all devices have the same issue sort of confirm that.

I'd recommend getting separate router for wireless.

Let us know if you want recommendations, and give us a budget if so.

Here's something to get started. Recommended brands, $200 and under, sorted by ratings:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx

edit: bad link, wasn't sorted correctly

 

[boosted1g]

Agreed that combo devices are crappy.

I would also much rather own my equipment then pay them for used hardware from 3 years ago.

For modem I would stick with the Motorola SB6141 or Zoom 5341J (the J is important). These two modems work well on Comcast, while other modems like the moto SB6121 have had constant issues.

For router we would need to know budget and needs, you can spend anywhere from $40-300.

 

[subversive27]

I just recently put together an $850 desktop and bought a mechanical keyboard and gaming mouse. My budget for electronics has been spent and then some. I don't want to spend anything on a new modem or router, but if I did, I would not want to spend more than $100-$150.

Honestly, a reliable, stable wifi connection of as little as 6 Mbps in the bedrooms would be leaps and bounds better than the situation now. It's a 1200 sq. ft. apartment. Concrete block construction. We do tend to have at least 4 devices (2 wired, 2 wifi) as the minimum connected to the network at a time. Sometimes we have as many as 10 connected. Not necessarily all in use, but connected.

 

[g90814]

check out the link I gave, lots of choices there. If you prefer another site to buy (amazon, etc) you can usually find the same items for similar cost.

 

[subversive27]

Ty for the link; I'll check it out.

 

[boosted1g]

Here is a good modem that works well on comcast and will support beyond 100mbps for future:
http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-DOCSIS-Cable-Modem-5341J/dp/B0063K4NN6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426039775&sr=8-1&keywords=zoom+5341j

Here are a couple of good routers with pretty good system specs for their price class, the first one is very very good for < $50. If you have a larger home or would benefit from dual band then the second option is pretty good. They are both fairly easy to upgrade the firmware to dd-wrt (and the netgear also supports tomato).
http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-WNR3500L-Open-Source-WNR3500Lv2-Processor/dp/B002RYYZZS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426039841&sr=8-1&keywords=netgear+wnr3500l
http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WDR4300-Wireless-Gigabit-300Mbps/dp/B0088CJT4U/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1426039810&sr=8-4&keywords=tp-link+router