Shaw Broadband 50 not up to speed

[Finner]

I'm having an issue with my PC constantly switching to limited connectivity with the shaw router on wireless. I have BB50 and every 20 minutes it goes to limited connectivity. I'm at least 3 channels away on wireless to any of my neighbors but i can't figure it out. I just have to click reconnect and it will reconnect to the internet.

Any way to switch back to a wired connection without running cables across the floor, or to fix the limited connectivity issue?

[keratosis]

Could go the powerline route. Or get Shaw to set your modem to
bridge mode and use your own wireless router.
http://www.newegg.ca/Store/SubCatego...ine-Networking

[cKy]

I switched to Broadband 50 about a month ago and haven't looked back, it is fantastic.

Ping 20 ms
Download Speed: 46.1 Mbps
Upload Speed: 2.7 Mbps

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

Might be part of it I guess. This house was built in 1981.

My upload speed is as advertised though. Wouldn't that be slow as well if the old cable was an issue?

I am in a 1982 house. What is funny is that I just set up my Gateway and BB50 modem in my basement furnace room attached to what can only be described as a very very old cable (the beige and skinny style from the 80's). I had to use it because the guy I bought my house from developed the basement, and for some reason ran that old cable behind the walls.

Anyway, works flawlessly. I get 45mbps, and no TV cut out ever.

Just funny because I thought old cable couldn't handle it, but surprise it does. I think the only way to know if it is a cabling problem is to get the Shaw guy to use his signal meter to make sure.

Also, when you run Shaw speed test, it highlights the package Shaw is providing you. Not what they are billing, or told you that your on. So in the results screen make sure BB50 is highlighted, with the actual speed displayed way below.

My problem with Shaw is that twice they told and billed me for BB50, but some Tech didn't flip the switch to actually provide me with BB50. I was still on Extreme service.

[TorqueDog]

If you're using SpeedTest.net, use the Lynnwood, WA server. I find I get the best results from there (I'm on BB100).

[Meelapo]

I upgraded to BB50 and the most I get is around 7 Mbps. I even went back down to the DOCSIS 3.0 (I think) with high speed and I was getting 1.5 Mbps. I complained quite a bit and the rep said that they've known about speed issues in my area (Panorama Hills) since June of 2011 and as it stands two months from now the node I'm attached to will be overloaded. You'd think they'd have at least addressed or have a plan for an issue they've known about for almost half a year but from what I was told there isn't a plan to add a new node.

What they did do is give me my whole package (BB50 + Home Phone Basic) for $40/month for the next six months. It's a pretty good deal for the poor quality of service and hopefully by the end of the six months they figure something out otherwise I'll have to move to Telus or some other provider.

[mykalberta]

My friends in Edmonton paid for Broadband 100 and only got 42mbps, then switched to Broadband 50 and now only get 32mbps.

[Kipperriffic]

I may be wrong but it depends on many things...such as your computer, your wireless card, router..

These are the computers in my house and the speeds with shaw speed test:

- a 2005 dell inspiron with Intel wireless: I cannot get above 17 mbps ever!
- a 300mbps D-link USB wireless stick inserted into a self made desktop: Always get around 40-45 mbps! (I haven't tried wired connection with this desktop yet as its too far; but I'm guessing speed would be the same if not better)
- a dell inspiron 15R with...a dell wireless card(?): around 30-40 mbps

[Hanni]

Just got the new modem activated and set in bridge mode all through Shaw on twitter in 20 minutes instead of the hour wait for a phone CSR. Speed test shows 25mbps which isn't exactly great but considering I was usually only getting 7.5 on extreme it's a step up anyway. Apparently there is a node issue in my area...if it stays this speed I'll see if I can talk them down to High Speed 20 price.

[bradster57]

How have you guys found the router? I just upgraded today but it seems to be cutting in and out a bit and the speeds vary. PS3 has been d/c randomly.

[keratosis]

My Cisco modem is in bridge mode and I'm using a D-link DIR 655. Average around 46-48.
Modem is just fine, but the wireless part was pretty inconsistent. Speeds were good
just kept dropping connection.

[Captain Chuckles]

I ordered broadband 100 and my speed has been around 30-40mbps down and 4mbps up. They send out 3 techs who all failed and 2 of the 3 told me that Shaw will sell that but that they can't provide it up in this part of the NW yet. He also said he would arrange for them to not charge me until it was fixed but my bill this month came with a charge for broadband 100. So far its been a terrible experience.

[Buzzard]

Well the tech came and her laptop tested 40 something mbps. My desktop barely gets over 11 mbps and my laptop can get just up to 20 mbps. So it looks like something on my machines is bogging things down. I don't have anything out of the ordinary so I dont know. I use AVG for antivirus on both, and I disabled that and tried on both...speeds didnt really change. She asked if I had utorrent. I told her I did and that it was closed whenever I tried speed tests and that its basically closed 99% of the time. She said it would affect speeds anyway. I asked how it could possibly affect internet speed when it was closed??! She said she wasn't really sure but that's what they tell them at Shaw!! I just kind of shook my head at that one.

Nevertheless, looks like it is something on my end bogging things down though, and I'll have to try and figure that out on my own. In the meantime, someone is going to check the lines going into house to see if they're ok. Not sure though why they'd be a problem if she could get over 40mbps on her laptop. She did say though that it had hardly anything installed on it too, and that may be why it was faster. My desktop right now has about 200gb out of 300gb full up. Anyone think that would matter ?

[photon]

When she checked did she plug straight into the modem? I had a router once that was limiting my speeds.

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by photon

When she checked did she plug straight into the modem? I had a router once that was limiting my speeds.

Yup, straight into it. It's a router/modem all in one.

[photon]

Ah if it's an all in one then you can't really take the router out of the equation.

But having 300GB on your drive isn't going to affect your Internet speeds, unless you are running out of RAM and your drive is almost full or something else is significantly wrong with your computer.

How does your computer connect to the router now? Directly as well? Or through a switch (if a switch what kind) and cabling in the walls?

Bad Ethernet cables are rare but not unheard of.

Could also be drivers or even network card, I had a Netgear NIC once that always crapped out on me with torrents over a certain speed.. updated the drivers actually improved it but eventually I just had to replace it.

Basically have to start eliminating factors.

[Buzzard]

Thanks Photon. I'm currently directly wired in. I've tried a few different cables, as well as wireless, no speed differences. Tried updating all drivers, but they seem to all be current. Like I said also, my laptop isn't getting much better speed either...usually between 15-20 mbps. Kind of mysterious. The tech really didn't seem to have much of a clue. I always find techs they just want to kind of look after a few basics, then pass it along to someone up the ladder, and get the hell out. Easier that way I spose. I'll give it a week or two, then start bitching to get my bill reduced. About all I can do I guess.

[photon]

Yeah some techs are definitely like that, some will go the extra mile though.

Did you actually see the speed test they did? Did they use speedtest.net, or just Shaw's?

Maybe the port on the router (grasping at straws)?

[Buzzard]

Yeah, I did see the speed. She used a couple...Shaw, Speedtest. I didn't notice the port, but I've tried all.

[onetwo_threefour]

Bizzard, not to oversimplify the problem, but does utorrent run on startup? I know that when I used to use it, it wasn't always obvious when it was running. It wouldn't necessarily have a window open, and it generally killed my internet speeds when it was running.