Paying for 50mbps but only getting 20mbps

[Khesh]

Hi guys, I have a bit of a problem I'm hoping we can solve together.

In my household, there are multiple people using the internet constantly--streaming, downloading, etc. We had a 15mbps plan, and that simply was not cutting it for our needs. So, I upgraded to the the Time Warner Cable 50mbps plan hoping that it would fix all our problems. However, when running speed tests (over Wifi, as nothing is directly connected to the router), we are only getting 20mbps down.

Now, I've called Time Warner Cable, and we've rebooted the router multiple times, but nothing has helped. Our router and our modem are a couple years old, and I'm wondering if they are bottlenecking the internet speeds. The router is a Belkin, if that matters. I don't have the exact model numbers, but if you guys would like them, I can certainly get them for you.

Is there anything you guys recommend. Any way to know if it is the router and/or modem that is causing the low speeds?

Thanks guys!

 

[USAFRet]

However, when running speed tests (over Wifi, as nothing is directly connected to the router), we are only getting 20mbps down.

The only speed that really counts is wired directly to the router.
WiFi is subject to many environmental issues.

What do you get with a PC or laptop wired directly to the router?
Edit: What do you get wired directly to the router and testing from speedtest.net

 

[ngrego]

Before making any complaints to the ISP you need to connect to the router and check the connection status.
See what the connection speed is on the router, that info is available to se there.
If the speed is less than what you are paying for you should then speak to the ISP and explain this to them.

When your line was upgraded was the router replaced with a new one? (important!)
If the router you had before upgrading is still in use it is possible that it cannot achive the new speed.
If for instance it is a ADSL 2+ router it will not work at speeds oner 24Mbps.
Connections up to 24Mbps are usually over copper and can't attain any better than the 24Mbps.
This is due to the signal degradation over the copper wiring, that's why they sell these connections as "Up to 24Mbps".

When the ISP uses a fiber optic network the attenuation on the line is far less if at all so when you pay for 50Mbps you get exactly that!
The difference is that a connection over the 24Mbps (as yours is) will definitely need a different router.

This is why you MUST check the connection speed speed directly on the router.
If it says 50 then the speed loss is comming from your home network.

 

[Khesh]

However, when running speed tests (over Wifi, as nothing is directly connected to the router), we are only getting 20mbps down.

The only speed that really counts is wired directly to the router.
WiFi is subject to many environmental issues.

What do you get with a PC or laptop wired directly to the router?
Edit: What do you get wired directly to the router and testing from speedtest.net

Sorry for taking so long to respond. I just hooked my laptop directly to the router and was still only averaging 20mbps; I figured that would be the case.

I also checked the router model: F9K1102 v2 Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+
Not sure about modem, but I do know it is the one that came through Time Warner Cable a few years ago.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that I know actually very little about routers and modems and how to set them up optimally, so perhaps there are specific settings I should be looking at?

 

[USAFRet]

20Mbps, running a test at speedtest.net?

 

[Khesh]

When your line was upgraded was the router replaced with a new one? (important!)
If the router you had before upgrading is still in use it is possible that it cannot achive the new speed.
If for instance it is a ADSL 2+ router it will not work at speeds oner 24Mbps.
Connections up to 24Mbps are usually over copper and can't attain any better than the 24Mbps.
This is due to the signal degradation over the copper wiring, that's why they sell these connections as "Up to 24Mbps".

When the ISP uses a fiber optic network the attenuation on the line is far less if at all so when you pay for 50Mbps you get exactly that!
The difference is that a connection over the 24Mbps (as yours is) will definitely need a different router.

This is why you MUST check the connection speed speed directly on the router.
If it says 50 then the speed loss is comming from your home network.

No, I did not replace the router after I upgraded our service. However, the router I have is the N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+, which says it can handle up to 300mbps. But, perhaps there is something that I'm not seeing and it actually isn't a good router.

Also, when I hooked my laptop up to the router via ethernet cable, I was still getting ~20mbps.

Again, any help from you would be great.

 

[Khesh]

20Mbps, running a test at speedtest.net?

Yes, indeed. Averaged around 20-30 ping, 20mbps down, 2-3 up.

 

[USAFRet]

20Mbps, running a test at speedtest.net?

Yes, indeed. Averaged around 20-30 ping, 20mbps down, 2-3 up.

Paying for 50Mbps, getting 20Mbps when wired to the router....something is not right on their end.
Get a service tech out to see what he gets when wired to the router.

 

[Khesh]

Paying for 50Mbps, getting 20Mbps when wired to the router....something is not right on their end.
Get a service tech out to see what he gets when wired to the router.

I think I just realized what the problem is, and it seems foolish that I had not realized it earlier.
Because the router is dual band, it has a 2.4Ghz option and a 5.0Ghz option, each one under a different SSID.

So how do I go about switching from the 2.4Ghz option to the 5.0Ghz? (Again, its a Belkin if that helps).

 

[ngrego]

Sorry I assumed that you were using a modem/router!
Was your modem replaced when your internet was upgraded?

Again, connect your laptop to your router and check the WAN information or status.
There you will see what bandwidth your modem is connecting at and it should be at ~50Mbps
This is very important, because if it is an ADSL 2 modem it cannot reach speeds over 24 and may be the cause.

Before upgrading to 50Mbps, I also had an ADSL2 modem which only gave me 8Mbps at home.
Once the service was upgraded by my provider the speed instantly reached 16Mbps with the ADSL2 modem.
The following day I received the VDSL modem and once installed, the speed was 50Mbps.

This issue has nothing to do with your wifi settings, no matter what wireless band you are using.
The proof of that is that you could only reach 20Mbps even when connected to your router directly.

Check it out!