Could the issue lie with my device or the ISP not acknowledging it? Or is the street just outdated?
Could the issue lie with my device or the ISP not acknowledging it? Or is the street just outdated?
Hello everyone. Over the past few weeks, my internet performance hasn’t been consistent. It often slows down when downloading across different devices, making everything feel sluggish. Even transferring 5GB from my desktop to other gadgets isn’t smooth. Recently, I managed only about 22MB in a week, with uploads around 18MB. After that, speeds improved to 70 Mbps download and 19 Mbps upload, but most times the connection remains unstable. Today it’s dropped again. Last night my connection flashed red and green repeatedly. I’ve been switching between watching movies for 10 minutes, then pausing for 5, and back on for 40, all while trying to reach out to my ISP. They said everything looks okay from their side and mentioned past dips, but they promised to keep an eye on things. The person on the call wasn’t very helpful either—I’m using an ASUS RT-AC5300 that’s six years old, with its last firmware update over a year ago. Recently, Asus hasn’t released any updates in a while. I’m wondering if we should consider updating it. Also, my DrayTek Vigor 130 is six years old. Some people think it’s time to refresh the router/modem, while others suggest it might be an issue with the ISP or a faulty device. Based in the UK, I use TalkTalk (which uses BT), and so far I haven’t faced major problems. If anyone has experience, let me know—I’m switching to phone data now since streaming isn’t as smooth anymore.
It seems you're questioning whether your situation makes sense. Over the last month, you've observed many changes in your internet speed, which is unusual compared to earlier periods. The ISP mentioned high traffic and prioritized faster plans, but we have a slower connection.
Based on this description, it appears to be an ISP-related concern. My mother experienced random disconnections, and Comcast initially blamed her. Eventually, they sent a technician, warning of charges if the issue was on her side—but it turned out to be theirs. They performed whatever steps were needed to restore stability, including unusual procedures. To check if the problem lies with the router, connect a device directly to the modem and test connectivity. You might notice improvement after restarting the router or modem. If the modem is faulty, replacing it could help, though upgrading may only be worthwhile if you also upgrade your internet speed from the ISP.
I try this out - I was thinking about getting a new modem too, maybe the DrayTek Vigor V166. Right now I'm on 130 and it's not too costly compared to the router. It's almost seven years old. Should I go for the 166 or look at another option?