My home networking project

[redhat]

So for the past year or so, I thought my TWC internet service was pretty horrible. Slow, constant waiting, would have to reset the cable modem... First, I found a piece of RG59 coming off of a main splitter, going to another splitter which the cable modem was connected to. I replaced that with RG6 and re-connected some of the devices so that the cable modem was one of the first devices after the main TWC feed.

I went and bought a Motorola Surfboard SB6141 modem to (1)replace the modem provided by TWC (2)stop paying the modem lease fee. I also configured a Cisco PIX 506e to use instead of a cr@ptacular Netgear wireless router.

Besides that I mounted the cable modem, PIX, and a 5-port switch on a shelf in the rafters of the basement, and ran cabling to the rooms of the house with computers. Also put a battery backup on the modem, PIX and swtich as we have Ooma for home phone and an AT&T Microcell (both reside in another room with battery backup on those as well) Next step (maybe this next weekend) is installing jacks in the walls.

I'm impressed so far. The internet here is super peppy, I have the same feeling that I used to have when we first got Broadband through Adelphia. WOW. Finally I'm getting my rated 15x1. I'm happy!

 

[rjundi]

TWC is the pits, 1Mbps is dreadful.

Glad you resolved the lag. Ethernet many times better.

I am very happy with a Cisco E3000 and xfinity with 25-30down/4-5up and 11ms ping.

 

[redhat]

Oooh, that bandwidth sounds fun! Good thing about this cable modem is that it can handle alot more.

 

[michaelluscher]

Originally Posted By: redhat
I'm impressed so far. The internet here is super peppy, I have the same feeling that I used to have when we first got Broadband through Adelphia. WOW. Finally I'm getting my rated 15x1. I'm happy!


It's no FiOS, or Google Fiber, But that's good speeds for TWC
Isn't DOCIS 3.0 and proper Coax wiring just awesome?

 

[The_Jeff]

I'm sure you know but the modem has an internal diagnostic webpage which will show you your signal/noise ratio. It would have been interesting to check out your old setup.

Oddly my surfboard only will show s/n, or even its internal 192.168 webpage, when connected to the cable company.

 

[redhat]

Originally Posted By: michaelluscher
Originally Posted By: redhat
I'm impressed so far. The internet here is super peppy, I have the same feeling that I used to have when we first got Broadband through Adelphia. WOW. Finally I'm getting my rated 15x1. I'm happy!


It's no FiOS, or Google Fiber, But that's good speeds for TWC
Isn't DOCIS 3.0 and proper Coax wiring just awesome?

That gave me a laugh!

 

[redhat]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
I'm sure you know but the modem has an internal diagnostic webpage which will show you your signal/noise ratio. It would have been interesting to check out your old setup.

Oddly my surfboard only will show s/n, or even its internal 192.168 webpage, when connected to the cable company.

Hmm.. I wrote them down here, lemme see if I can find the paper. Below are my current signals, from what I read online (and I'm no cable pro, just jack of all trades IT) these signals aren't too shabby...

 

[Andy636]

It's a puzzle for me how come such an advanced country as the USA can be so far behind in internet speed

 

[dparm]

My experience was similar to yours -- swapping as much of the cabling for RG6 as possible, and moving to a DOCSIS 3 modem, I saw a small speed improvement. If anything, it made things more consistent.

 

[Donald]

Now if I could only fix my slow and drops often DSL. Fairpoint Comm. cannot seem to find the problem. Even working fine its not fast enough to streaming HD movies.

 

[The_Jeff]

Originally Posted By: Andy636
It's a puzzle for me how come such an advanced country as the USA can be so far behind in internet speed


We seem to believe anything useful is worth paying for.

In Europe, they have lots of TV to watch on Free-to-air satellites, right? We haven't got much of that here.

A little competition would be a good thing, but the "last mile" to everyone's house seems to be the holdup. Businesses and "internet hotels" get fiber cheaply enough.

 

[Andy636]

Originally Posted By: eljefino

We seem to believe anything useful is worth paying for.

In Europe, they have lots of TV to watch on Free-to-air satellites, right? We haven't got much of that here.

A little competition would be a good thing, but the "last mile" to everyone's house seems to be the holdup. Businesses and "internet hotels" get fiber cheaply enough.


A 200 Mbps FTTD connection for the home user will set you back a whooping $17 after tax in my neck of the woods

 

[redhat]

Originally Posted By: dparm
My experience was similar to yours -- swapping as much of the cabling for RG6 as possible, and moving to a DOCSIS 3 modem, I saw a small speed improvement. If anything, it made things more consistent.


Yep, its really great. Sure, before I'd see 1.5MB/sec down but it would always bounce around, especially when pulling games down on Steam.

Now the connection is fantastic, sure this isn't that fast compared to what some of you (within and outside the US) may have, but I'm loving this. I'm somewhat out in the country so besides a potentially not so reliable 4G LTE AT&T/Verizon MiFi or AirCard, cable is our only option. I'm not even mentioning Satelite internet. We used to have a POTS line coming into the house (believe we still do) but Verizon always said we couldn't get DSL.

 

[michaelluscher]

Originally Posted By: Donald
Now if I could only fix my slow and drops often DSL. Fairpoint Comm. cannot seem to find the problem. Even working fine its not fast enough to streaming HD movies.


Replace all your phone wiring from the NID to your modem with Cat5E or better
And add a POTS Splitter

That will ring (see what I did there

) all you can get out of DSL

 

[Nick R]

Bah. GG though, honestly that RG-59 and the terrible wireless router were probably what were causing your slow speeds.

Also ;D

:>

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: redhat
Originally Posted By: eljefino
I'm sure you know but the modem has an internal diagnostic webpage which will show you your signal/noise ratio. It would have been interesting to check out your old setup.

Oddly my surfboard only will show s/n, or even its internal 192.168 webpage, when connected to the cable company.

Hmm.. I wrote them down here, lemme see if I can find the paper. Below are my current signals, from what I read online (and I'm no cable pro, just jack of all trades IT) these signals aren't too shabby...




Also, those signal levels are pretty good. The upstream power is a bit on the low side, generally want to see between about 38 and 50. Should be fine though.

 

[redhat]

Thanks Nick R, I was waiting for you to chime in. We currently have two splitters (one 5 way and 3 way). Would combining them into one, maybe an 8-way help any you think? Are there any HSI modem/Digital Cable TV amplifiers that are compatible that would help? Maybe a splitter/amplifier AIO unit?

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: redhat
Thanks Nick R, I was waiting for you to chime in. We currently have two splitters (one 5 way and 3 way). Would combining them into one, maybe an 8-way help any you think? Are there any HSI modem/Digital Cable TV amplifiers that are compatible that would help? Maybe a splitter/amplifier AIO unit?



Why are you running so many splitters? I'd take a very close look at things and figure out if you can simplify.

 

[Nick R]

Whenever you can simplify, it's better. Though honestly, you need more splitters, not fewer. You definitely do not need an amplifier. If you can get an 8 way splitter and use that instead, that would be a good option, instead of using seperate ones. And honestly again on that, that is something you may want a TWC tech to do. Because they have access to high quality splitters and amps, and are trained to be able to balance the plant. Though if you aren't having any problems they may not really do anything.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: Andy636
It's a puzzle for me how come such an advanced country as the USA can be so far behind in internet speed


Romania and many nations trailed behind the US by a long shot in deploying the infrastructure for internet. So you get the newest and cheaper stuff while we run the old.

Also Romania is one state maybe Michigan so very easy to deploy new stuff out. Not so much here. Western NY is sparse population and lines exist.

$17 for 200mpbs sounds dandy until you realize your average salary is about 10% of a US one.

Hard to compare really. Sadly you guys have to still pay a lot for vehicles and electronics.