Persuade Spectrum to enhance their upload speeds.
Persuade Spectrum to enhance their upload speeds.
I plan to switch to a new apartment in April, moving from Fiber (frontier) to Cable (spectrum). I was using 200x200 Mbps on Frontier and now need more than 10 Mbps upload. Spectrum offers 200x10 for $49/month and 400x20 for $60/month. My knowledge is that Docsis 3.0 supports around 30 Mbps per channel, and my 24x8 modem should handle any speed they provide. I’m okay with downloads at or above 200 Mbps, but I host services like Nextcloud and Plex from my home server and don’t want to deal with 20 Mbps upload speeds. What would it take to persuade them for 200x40 at $60/month?
I'm really struggling to find a good solution. Unless you have a solid business plan, I'm skeptical they'll offer anything special. I used DSL with slow speeds for a long time, and my dad helped the local tech guy upgrade our DSLAM box, giving us double the speed. This happened in a small rural area, so things might differ. I'd prefer to reach out to your local technician instead of relying on customer support on Spectrum.
The usual yes, but in truth the cable company can't handle that level of upstream traffic. Not every provider offers the highest number of channels. For a while Comcast only gave three upstream channels in most regions. No area I’m aware of currently has more than four. Compared to Comcast, Charter’s network seems a bit lacking based on what I’ve heard. Plus, cable providers don’t always deliver what they promise. For instance, an 8x4 modem should support download speeds over 300 Mbps, but Comcast caps it at 200 Mbps. A 32x8 Docsis 3.0 modem could reach 1.4 Gbps downstream, yet no provider will set it up for Gigabit. Opt for fiber instead. The reality is cable companies only support 5 MHz to 42 MHz upstream right now. They’re slow on improving the Docsis 3.1 side. In short, switching from Frontier to Spectrum was a mistake. Even though Frontier is struggling and barely survives, it’s still better than cable.
Keep track of the spectrum by reaching out to nearby residents and collecting signatures on a petition. Gather at least 25 signatures from people who support bringing fiber to your area, and if there’s a fiber line close by, they’ll likely extend it in your favor. They’re continuously adding more fiber, though they often don’t realize its value. A strong petition showing demand can influence their decision to move forward.
Spectrum is a cable provider. They use Fiber in many modern networks, combining it with coaxial technology. However, standard residential service isn't typically offered through Fiber. To access Fiber-to-the-home, customers usually get set up for Metro Ethernet services. Companies like Comcast provide this via their Gigabit Pro Tier, which can cost around $1000 for installation and $299 per month with a three-year contract. Alternatively, some providers offer RFoG, essentially the same Docsis service but delivering Fiber directly to the house.
But this setup often limits upstream speeds because Cable companies must upgrade equipment at local offices, which isn't expected soon.
Generally accurate, though I think Spectrum is positioning itself as the more responsible choice and will charge less than half of Comcast’s initial fee. I’m not making a judgment call, just sharing an alternative perspective. I don’t work at Spectrum, so I can’t confirm if they’re genuinely trying to be the least harmful company.