Connection issues are occurring, internet speed is reduced compared to expectations.
Connection issues are occurring, internet speed is reduced compared to expectations.
Hey everyone, I've noticed occasional internet interruptions lasting about 5 to 20 minutes at random times. Sometimes it happens multiple times a day, other times it lasts a couple of days or even longer. I've contacted my ISP, who says everything appears normal on their side. I'm still trying to figure this out. My current billing is $1200 down and $35 up. When I run a test through the ISP app, it shows 1360 downloads and 41 uploads. My setup is a hardwired connection with the router. On Windows 11, the Speedtest app reports 943 downloads and 41 uploads. My Mac uses Monterey 12.5 and is connected via Wi-Fi. The iPhone X on Wi-Fi shows 500 downloads and 41 uploads. All these measurements were taken within roughly 10 feet of the router. When I move around the house, the Wi-Fi signals drop noticeably. I'm using a Google Mesh system. Any advice or clarification would be really helpful. Let me know if you need more info or want to discuss this further. Thanks!
Here are some key points to consider:
This discussion will focus on technical details to help you locate relevant information and prepare for further reading. If you mean general interruptions, think about connectivity issues with your router or internet access.
First, determine the nature of the slowdown you're facing. To investigate wireless problems, try sending a quick ping to your router and checking for unusually long or steady response times. For more thorough testing, set up two devices in your network—like a PC and a Macbook—and run an iperf server on one while testing data transfer between them. This helps measure the speed between connected devices and can reveal consistent drops over time. You can find more guidance here: https://documentation.meraki.com/General...sing_iPerf
For the second issue, similar steps apply. Continuously run iperf to a public server or use your Speedtest app to track performance trends. Your wired connection should be stable on Gigabit networks, but real-world factors like network congestion can lower speeds.
On Wi-Fi, your Google Mesh system operates on Wi-Fi 5 (2.4GHz), with a theoretical max of around 866Mbps when using an 80MHz channel. However, actual speeds often drop due to interference and distance. The reported 1360 down and 41 up values suggest performance beyond typical expectations.
On the other hand, your Wi-Fi 5 setup can reach up to 866Mbps under ideal conditions—so 500Mbps is still reasonable for a consumer device.
The main issue is that your setup likely lacks sufficient bandwidth. Most devices require at least 2.5 Gbps, while higher speeds demand 2.5 Gbps or more. Your modem, router, and computer probably only support 1 Gbps ports, which limits performance. Upgrading to equipment with faster Ethernet ports would help. The router also needs a robust solid-state drive to handle increased traffic. The Wi-Fi card plays a role too—current standards like WiFi 5 (802.11ac) and 6 (802.11ax) are widely available, though 5GHz is still the top tier. It offers higher speeds but can be affected by interference from other devices. 2.4 GHz is crowded with many gadgets, including microwaves, baby monitors, and Bluetooth devices, which can slow things down. It provides good range but slower data rates. 5GHz shares some spectrum with radar systems, so nearby radar or certain devices might block it. It also has shorter range and weaker penetration through walls. If you live in a dense building with thick materials like concrete, performance may suffer. The suggested solution is to use a dedicated 5GHz radio for mesh networking, which can improve coverage. You tried this in your sister’s house and it worked adequately. Check if your internet drops on the Ethernet-connected device—this usually points to Wi-Fi problems. If not, the issue might lie with the modem, gateway, wiring, or your internet service provider.
I hadn't thought about the port on my computer being just a 1-gig port, but I double-checked and it's actually a 2.5-gig port. I appreciate the details and will review those tests. The "drops" mean a loss in internet speed overall. Ethernet stops working completely. I thought it was an ISP problem, but they say it’s an issue on my end. I’ll try to run some of these tests to monitor things and follow up with evidence. I wasn’t aware they combined the capacity of both frequencies, so that must be my mistake. Also, I missed noticing the 1-gig port on my PC. It seems everything is performing as expected in terms of speed. Check out my previous post in this thread for more router testing info. Thanks!
Google Mesh Wifi network performance (hardwired) results from Speedtest app on Windows: 909 down, 42 up. Device: Windows 11, directly connected to router. On Mac: Speedtest app shows 279 down, 40 up. Device: Monterey 12.5, Wi-Fi enabled. iPhone X test: 266 down, 38 up. All tests conducted on identical devices in the same area.
I verified the port configuration on my motherboard (Gigabyte B660 Gaming X AX) and confirmed it has a 2.5-port setup. The speed limitation appears to stem from other devices in the network not supporting that bandwidth. That’s logical. I didn’t think about it before. Thanks. Refer to my earlier discussion on Google Mesh performance versus the ISP modem/router setup. The speeds on Google Mesh are significantly lower—both Ethernet and WiFi experience drops. Any advice on checking the home wiring beyond replacing cables? It would be quite a challenge to reroute the existing cabling. I’ll follow up with the ISP after testing the recommendations CyberneticTitan provided. Let me know what they report when I have evidence of the issue.
On a typical cable modem, you enter its IP address in your browser to obtain diagnostic details such as signal quality and logs. The availability of this info depends on your ISP. With gateways (modems/routers), the situation can differ. The connection must meet certain requirements; otherwise, signal strength may vary by up to 3dB throughout the day. If you’re near the limit, that could be the problem. For signal-related issues, consider using the ISP-provided gateway and connecting directly from the line at your home. Make sure the coax cable is properly grounded—look for the grounding block and detach the cable there. Examine the signal stats and try to troubleshoot further. Also, verify that the device feels excessively hot; gateways often overheat, particularly the Wi-Fi chipset, which can affect performance.
I used another modem while the issue happened. Checked with the ISP gateway—it didn’t solve it. I won’t keep using that gateway; I’ll use it only for basic troubleshooting. The other modem was getting very hot. Can you find a way to fix that or get a newer, faster one?
If it's occurring on both ends, you likely have an issue. The best way to confirm is either checking your diagnostic data and signals, or bringing in a technician. Option A tends to be the most affordable since the ISP might charge extra if the problem lies with your home wiring. If it gets too hot, you can't comfortably handle it. I once used an old Dlink router and had to use a laptop cooler because I couldn't touch it. Generally, cable modems tolerate higher temperatures better, but gateways with active SOC components tend to overheat, slowing down or restarting. This has been my experience before. We haven't used Comcast equipment in about ten years mainly because we don't pay those scammers $14 a month for their gear. If your current modem can't support the speeds, then why invest in them? If you need 1200 Mbps at least at the router level—especially for important devices—or you want to save money, consider downgrading. I've heard the S33 is a solid choice, though I don't use it personally. I have the CM1000v2, but it only has a single 1 Gbps Ethernet port, which isn't ideal for our 300/10 service unless Comcast offers a free upgrade.
Yeah, that's the only reason I got the ISP provided gateway, was to see if the dropping also happened with their device. It's going back after this one month of rental. Only updated the speeds when getting the ISP device, it was practically free to upgrade with the addition of the gateway. Figured might as well. Will more than likely drop down to below 1000 Mbps after this month. My only other concern is the mesh system. In the respective apps, both Google Mesh and now the NetGear Nighthawk Mesh, they report the signal is excellent. However, the tests of the speed are sitting anywhere from 150-250 Mbps down. Is that just because of the mesh making it a stronger but slower signal? It does go through a floor to get to one of the satellite points, but I was of the impression that is exactly what a mesh system was for.. a bigger square footage house. I could be totally off the mark here, but that's why I'm here asking for help from the folks that know what they're talking about! If I haven't said already, thank you for the help / advice. It's been greatly appreciated.