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Working Remote with Q about Download Speed

Discussion in 'Gator Bytes' started by alphaomegator, May 14, 2020.

  1. alphaomegator

    alphaomegator VIP Member

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    So I’m working remote from home because of Covid-19. My company has us on Chromebooks and we are utilizing Amazon Virtual Workspace. We do outbound calling through this system. Now my company is recently saying our Download mbps has to be 30 or higher to operate efficiently. They are utilizing Speedtest.com to check the speed. I have been checking throughout the day at various times and my speeds vary any where from 10 mbps up to over 200mbps.
    I don’t understand why the variance?
    I’m using Comcast with Blast Internet with speeds up to 200 mbps or so they advertise.I use a Comcast modem with built in router for my home network.I have streaming on my tv with hardly ever any buffering.My concern is why the fluctuation in speed because it may impact my ability to continue working remotely
    Any suggestions on how to get a consistent download speed of at least 30 mbps?
     
  2. LakeGator

    LakeGator Mostly Harmless Moderator VIP Member

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    There are many places in the network that cause constricted flow which results in lowered throughput. The best way to address technical issues is to divide the factors that may affect the result. In this case you should try to isolate your local environment versus the black box that is Comcast and beyond.

    If you are using Wi-Fi to access the Internet to run the speed tests you are subject to the vagaries of the radios involved. The radio frequencies being used may be interfered by your neighbors wi-fi connected vibrator – or something less useful. The best way to check the Comcast performance is to have as direct connection to them as possible. The best way is to have an Ethernet cable to the modem or the router attached to the modem.

    My GUESS is that your Wi-fi is probably the root of your issue but that is ONLY A GUESS. This article, Five ways to improve your Wi-Fi performance, provides some basic ways to improve your Wi-fi.

    The problem can certainly be in the Comcast side of things. In the old days, cable companies had a poor infrastructure for supporting interactive traffic and it was quite common that victims would suffer very slow speeds as multiple neighbors were downloading the latest porn. It is POSSIBLE that the cable where you live is not up to modern design but I suspect that is not the case.

    Hope this helps a little.
     
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  3. alphaomegator

    alphaomegator VIP Member

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    Hi Lake.
    I appreciate your feedback.
    I believe my problem is in my home net work and the design of my building where I live
    I’ve tried several things suggested in the article you cited but my download speeds still are all over the place
    For example tonight my speed on the Chromebook started around 13 then in a few minutes jumped up to around 41. I was able to begin making phone calls in my job but in about half an hour I ran into issues with my connection. I rebooted and ran a speed test and my download was below 30 . So my boss said I had to discontinue calling until get it up to 30+
    Since I live in a town house with a total of 4 units there has to be a lot of other home networks interfering with mine
    I think my only recourse is to try and hook up via Ethernet connection
    What do you think?
    My problem here is the Modem/Router is downstairs next to my TV set
    I’m upstairs in a spare bedroom I’m using as a home office. how do I hook up to via Ethernet . There is a cable in the bedroom but wouldn’t I have to have another router there to be able to connect the chromebook? Is that possible?
     
  4. vaxcardinal

    vaxcardinal GC Hall of Fame

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    What were your speed test results when you connected your chrome book directly to the router that is by your TV set? Have you tried running Speedtest on your phone? Would be interested in seeing those results
     
  5. ValdostaGatorFan

    ValdostaGatorFan GC Hall of Fame

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    It's hard to go wrong with a wired connection. Do your speed test like that and compare results with wifi. Make sure you dont have a VPN turned on, they can be real bottlenecks. Maybe it's a peak usage time when the speeds drop. Maybe you are on the same channel with other users, a wifi testing app can help. Hell, it could be a microwave or baby monitor interfering. The 2.4Ghz band is very noisy. If you have good speeds wired, but not wireless, and have a dual band router, try 5Ghz.
     
  6. ValdostaGatorFan

    ValdostaGatorFan GC Hall of Fame

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    If you have internet up to 200Mbps, its probably like 150 meg or so. 30Mbps is awful, something is definitely wrong.
     
  7. alphaomegator

    alphaomegator VIP Member

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    I need an Ethernet adapter to hook up the chromebook direct to the router
    Tests on my phone are always 200 or better(download)
     
  8. alphaomegator

    alphaomegator VIP Member

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    I’m using a router/modem combo from Comcast. I’m not sure if it’s able to go to 5Ghz
    I ran a WiFi analyzer and switched channels but that didn’t really help any
    I may have to spring for an Ethernet Adapter for the Chromebook to try wired speeds. The damn Chromebook doesn’t have any ports big enough for an Ethernet hookup. In reality I’m finding the Chromebook to be not very efficient in general .
     
  9. alphaomegator

    alphaomegator VIP Member

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    Yeah I know!
     
  10. anstro76

    anstro76 Fluent In Nonsense Moderator

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    You can get an adapter that connects your ethernet connection to a USB port
     
  11. alphaomegator

    alphaomegator VIP Member

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    That sounds like a plan!
     
  12. vaxcardinal

    vaxcardinal GC Hall of Fame

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    So if WiFi is faster on your phone than your chrome book, seems like the problem is with the chromebook
     
  13. LakeGator

    LakeGator Mostly Harmless Moderator VIP Member

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    Which then raises the question about what level of 802.11 is being supported? What variant is on the phone and which is on the chromebook?

    Here is a discussion of the various variants.
     
  14. alphaomegator

    alphaomegator VIP Member

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    You would think but my bosses believe it is my internet connection or something?the Chromebooks are furnished by my company for remote telework.So when I call them about a problem they tell me to run a Speedtest then 9 times out of ten tell me to reboot my router/modem
     
  15. alphaomegator

    alphaomegator VIP Member

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    Guys I truly appreciate all of your input
    As an update my company says I’ll need to go in the office to work next week and until I can(if and when) get my internet connection problems resolved.I really don’t have a problem with that ( just have to mask up and social distance)tho it’s more convenient to work from home.
    I think that I’ll have to hard wire my internet connection for the chromebook to work properly.the WiFi is too damn erratic and it’s become totally unacceptable for my work needs.
    So I’ll need to get an Ethernet adapter and hook up with a modem and router.I have a wireless linksys Router and an older Comcast Modem. Any suggestions on how to put this together to make it work? Obviously Im looking for setting this up at minimal costs? Any recommendations on Ethernet Adaptors? Do you think the Router and modem combination I have would work? There are lots of choices on Amazon but I’m not sure Which adapter would be best.i hope to avoid shelling out anything for updated modem and or a router. I suppose if I have to I could move the Comcast Gateway Box upstairs and use it for my wired hook up(I’d keep my tv on WiFi )
    Anyway I digress.Thanks for any ideas and suggestions you may have
     
  16. alphaomegator

    alphaomegator VIP Member

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    Update:
    I got a Ethernet usb-c adapter and 100’of Ethernet cable.I hard wired the Chromebook directly to my Comcast Gateway with the cable. Wow I got plenty of download speed now!
    Now I get to see tomorrow if I can parlay this into continued Remote work from home.:)
     
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  17. ValdostaGatorFan

    ValdostaGatorFan GC Hall of Fame

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    Any drops in speed since you went wired?
     
  18. alphaomegator

    alphaomegator VIP Member

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    Yes but overall a better connection in that no dropped telephone calls.
    I’m about convinced tho Comcast is monkeying around with the Internet coming into my house at certain times of the day. From what I can determine from research all the Internet companies do this to varying degrees. My hardwire speed generally has ranged anywhere from the low teens to near a 100.Ho figure:rolleyes:
     
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  19. lwg8tr

    lwg8tr GC Hall of Fame

    I got a Google Nest this past week. I have Gig Internet through Verizon. I was getting 50-60 mps in my home office. I got the Google Nest and now I get 300mps and close to 400 mps right at the router. I also have the added benefit of getting mesh internet all the way out to the back of my yard. Took my about 20 minutes to setup. I shut off both 2.4 and 5gz wifi and reset the DHCP on the Verizon router. I plugged in the Nest...fired it up and configured the Nest points in my upstairs and near my office in the Google Home app. Now my Verizon bridging through to the Google Router. I could not be happier with the performance. Was a noticeable difference as I do development remotely. Little pricey at $350 but my internet improved 400% and feel I am getting my money's worth now with my FIOS.
     
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  20. enviroGator

    enviroGator GC Hall of Fame

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    So I'm a bit late to the discussion. But I had always heard that Cable internet was a shared experience. In that everyone in your building w/ that same internet company more or less share the bandwidth.

    So at times when no one else is using their internet you get full speed. However, if everyone is home and streaming it will cause everyone's speed to be reduced.

    Why Do Internet Speeds Slow Down at Certain Times During the Day? - The Beacon.