Compare Spectrum and Verizon Fios for speed, coverage, and pricing.
Compare Spectrum and Verizon Fios for speed, coverage, and pricing.
idk if this is a dumb question but I have spectrum 200mbs speed and I'm having a lot of issues like the router shutting down and a bunch of lag spikes in game. So I'm thinking about switching to something like Verizon on 200mbs. Will this switch be worth it and will it potentially lower my ping in online games?
Get Verizon FIOS fully installed—it uses fiber, offering much better stability than coaxial services like Spectrum. This can cut your latency and ping times in games by up to half or more.
I’ve used Spectrum Internet in LA with excellent TV performance and a stable connection. Speeds consistently reach 400mbps, with 465mbps and 20mbps offering up to 23mbps and just 8ms latency. The setup works perfectly in South California. But at my place, the mobile service failed completely. Verizon performed even worse. I wouldn’t rely on Verizon for your internet needs when Spectrum is reliable. A few troubleshooting steps might help without switching providers: unplug both devices, wait 10 minutes, then reconnect modem and router. Place a pin in the back to reset the router; it should still manage all devices but may need a new password. Log into the router, check for firmware updates, switch DNS to Open DNS, use a proper Ethernet cable, and toggle the Ethernet setting in Windows. Let me know how it looks—thanks! 🎗✝
The feature enabling quicker uploads comes from the ISP's capabilities, not fiber itself. Even with a 200 down/200 up copper connection, fiber can boost performance by reducing latency and offering better network conditions. It’s more about the service quality than the physical medium. In areas where ISPs restrict upload speeds on copper, it often reflects business practices rather than inherent technology. Cable users sometimes faced poor upload speeds due to low rates and strict data limits, whereas fiber typically delivers more consistent performance regardless of distance.
Spectrum relies on Coax and follows the Docsis standard. The system offers limited upstream capacity, which means upload speeds are quite poor. The highest speed I've encountered from a US cable provider is 50 Mbps, typically on the Gigabit tier. Fiber internet doesn't face these constraints. Although Docsis versions 3.1 and 4.0 have improved upload capabilities for cable companies, most haven't adopted them due to significant costs. Until recently, my Comcast connection had only three upstream channels, but now it's four. Some areas on the network provide just 5 Mbps upload, while I get 10 Mbps. Fiber providers, on the other hand, deliver symmetrical speeds. Docsis 4.0 could let cable companies match that, but I doubt it will happen. Fiber also offers better performance since it doesn't share bandwidth with hundreds or thousands of users. When everyone connects at home, you'll see noticeable slowdowns on Coax networks, whereas fiber stays more stable.
Thank you for the thorough breakdown. That makes sense for understanding the upload issues here on cable. It seems the business line uploads might be similar to downloads, but the site doesn’t clearly list upload speeds. The FTTH provider is transparent about their upload capabilities—1.5 gigabits per second both down and up on their top tier. I think that clarifies why the problem exists.