No Internet when plugged into Spectrum Modem

[chuckwalla]

I have a 300 Mbps spectrum internet (confirmed by Spectrum representative who said he's seeing the full bandwidth going to my house), however I'm only seeing 100 Mbps on speed tests.
I'm using WiFi through an Asus router that's connected to the modem. I configured the QoS (quality of service) setting to allow 300 Mbps.

So I figured the router must somehow be the bottleneck, and to prove this I plugged ethernet cable directly from the modem to my computer.
However, when I do this, there is no internet.

Anyone has idea as to why?

[CRC_Volunteer]

Let's go back to the basics. Have you restarted your cable modem?

[telemark]

Your router does more than just wifi, it provides services like DNS lookup and DHCP that you won't get connecting directly to the modem. Perhaps someone can correct me, but I wouldn't expect internet to work without a router except perhaps in very special cases. Does your Asus router have an ethernet jack you can use?

If I had to guess, it would be that the limit is not the router itself but the wifi connection.

[CRC_Volunteer]

The modem can hand out IP addresses. It's late and I am a wee bit slow, but when you plugged directly into your computer, did you power off your ASUS router.

If not, the SSID is still being broadcast and your computer would still connect to the SSID and ignore the hard connection. That is why no internet service.

[onourway]

A few things could be going on, some of them covered by others above.

If the Spectrum device is actually a modem, not a combined modem/router/wifi access point, then when you switch the connection from your Asus router to your computer, you must restart the modem first, then connect your computer. The modem associates with a given MAC address and is sometimes reluctant to release it. I'm sure that Spectrum has troubleshooting steps for just this in their support documentation.

Some other considerations. Are you certain that the port on the Asus router is gigabit, not 100Mb? When you are testing through the router, have you done so wired, or only over wifi? Tests should be performed wired as wifi performance is highly variable dependent on hardware, clients, and local interference.

[chuckwalla]

Ok, looks like a restart of the modem and computer was in order when directly connected to the modem. Thanks for the suggestions.
I am getting about 180 Mbps download, far lower than 300 I should be getting but better than 100 with the WiFi.
Similar speed when plugged into a router port.

So it appears the WiFi is the culprit, and I'm going shop for a new router. Any recommendations? I have a relatively small space, about 1200 sq ft single story. However, the modem and the router are located at one end of the house. My current router is about 8 years old which I got for free from T-Mobile. Asus TM-AC1900

WiFi speed test was done right next to the router.
When using the computer from the other end of the house I have a TP-Link range extender.

[BuddyJet]

Ok, looks like a restart of the modem and computer was in order when directly connected to the modem. Thanks for the suggestions.
I am getting about 180 Mbps download, far lower than 300 I should be getting but better than 100 with the WiFi.
Similar speed when plugged into a router port.

So it appears the WiFi is the culprit, and I'm going shop for a new router. Any recommendations? I have a relatively small space, about 1200 sq ft single story. However, the modem and the router are located at one end of the house. My current router is about 8 years old which I got for free from T-Mobile. Asus TM-AC1900

WiFi speed test was done right next to the router.
When using the computer from the other end of the house I have a TP-Link range extender.

Being 8 years old, it’s probably best to change the router anyway but before deciding it’s a router issue, I’d check that your WiFi is connecting at 5ghz rather than 2.4 and test your computer’s WiFi at a friend’s with fast WiFi to see if your speed goes up.

[Rex66]

What are you doing with Internet connection

If it’s email and web browsing then you won’t notice a difference between those speeds. If you are downloading lots of larger files or gaming online then could be worth squeezing out the difference.

[Gryphon]

Your cable modem locks itself to the first device that it sees after starting up. If you want to disconnect the modem from your router & connect it directly to your computer you have to restart the modem.

Also, your cable modem might have a different DNS setup than your router; if your computer is configured to use DHCP it should change over automatically, otherwise you might have to go into your network settings & make some changes.

[Mudpuppy]

Your router does more than just wifi, it provides services like DNS lookup and DHCP that you won't get connecting directly to the modem. Perhaps someone can correct me, but I wouldn't expect internet to work without a router except perhaps in very special cases. Does your Asus router have an ethernet jack you can use?

If I had to guess, it would be that the limit is not the router itself but the wifi connection.

The WiFi router doesn't get the ability to hand out DNS and use DHCP out of nowhere. The head end of the cable company also runs a DHCP server which gives out IP addresses and DNS name servers. The WiFi router then wraps around that to hand out IP addresses and do DNS resolves.

So, in theory, you can have a fully functional Internet connection by plugging directly into the cable modem. As others have noted though, Spectrum may have configured the modem to only accept the first MAC address that plugs into it, so resetting the modem would be needed if that's the case. The OP noted that everything worked once the modem was reset, so that was likely the issue.

I am getting about 180 Mbps download, far lower than 300 I should be getting but better than 100 with the WiFi.
Similar speed when plugged into a router port.

Note that cable speeds are "up to 300Mbps", not a guaranteed capacity. That's because capacity is affected by many factors, including the quality of the coaxial cables in your neighborhood, the quality of the coaxial cables in your house, the number of splitters on your house line between the "curb" connection and the modem, the number of neighbors using the cable modem spectrum at the same time (it's shared), and so on. Depending on your modem brand/model, you should be able to find a help guide to connect to its status page (for mine, it's IP address 192.168.100.1, but that's not universal) where you can get more information about the signal quality.

This is why I haven't bothered to pay for a more expensive cable modem plan. I know there's a problem with the insulation in the neighborhood cable based on signal quality observations I've made over time (I have a script that periodically polls the status page and logs the results) and the fact that running a new, dedicated drop from my curb hookup to my cable modem didn't greatly improve signal quality. There's no point paying for a more expensive plan when it's highly unlikely the neighborhood infrastructure could provide it.

[StewedCarrot]

Ok, looks like a restart of the modem and computer was in order when directly connected to the modem. Thanks for the suggestions.
I am getting about 180 Mbps download, far lower than 300 I should be getting but better than 100 with the WiFi.
Similar speed when plugged into a router port.

So it appears the WiFi is the culprit, and I'm going shop for a new router. Any recommendations? I have a relatively small space, about 1200 sq ft single story. However, the modem and the router are located at one end of the house. My current router is about 8 years old which I got for free from T-Mobile. Asus TM-AC1900

WiFi speed test was done right next to the router.
When using the computer from the other end of the house I have a TP-Link range extender.

What inspired you to start checking in on the speed? 180 Mbps is plenty plus some for most families. Also, with a place that size why do you need a TP-Link range extender? Those things are rough on the bandwidth.

That said, I still recommend the Asus RT-AC68U. It's cheap, reliable, and has been in production for nearly a decade. Or choose any of the Asus "AX" routers if you want wifi6.

[onourway]

If you are still only getting 180Mb connected direct to the Spectrum device with an Ethernet cable, I would have Spectrum investigate that first. While the service speed is not guaranteed, in practice Spectrum over-provisions in most neighborhoods and you should actually be getting more like 350Mb most of the time. I have an automated test that runs on our router every night, and have been monitoring Spectrum speeds at the modem across two houses for years. We basically always get over our 'stated' speed.

Once you are getting full speed from the Spectrum equipment, then you can shop for a new router. That said, if your space is small and your needs light, you may consider just having Spectrum send you a new all-in-one device. In our market they do not charge any rental fees for this. Last year I had my parents go back to Spectrum equipment when they started having trouble with the Google system I had given them years before. They now get 200-300Mb+ wireless all over their 1500 square foot house from the new Spectrum device, and Spectrum is responsible for troubleshooting everything, not me.

[exodusing]

Note that cable speeds are "up to 300Mbps", not a guaranteed capacity. That's because capacity is affected by many factors, including the quality of the coaxial cables in your neighborhood, the quality of the coaxial cables in your house, the number of splitters on your house line between the "curb" connection and the modem, the number of neighbors using the cable modem spectrum at the same time (it's shared), and so on. Depending on your modem brand/model, you should be able to find a help guide to connect to its status page (for mine, it's IP address 192.168.100.1, but that's not universal) where you can get more information about the signal quality.

This is why I haven't bothered to pay for a more expensive cable modem plan. I know there's a problem with the insulation in the neighborhood cable based on signal quality observations I've made over time (I have a script that periodically polls the status page and logs the results) and the fact that running a new, dedicated drop from my curb hookup to my cable modem didn't greatly improve signal quality. There's no point paying for a more expensive plan when it's highly unlikely the neighborhood infrastructure could provide it.

Seems most people don't need fast connections.

A while back we had low speeds on a high speed plan. It took about a month to find the problem, which affected us and multiple neighbors. Apparently we were the only ones who noticed (which contributed to the delay in finding the problem - since others weren't complaining they thought the issue was our wiring and equipment). Streaming video is a major use and you don't need very fast speeds for that.

There are claims that higher speed plans are more reliable and have less latency. If so, it might be worth going for the higher speed plan even if you don't need the speed.

[Tom_T]

Spectrum can do a remote analysis of your modem to check for issues, including pushing any firmware updates that might be needed.

And, as was suggested, they can also just replace your equipment. I've dealt with their tech support, and they like to eliminate any software issues before they send you new equipment.

[student]

Cable internet depends on the usage in the area. Try testing at non-peak time. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cable-vs ... -krissberg "Cable internet is fast, reliable, and widely available. Most people can get it in their homes, and speeds are generally pretty good. However, there are a few downsides to cable. The biggest one is that your speed can be affected by how many people are using the internet in your area at the same time since your connection bandwidth can be used by your neighbors. Therefore internet speed can decline during peak hours. One of the benefits of cable internet is that it's widely available. Most people in the US can get access to it."

[Nowizard]

On a partially related topic, we received a well-written email from "Spectrum" that related to an error in billing in our favor with our account and a statement to respond. It was obviously a scam of some type since we do not have Spectrum.

Tim

[chuckwalla]

I upgraded to tp-link AX1800 Archer AX20 WiFi 6 router, and I'm now seeing the same download speed with both WiFi and ethernet, about 180 Mbps average.

However, on the other end of the house where I was using an extender, I was still getting only about 50-60 Mbps even after the upgrade and whether or not using the extender.

So I purchased an Asus AX1800 USB-AX56 WiFi 6 adater and plugged it into my computer, and voila, now I'm seeing the same high speed there, as well. And no more need for the extender. I had also purchased an AX1500 WiFi 6 extender in case I needed it, but I guess I'll be returning that.

And I think what people have said about cable internet speed fluctuation is true, as I see download speeds of 200-240 Mbps on occasion.