Find your maximum internet speed by checking your connection details and using speed testing tools.
Find your maximum internet speed by checking your connection details and using speed testing tools.
I’m dealing with an internet plan advertised at 15MBPS. The maximum speed your connection can reach is 17MBPS, though it often stays around 7MBPS or a bit higher. However, the actual speed you’re getting is only about 1.7MBPS. In Egypt, internet performance isn’t great overall, but this area seems to be better than average for me. The issue has been ongoing for some time, and I began asking for help when my connection became extremely slow—currently, a family of five using nine devices on Wi-Fi at roughly 1.7MBPS. My speed swings between 15MBPS, then drops back down to around 4MBPS, spikes to 7MBPS, and later fluctuates between 3.5MBPS and 14MBPS. The ISP staff seem inexperienced, like Patrick Star. Since you can’t change the cable coming from the router, what advice do you have? And honestly, this frustrating situation is exhausting.
Occasionally Wi-Fi and Ethernet switch, but it doesn't really matter since using Ethernet doesn't boost the router's speed. It just works better at maintaining the connection, though there can be a difference in performance for things like multiplayer games.
Have you tested various devices to ensure your modem-router isn't defective or outdated? The Netgear router from our ISP may have a firmware issue, which I didn’t verify. I suggest upgrading to a Netgear DM200 and updating its firmware to OpenWrt. While the stock firmware isn’t the most reliable, it’s significantly more stable than the ISP-provided version. For wireless connectivity, the Xiaomi Mi Router 3G is ideal once you install OpenWrt (note: the Chinese version may include ads and data mining).
Well, I only have nieces, the oldest being in first grade, but I understand your concern. I usually explain things this way even to my youngest sister, though I’ll simplify it here. From what you said, it seems you’re familiar with a modem-router, so I suggest upgrading to another one (preferably the Netgear DM200) just in case the problem isn’t with your existing setup. I highly advise updating the router’s firmware to OpenWrt—there are other options too, but OpenWrt handles more devices well. It really highlights its capabilities compared to the default firmware. When comparing OpenWrt versus the built-in firmware, think of it like Linux versus Windows (not exact, but conveys the idea). My suggestion for the Xiaomi Mi Router 3G applies only if you’re planning to swap your current modem-router for the DM200, as this model doesn’t support Wi-Fi. Otherwise, the rest doesn’t matter unless you switch to the DM200 and aim for speeds over 40 Mbps (mostly impacts 100 Mbps).
When the technicians arrived, they checked using their VDSL router and got the same outcome. The issue isn’t related to the router—though I’d prefer it was—I’m planning to purchase a new one tomorrow or soon because they intend to switch central ports to VDSL, which should resolve the problem.
Absolutely, I get that. We're facing comparable problems, but in our situation the ISP reps and their provider—being the sole DSL supplier in the country—are actually quite reliable. Their technicians are among the top in the industry, and we confirmed the issue isn't with our modem-router (DM200, OpenWrt, VDSL2 vectoring) or on their side. We'll soon inspect the networking cabinet. I still suggest you try the Netgear DM200+Xiaomi Mi Router 3G (both using OpenWrt), as it offers great value for money—comparable to more expensive models but significantly cheaper than alternatives.