Shaw 150 MBPS deal- $80 (Telus rumoured to match) [Split from Shaw TV]

[Stealth22]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

So after several weeks of 150 dipping to 20-75 after a few days, fixing via reboots, then repeat, I got my answer. Looks like my new-ish Netgear R7000 can't handle 150. Which is incredible given the specs on the router. As soon as I go direct to modem I am back up to 150.

Shaw said there maybe a setting issue, but I for the life of me do not know where I can look. Anyone here know what setting might be causing this? I turned QoS off all ready.

Going back to this, can your R7000 achieve 150 on a hardwired line?

Originally Posted by calgarywinning

Have the CISCO 3848 being mailed to me. My previous Cisco router would achieve 120 Mbits but the Hitron is 60 Mbits. Will keep people posted.

I just went back to read about your issue. That's really strange that it won't support long cable runs. I've got my Asus sitting right next to the modem, so I guess that's why I'm not having your issue.

Where is your router placed, in relation to the Hitron?

[photon]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

So after several weeks of 150 dipping to 20-75 after a few days, fixing via reboots, then repeat, I got my answer. Looks like my new-ish Netgear R7000 can't handle 150. Which is incredible given the specs on the router. As soon as I go direct to modem I am back up to 150.

Shaw said there maybe a setting issue, but I for the life of me do not know where I can look. Anyone here know what setting might be causing this? I turned QoS off all ready.

I had similar issues with 2 different supposedly high end Netgear routers. I rarely have to reboot my Asus router though.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by OldDutch

So after several weeks of 150 dipping to 20-75 after a few days, fixing via reboots, then repeat, I got my answer. Looks like my new-ish Netgear R7000 can't handle 150. Which is incredible given the specs on the router. As soon as I go direct to modem I am back up to 150.

Shaw said there maybe a setting issue, but I for the life of me do not know where I can look. Anyone here know what setting might be causing this? I turned QoS off all ready.

You probably already checked, but have you updated to the latest firmware from Netgear?

What about 3rd party firmware? I believe the R7000 is compatible with Tomato and dd-wrt. Just make sure you get the correct firmware for your router model.

I know for my Asus router a lot of the issues I was having problems with disapeared when I went with the 3rd party Asuswrt-Merlin firmware.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by calgarywinning

Have the CISCO 3848 being mailed to me. My previous Cisco router would achieve 120 Mbits but the Hitron is 60 Mbits. Will keep people posted.

The previous Cisco modem (3825) only supported 8/4 bonded downstream channels, respectively. So while it would be capable of 120, and apparently was OK with your long cat5e run, it wouldn't support 150. The newer Cisco (3848) has 24/8 bonded channels. Hopefully it plays well with cat5e.

[calgarywinning]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

The previous Cisco modem (3825) only supported 8/4 bonded downstream channels, respectively. So while it would be capable of 120, and apparently was OK with your long cat5e run, it wouldn't support 150. The newer Cisco (3848) has 24/8 bonded channels. Hopefully it plays well with cat5e.

Totally, but Cisco 3825 @ 120 is better than Hitron at 60. Same network, modem change, indicates a modem problem. Used to pay $110 a month for Internet 100, so if I can restore to previous speeds that will be a win, but it would be nice to achieve the 150.

Shaw Cisco 3848 24/8 is not common knowledge amongst the shaw employee's or readily available. When setting the Shaw 150 program, they cannot even select that hardware.

Router is an enterprise Microtic and is about 60 feet away from the modem in the mechanical. When I plug my laptop into the end of the modem run, the speed is compromised, and I tried different runs of cables.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

You probably already checked, but have you updated to the latest firmware from Netgear?

What about 3rd party firmware? I believe the R7000 is compatible with Tomato and dd-wrt. Just make sure you get the correct firmware for your router model.

I know for my Asus router a lot of the issues I was having problems with disapeared when I went with the 3rd party Asuswrt-Merlin firmware.

Yes I checked using the auto update last night. I also checked WWRT and it does work on my router, but in the description it says the WWRT firmware is slower due to the stock being proprietary code. You just get more configuration options.

I can try WWRT, but at this point might just unbridge and try it out. If it is not good enough then I can go out and get a new router like that Google one.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by calgarywinning

Shaw Cisco 3848 24/8 is not common knowledge amongst the shaw employee's or readily available. When setting the Shaw 150 program, they cannot even select that hardware.

Interesting. How did you get a hold of one? I only know about it because I got a tech support person on chat detail why my current Cisco couldn't do 150 when the plan was first announced. Anytime I asked the sales or account reps for the 3848, it wasn't available.

[RW99]

So Telus had notices up in my building that they would be around on yesterday to discus fiber and no one showed up. So I grabbed Shaw this afternoon, suck it Telus! Averaging 170 download and 16 upload, though my ping went up slightly in my games.

[calgarywinning]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Interesting. How did you get a hold of one? I only know about it because I got a tech support person on chat detail why my current Cisco couldn't do 150 when the plan was first announced. Anytime I asked the sales or account reps for the 3848, it wasn't available.

My first knowledge that there was two modems was an obscure forum somewhere else. I read about Shaw's new offering and that there were two models capable.

Based on the fact the HITRON modem will not function at 150 with longer Cat5e runs, many hours with tech support and my knowledge of the cisco modem... they finally popped and mailed one out.

I'm maintaining that the HITRON does not meet Cat5/5e spec. Fine for normal application at a home, but not a smart home. We will see once the Cisco gets plugged to verify. I would assume the HITRON is inferior and less costly than the Cisco 3848.

[Patek23]

Called Shaw yesterday got the premium tv package and 150 Internet. They came and set up today already. Very impressed see ya later Telus!

[Jimmy Stang]

So when you guys are saying that the Hitron won't work well over longer ethernet runs, how long are we talking? My router isn't beside my modem, and I'll be using the modem strictly as a modem/bridge and I'll be using my existing router for the routing, wifi, etc.

My modem is in the furnace room, and then it goes via in-wall ethernet to another room in the basement where my router sits (better wireless performance as it is out in the open). Then it returns to the furnace room via a separate ethernet run, where it meets my switch that distributes to wired connections throughout the house.

Works like a charm currently, but now I've got a new modem on the way from Shaw and I'm not sure if it is Cisco or Hitron. If it is Hitron, is this going to become a pain in the butt? I'd rather avoid getting a modem, finding out that it sucks, and then having to get a new one to get the better speeds.

[accord1999]

I'm surprised the Hitron would not be working well with long Ethernet runs, it's been a readily solved problem for a long time. But at worst you just cable it to a nearby switch and let the switch handle the connects to the rest of the home network.

[Stealth22]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Works like a charm currently, but now I've got a new modem on the way from Shaw and I'm not sure if it is Cisco or Hitron. If it is Hitron, is this going to become a pain in the butt? I'd rather avoid getting a modem, finding out that it sucks, and then having to get a new one to get the better speeds.

You should be fine, if it's on the same floor. Personally I find it hard to believe that this modem isn't CAT5e compliant, but he probably knows more than I do, lol.

Originally Posted by accord1999

I'm surprised the Hitron would not be working well with long Ethernet runs, it's been a readily solved problem for a long time. But at worst you just cable it to a nearby switch and let the switch handle the connects to the rest of the home network.

You'd still need a router to be the first point of contact if the modem is bridged though.

[MrCallahan]

Originally Posted by RW99

So Telus had notices up in my building that they would be around on yesterday to discus fiber and no one showed up. So I grabbed Shaw this afternoon, suck it Telus! Averaging 170 download and 16 upload, though my ping went up slightly in my games.

Exact same thing for me, greats speeds, but noticing latency within games. Did you call about this? I called the day after I got the new modem and was told "they would look at it". Never received a call back, then I went on vacation and haven't been able to follow up yet.

[RW99]

Originally Posted by MrCallahan

Exact same thing for me, greats speeds, but noticing latency within games. Did you call about this? I called the day after I got the new modem and was told "they would look at it". Never received a call back, then I went on vacation and haven't been able to follow up yet.

It only went up about 5ms so I didn't bother. What was the difference for you?

[McG]

I have become infatuated with speed tests; like OldDutch, I have a netgear nighthawk r7000 and I too am having some restrictions on throughput.

other than CP, I think that my most visited sites must be ookla speed test and shaw speedtest.

[Jimmy Stang]

Early days yet, but my new Hitron works just fine going via Ethernet (5e) to my router in bridged mode. The run is probably 25 feet or so, and I am able to reach the magical 150 Mbps with wired devices and also over 5 GHz wifi.

The only downside is that my IP address changed, but I don't pay for a static IP, so I kind of figured it would happen. No big deal.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by McG

I have become infatuated with speed tests; like OldDutch, I have a netgear nighthawk r7000 and I too am having some restrictions on throughput.

other than CP, I think that my most visited sites must be ookla speed test and shaw speedtest.

I ended up un-bridging mine. I am now testing with the Hiltron. One day in and the Hiltron performs just as well as the Nighthawk did, maybe a bit better. No idea why. Coverage is about the same.

The one area so far that is way slower is the transfer speeds on the LAN. Not fully tested but early results the Hiltron is way slower.

I am tempted to buy one of those fancy super high end routers from Staples just to try out. I really wonder if I would see any improvement.

The odd part is I get 150 down sometimes and other times only 25 down on AC wireless on both routers. So bizarre.

[cupofjoe]

FYI, I have Shaw Direct for television, and Shaw Cable for internet (the accounts are not linked).

I was able to get the full deal for 150 and Premier TV ($99 for 1st year, $171 for 2nd) by talking to retentions and explaining Telus was courting me and what would they be able to do.

2nd FYI, Shaw's year-end is Aug 31, so in particular they want to keep current subs, and add new ones to make the Financials look as good possible. So August (and in particular the last two weeks) are when a current subscriber has the probably the most leverage for a deal.

I am positive the deal will last until Aug 31, it is hard to say if it will continue after that. (probably IMO)

[Stealth22]

For those of you who switched to Shaw, read your first bills carefully. I had to do a bit of math to understand everything on mine.

I just got mine the other day...my service started on July 29, so they're charging me for service from July 29 to Aug 31, and then also in advance for the month of September, which is fine.

But the amount is a little off. For the month of September, the amount is what it should be for 30 days. But for the current 'month', they have prorated the charges for 33 days, since the service was activated on July 29. Which, again, is perfectly fine.

But what they didn't do was prorate the promotional discounts as well! So I have 33 days worth of charges, and only 30 days worth of discounts, which means I am being overcharged by about $15. I'm not really worried so much about the $15 per se, but this seems like a bit of a shady tactic.

I don't know if mine was just a computer error, but I wanted to put that out there as a PSA.

EDIT: Spoke to Shaw Billing via the chat system on their website. The agent claims that my promo discounts didn't start until Aug 1st, so I was charged the regular rate for the first 3 days.

I told him that made no sense at all, since the effective date on my contract was July 29th. He credited the difference back to my account, which was reflected online immediately. I'm happy, lol.