Consider your current network needs and performance to decide.
Consider your current network needs and performance to decide.
Hello, I've been experiencing significant internet issues recently, starting a few months back. Gaming has always been challenging, but this year it was particularly frustrating. All my devices—note 3, note 10, PC, TV, tablet—have been suffering from random disconnections. They tend to drop together, though sometimes the PC works while the phone or TV does not. Usually, I have to turn off and back on my Wi-Fi to reconnect. On my phone it sometimes functions, but not consistently. My PC struggles more with this approach. If this persists, I might resort to manually restarting the router and plugging it in again. Besides the main router, I also use a Wi-Fi extender that claims to provide 5G coverage. It seems ineffective, though, since my devices connect through the extender. Whether I connect to the router or the extender, the connection remains unreliable. When it drops, trying either one doesn't restore service. The worst happens during online gaming—CS or BF—where connections frequently cut out, causing lag spikes and disconnection alerts. Even BF is problematic; I often lose progress with a "connection lost" message. It appears EA servers are more unstable than Valve's, as I get logged out even when YouTube works. Perhaps a minor drop would trigger the exit. Living in an area with dense trees makes me realize how poor the service can be. Would replacing the router this Black Friday help? Are there other potential causes besides the router? It’s about six years old, so maybe it’s time for a new one? What else should I consider? Should I contact the internet provider, or is it just a plug-and-play setup? The cable at the back looks solid, though. My speed test with the extender shows 25 Mbps when connected to the router, dropping to 7-8 when downloading on Steam. Overall, the connection is quite unstable. Thank you in advance for any advice!
Bandwidth is significantly reduced by range extenders. They offer limited improvement. What type of internet connection do you have? That will assist us better. Also, your upload speed is poor. Your download performance is decent, though even 50 Mbps suffices for online gaming. The main bottleneck remains around .008 Mbps upload.
I'm uncertain about this since I'm not responsible for the internet bill. It seems unlikely to be fiber; probably DSL or cable. Our household doesn't use any paid TV services, though. It could work fine, but if the connection keeps dropping or slowing down, it's a waste of time. My ping sometimes spikes or drops completely, ending everything.
It's a coaxial cable setup, which makes pulling it out difficult—this means cable internet. The upload speed is also quite variable. I just completed another test and it came in at 5 Mbps, though it's typically around 3 Mbps.
5 Mbps isn't sufficient. Yet Comcast, the biggest US provider, offers 5 Mbps in certain locations. I receive 10. Cable internet employs channel bonding to achieve higher speeds. If your modem struggles to maintain connections to both downstream and upstream channels, you may face speed problems. You might wish to contact your service to verify your setup. Range extenders reduce your bandwidth by half, so for improved performance you'll need more than just a range extender.
@Donut417 It seems my brother has all the account details, and having him help is frustrating. It's tough to get him to agree. What's the point of buying that range extender then...? Plus, I haven't been able to connect to it lately, even though it's active. Odd. Still, switching routers shouldn't change much.
They make it simple to boost your WiFi range, since many people can't or don't want to use Ethernet. I think you likely have an ISP gateway (modem/router), which is usually unreliable—they tend to overheat and lead to connectivity problems. That's why I own my own modem and separate router. I'm fine with my internet performance.