modem speed

dant1 · Post by **dant1** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 1:34 pm

I had a question about my connection speed. Currently its around 1023 kbps and 124.9 Kb/s download. I'm using a Toshiba modem, RR provider, windows 98 SE (with tweaks and patches from this page). Currently I have friends who are about 5-10 min away from my house and have double my speed at peak hours.
Any suggestions on how to boost my speed?
I don't know if this matters but I'm not using RG6 cable for my connection. Could that be it or does the type of cable not really matter.

Thx

Kip Patterson · Post by **Kip Patterson** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 1:51 pm

Welcome to Speedguide!

The cable is not a factor.

How did you measure your speed?

Speeds need to be measured to a server local to the ISP, not over the web.

Kip

dant1 · Post by **dant1** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 2:42 pm

I actually used a speed test on dslreports.
What is an accurate way of measuring my speed?

mnosteele52 · Post by **mnosteele52** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 3:26 pm

Actually Kip I think the cable is a factor, you have to have RG6 cable, RG59 can't carry enough bandwidth for broadband. I used to install satellite dishes, home theaters and coax cable for a part time job and it makes a tremendous difference there i.e. satellite will not work with RG59. The same holds true for broadband, a friend is an installer locally, two other things that can reduce speed are bad RF connectors and cheap or bad splitters.

HalfLifer · Post by **HalfLifer** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 3:54 pm

Signal strength doesnt equal speed, period. RG59 has plenty of signal for broadband or it wouldnt sync up. RG6 just has less signal loss per 100 feet, thats it. Either you sync or you dont.

Kip Patterson · Post by **Kip Patterson** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 4:01 pm

I misread the post. I thought he said he WAS using RG6.

The cable, its connectors, and quality of installation can be a factor in whether or not a modem works. On the other hand, if the signal levels are OK, I doubt that those factors will make a speed difference.

I wouldn't say the same about cable out in the plant. If you have questionable aluminum coax and fittings waving in the breeze you can have all kinds of intermittent problems and noise that will reduce the throughput.

The only speedtest that provides any valid data about the performance of the modem and your pc is one run to a server at your ISP. They should provide such a test. You should at least be able to download some sort of file from your provider and time it by hand.

You're about halfway between the two servers used by DSLReports, so there's a lot of internet between you and them. I just tried LA and the west coast, and got 520kbits from both. From my local RR server I got 1956kbits.

Kip

HalfLifer · Post by **HalfLifer** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 4:03 pm

http://www.speakeasy.net/main.php?page=sup_pops

Find your speedtest closest to you from there.

ace · Post by **ace** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 5:13 pm

Originally posted by HalfLifer
Signal strength doesnt equal speed, period. RG59 has plenty of signal for broadband or it wouldnt sync up. RG6 just has less signal loss per 100 feet, thats it. Either you sync or you dont.

RG59 will work with cable although it's always better to go with the RG56.(still using your 59 there halflifer?lol) But if it syncs and all your levels are good you shouldnt have a problem with it.

And also mnosteele52, hate to rain on your parade but 59 does work with sattelite, both analog and digital. Just installed a buy back today that was using 59 line that the sattelite co. put in about 6 months ago. There T.V.'s worked fine when I got there.

HalfLifer · Post by **HalfLifer** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 5:15 pm

Nope, its all re-wired with RG6 and everything is inside instead of stapled to the siding

Originally posted by a0c2e4

RG59 will work with cable although it's always better to go with the RG56.(still using your 59 there halflifer?lol) But if it syncs and all your levels are good you shouldnt have a problem with it.

And also mnosteele52, hate to rain on your parade but 59 does work with sattelite, both analog and digital. Just installed a buy back today that was using 59 line that the sattelite co. put in about 6 months ago. There T.V.'s worked fine when I got there.

ace · Post by **ace** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 5:17 pm

Thats cool, did you do it yourself or dave stop by?

HalfLifer · Post by **HalfLifer** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 5:27 pm

This was a task that only my dad and uncle could do (Uncle was telephone tech for 30 years, he can fish the stuff thru the walls). Dave's way, we would have to re-drywall the whole house

ace · Post by **ace** » Sat Dec 22, 2001 5:48 pm

Originally posted by HalfLifer
This was a task that only my dad and uncle could do (Uncle was telephone tech for 30 years, he can fish the stuff thru the walls). Dave's way, we would have to re-drywall the whole house

ROLF..

No offense dave but that sounded funny a hell..

eddiec · Post by **eddiec** » Sun Dec 23, 2001 12:23 am

The copper core on RG59 is plenty big enough to handle broadband. HalfLifer is precisely right about signal loss and Kip's right about the integrity of the line. Though RG6 will be more durable when exposed to the elements, 59 does fine IF all connections are mint. That's the biggest trouble with 59. It's usually older than the hills and the existing connectors promote ingress. So if one must use RG59 all connectors should be changed.

perk · Post by **perk** » Sun Dec 23, 2001 10:12 pm

Another thing to always check with your cable, make sure there are no sharp bends (more than 90 degree can cause problems) so you might check your cable for tight bends.