Internet Speeds - Omaha

[Phantom Husker]

So I had the preferred internet package with Cox here in Omaha. I was overpaying and didn't notice the bill go up to about $80 per month with taxes. Anywho, I called and got them to reduce the bill to around $50 with taxes and also upgrade my speed to 150 Mbps from the 50 I had. I did a speed test and after the upgrade I was only getting 45-55 Mbps. I was pissed and had a service tech come out to take a look. He replaced all our equipment, coax, etc and confirmed the modem and router I bought a few years ago are top of the line. I did the same speed test and the fastest I can get the wifi (not hard wired) is 88 mbps. Am I crazy for still being pissed about this? I mean I've overpaid for average-speed internet for the last several years (my fault I know) but then I get the price down and speed up and I'm still not getting what I pay for. Anyone have thoughts or advice on this? Lots of scores/games will be streamed and Internet needs to be at its best the next 4 months. TIA

 

[jflores]

So I had the preferred internet package with Cox here in Omaha. I was overpaying and didn't notice the bill go up to about $80 per month with taxes. Anywho, I called and got them to reduce the bill to around $50 with taxes and also upgrade my speed to 150 Mbps from the 50 I had. I did a speed test and after the upgrade I was only getting 45-55 Mbps. I was pissed and had a service tech come out to take a look. He replaced all our equipment, coax, etc and confirmed the modem and router I bought a few years ago are top of the line. I did the same speed test and the fastest I can get the wifi (not hard wired) is 88 mbps. Am I crazy for still being pissed about this? I mean I've overpaid for average-speed internet for the last several years (my fault I know) but then I get the price down and speed up and I'm still not getting what I pay for. Anyone have thoughts or advice on this? Lots of scores/games will be streamed and Internet needs to be at its best the next 4 months. TIA

88 mbps is way more than you need for a stream of live sports and some sports tickers (an HD feed in your browser is ~5mbps). So I wouldn't worry about that.

 

[jflores]

Also note that "getting what you pay for" is typically 85% of rated speed due to overhead. And no tech in their right mind would evaluate the speed being delivered to your door over a wifi connection (there are too many variables between your base station and computer to get a real nuts and bolts answer as to what is hitting the modem).

My guess is, you would probably get close to that 85% number if you were hardwired and weren't running the test when everyone else in the neighborhood is pounding away on Netflix.

 

[Hastings_Husker]

Just for example I tested my hardwired connection and it was running at 65.47 Mbps while my WiFi computer was running 52.30 Mbps. I only ran the test once on each computer, but it was a 25% increase wired vs. WiFi. If you assume that is a rough average you would be running around 110 wired which depending on outside factors such as load on the system when you tested isn't horrible by any means. Just my $0.02 though

 

[TwinsRRUs]

Did a test of mine hardwired (14.21 Mbps) and over wifi (14.13Mbps) and not much difference, but my internet is slow in SW Nebraska! (Also, every time I test, I get a difference speed. At one time, I showed close to 16Mbps and was tickled to death!)

I pay for "up to 15Mbps" and the guy that came in and fixed some of the lines in the walls of our house told me that my house is set at 17.50Mbps. They set it higher because it loses speed from their station to my house, hence the 17.50 vs 14.20.

There is only so much they can do. If they advertise like mine do and say "up to" whatever speed, then they are basically saying that the max speed you can get is the 150Mbps but cannot guarantee that you will get that speed.

If they are able to increase the Mbps on their end to increase your speed, they should do that in order to get you closer to the speed you are wanting to pay for.
However, if they are maxed out on their end, there is no reason to be upset except for the fact that they say such a high speed when it isn't possible (except for those that live close to the main location).

You have to be understanding of how it works and there might not be much they can do in your situation. I would also assume that worldwide, there are millions of people with the same issue that you are having.



jflores is correct about the testing it over wifi. They have little control over your router's wifi output and they deal with thousands of people and routers, so the only way for them to truly test the speed is by a hardwired connection.

I would be curious to know what someone else in your neighborhood is getting for speeds if they are paying for the speed that you are paying for.

 

[Iguana775]

I have cox. Depends on the time of day. I can get over 130 MBs or 30 MBs. seems to vary

 

[jflores]

I have cox. Depends on the time of day. I can get over 130 MBs or 30 MBs. seems to vary

Yah, they run service to your neighborhood and essentially pipe off part of it to your line. If everyone is using it heavily for say Netflix, you won't get your rated speed. During the day when no ones home, you probably get more.

If the OP is in NW Omaha, Centurylink has fiber service that is the bomb. I get 1Gbps up and down for $79 a month with the cable package.

 

[Aksarben]

Something people need to understand about internet speed from providers. Just because they say 150 Mbps doesn't mean you'll get that. Unless you buy synchronized and guaranteed performance service (rather expensive) your service will always fluctuate up and down. Besides you, and your neighbors are also working off of the same node and bandwidth is shared among multiple customers.

Also if you're using wi-fi, are you using the latest incarnation that includes the "ac" band? If your wi-fi is only good up the the "n" band then you loose bandwidth and speed. Your bandwidth is only as good as it's narrowest point. Imagine an 8 lane freeway (4 in each direction) and you come to a router than can only manage 4 lanes (2 in each direction) then you have a bottleneck and decreased performance.

I just tested mine here at home and it's running 167 Mbps download and 15 Mbps upload.

 

[ThereIsNoPlace]

Breaking News...advertisers lie!

 

[HuskerMike85]

I'm in the same situation with Cox. I pay for the 150 and can only get 50-90.

 

[NikkiSixx]

I'm on the preferred level by Cox and can get around 40Mbps down and about 15Mbps up. Tested over 802.11n wifi, so I don't think wifi is limiting my speed at those rates, but it could be.

I have been considering getting a powerline adapter for my main machine so I can ditch using wifi, but am curious if they work as well as a direct ethernet cable. This is mainly for gaming purposes.

 

[tpmcg]

when i first went to cox bundled services i was having speed issues and the service guy's first adjustment was redlining the speedtest which was more than i was paying for. so, he goes outside and low and behold - much lower. and its never even been close to that adjustment since. for whatever thats worth.

 

[Phantom Husker]

Update: got my equipment updated to a dual band modem/router combo that has dual network capability. Last several speed tests show 155mbps to 175mbps. I can sleep at night now.

 

[LonghornInOmaha]

I'm on the preferred level by Cox and can get around 40Mbps down and about 15Mbps up. Tested over 802.11n wifi, so I don't think wifi is limiting my speed at those rates, but it could be.

I have been considering getting a powerline adapter for my main machine so I can ditch using wifi, but am curious if they work as well as a direct ethernet cable. This is mainly for gaming purposes.

I use a Netgear Powerline 1200 (PL1200) powerline adapter for my connection in the basement where my main tv and gaming systems are and I get very good, consistent internet connection. Plenty of internet speed for 4k streaming. They can be somewhat pricey, but they come with 2 adapters (one for your modem outlet and the other for the wall outlet where you need the connection) and I find them more reliable than range extenders.

 

[tpmcg]

Update: got my equipment updated to a dual band modem/router combo that has dual network capability. Last several speed tests show 155mbps to 175mbps. I can sleep at night now.

you're equipment or cox rental...?

 

[Phantom Husker]

you're equipment or cox rental...?

The equipment came from Cox. I wasn't planning on getting new equipment, but my modem was restricting the ability to go over 100 Mbps. I only have one piece of equipment now because it's a router/modem in 1 and I love it. Half the cords and half the space used.

 

[tpmcg]

Ours is a combo too, but don't rock those speeds...

 

[MU4NU]

Not a techy here, but wondering how do you test your speeds? I have no idea. I have cox here in LaVista.

 

[jflores]

Not a techy here, but wondering how do you test your speeds? I have no idea. I have cox here in LaVista.

Just go to like speedtest.net or any other site you can find through Google

 

[MU4NU]

Just go to like speedtest.net or any other site you can find through Google

thanks j