changed router speed problem

andyvosayslalal · 04-27-2008, 01:30 AM

hi

i am having a strange problem with my router. i just upgraded my verizon dsl and it was working great, my speed was around 300 kbps for downloading. i was using a westell router, but they told me theyd send me a new one. i recieved the new one, and problems arose. my download speed was sometimes 300 as normal and how it should be, but MOST of the time for some reason my internet is EXTREMELY slow going around 30 kbps, and takes even longer than dial up to go on a web page. i have a wep key security already, i checked for NAT problems and everything...what could cause this problem? sometimes my internet is still fine, but it always gets slow at RANDOM times. this problem really is strange. thanks for the help

johnhook · 04-27-2008, 01:53 AM

andyvosayslalal,

What is the make/model of the new router/dsl modem Verizon sent you? Is this device connected to your PC via USB? Which Westell model were you previously using? Do you still have the old Westell router? If so - was there anything wrong with it?

First of all - avoid USB modems/routers if at all possible. The drivers are complicated and they tend to be problematic and slow.

Secondly - Verizon might have changed your DSLAM profile in their central office when they set you up with the new router. Telco's tend to mess things up when you make any changes to your service.

Check out:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/ilec,vz

This is an excellent support site for all things broadband. The users here are very knowledgeable and the forums are very specific to providers.

I'd suggest that you call Verizon's tech support, but you'll likely get some level 1 tech in some remote call center who is basically going to give you canned, brush off answers to your speed problem. I say this after MUCH experience with large telco-dsl providers.

If there was nothing wrong with your original Westell device - and you still have it - you may want to try swapping it back on your PC and test your speed again.

Lots of things to look at - hope this advice helps.

- John

johnwill · 04-27-2008, 07:18 AM

Connect to the router with a wired link for this test.

Register at DSLReports and run their Line Quality Tests. It's useful many times to run this test several times, and we'd like to see each of the results. Post the results link from the top of the test display page for each test run here.

The link to post is near the top of the page and looks like:

If you wish to post this result to a forum, please copy/paste this URL
http://www.dslreports.com/linequality/nil/2357195 <- sample only, yours will obviously be different!
and your IP will be disguised.

Copy/paste that link here.

Note: You will have to enable PING (ICMP) request response either in your router (if you have one), or in your computer's firewall for direct modem connections. This is very important to get the most important part of the test to run.

andyvosayslalal · 04-27-2008, 09:49 AM

ok, i registered and im currently doing the test. just FYI the router i changed to was an actiontec GT704-WG and i am on a wireless connection. and i had a week of my new internet with my old router before i got me new router, and everything was working fine, until i chnaged it. so i dont think its the verizon server. in addition, the computer that is hooked up directly to router hasnt had any problems with speed. but once again, everything was working perfectly until i changed my router..im debating whether i should go with my old router again

johnhook · 04-27-2008, 11:05 AM

andyvosayslalal,

Question - what prompted the change in routers to being with? Did Verizon mandate this or were you having problems? I've not heard of the brand or your new router - and I suspect Verizon is getting "cheap" with their new hardware. Westell is a very reputable brand in the DSL modem/router market. I use Ameritech/SBC/AT&T DSL and my first DSL modems were Westell. They trying switching me to a USB SpeedStream and I had nothing but problems.

I would switch back to your old router and see if your speed goes back to where it was.

- John

andyvosayslalal · 04-27-2008, 11:00 PM

yes i agree, i had no problems with my westell except that the signal strength was usually low, but the speed was always fine. I changed routers because i believed the signal would improve, so i decided to try it out. The signal in fact DID improve, but now im having speed problems...so i want to continue using this router if i am able to fix the speed problem. Yes, verizon seems like a fairly "cheap" source for DSL, but it is the only DSL offered in my area. I have the option of getting charter cable, but it seems too large of a price to pay on my budget.

anyways, here are my line quality tests, i was able to do 2

http://www.dslreports.com/linequalit...632b22/2378040

http://www.dslreports.com/linequalit...55a8a6/2377795

johnhook · 04-28-2008, 12:05 AM

andyvosayslalal,

Your signal strength has more to do with the physical wiring and distance between you and the central office that it does with the router. Some routers handle low signals better than others. My experience with Westell DSL modems is that they are good when it comes to dealing with weak signals.

The bottom line is that if you were getting better speeds with the Westell and slower speeds with this new modem - I'd switch back to the Westell.

- John

johnwill · 04-28-2008, 06:42 AM

From the results, I'd say you have a marginal connection. You have a pretty high PING time to your node there...

andyvosayslalal · 04-29-2008, 11:40 PM

sorry...what does marginal connection mean? hmm its happening again...yesterday i was dling at 300 all night and today its going 30 and all my pages are taking forever to load and im the only computer on the network..

johnhook · 04-30-2008, 12:35 AM

andyvosayslalal,

Are you back on your old Westell modem and still having speed problems? You mentioned wireless - did you always have wireless or is this something new with the new modem Verizon sent you? Did you have wireless capability with your old Westell modem? This is VERY important as the addition of wireless could be the cause of your speed problem.

What is the make/model of your PC? Is it a laptop or desktop? What kind of wireless hardware do you have?

It's very important that you tell us about your PC and network environment as there are factors involved that may have nothing to do with your DSL service. Please reply with the make/model of your PC, type of connection/hardware (wireless, wired, mfg of NIC, etc).

- John

andyvosayslalal · 04-30-2008, 03:36 PM

sorry,

yes, i was always on wireless with my westell as well, i should have mentioned that earlier. I use a Netgear WG111v2 adapter for my wireless. its just the problems arose when i changed my router, so i assumed that was the problem. I am running on a desktop.

johnhook · 04-30-2008, 04:07 PM

andyvosayslalal,

Did you change any settings on your Netgear WG111v2 wireless adapter (drivers, settings, etc.)? If you didn't change anything with your PC's wireless adapter or PC's network settings and both your new Actiontec and old Westell wireless ADSL modem/routers are now running slow, then Verizon downgraded your account speed to a lower speed when you switched from the Westell to the Actiontec devices.

If this is the case, you need to contact Verizon's DSL tech support and demand that your call is escalated to a 2nd level or higher tech. Do NOT bother with the folks who answer the support line as they are usually non-Verizon call center reps working at some remote location who have little problem solving skills nor the ability to make DSLAM configuration changes to your DSL account.

http://www22.verizon.com/forhomedsl/...ch+support.asp

I don't believe that the problem is with your new ADSL wireless modem/router, but if you'd like, check out the support site for your Actiontec device:

http://www.actiontec.com/support/bro.../gt704-wg.html

- John

04-27-2008, 01:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
andyvosayslalal Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 14 OS: Windows XP	changed router speed problem hi i am having a strange problem with my router. i just upgraded my verizon dsl and it was working great, my speed was around 300 kbps for downloading. i was using a westell router, but they told me theyd send me a new one. i recieved the new one, and problems arose. my download speed was sometimes 300 as normal and how it should be, but MOST of the time for some reason my internet is EXTREMELY slow going around 30 kbps, and takes even longer than dial up to go on a web page. i have a wep key security already, i checked for NAT problems and everything...what could cause this problem? sometimes my internet is still fine, but it always gets slow at RANDOM times. this problem really is strange. thanks for the help

04-27-2008, 01:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnhook Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 810 OS: MS SBS 2003 SP2	Re: changed router speed problem andyvosayslalal, What is the make/model of the new router/dsl modem Verizon sent you? Is this device connected to your PC via USB? Which Westell model were you previously using? Do you still have the old Westell router? If so - was there anything wrong with it? First of all - avoid USB modems/routers if at all possible. The drivers are complicated and they tend to be problematic and slow. Secondly - Verizon might have changed your DSLAM profile in their central office when they set you up with the new router. Telco's tend to mess things up when you make any changes to your service. Check out: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/ilec,vz This is an excellent support site for all things broadband. The users here are very knowledgeable and the forums are very specific to providers. I'd suggest that you call Verizon's tech support, but you'll likely get some level 1 tech in some remote call center who is basically going to give you canned, brush off answers to your speed problem. I say this after MUCH experience with large telco-dsl providers. If there was nothing wrong with your original Westell device - and you still have it - you may want to try swapping it back on your PC and test your speed again. Lots of things to look at - hope this advice helps. - John

04-27-2008, 07:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 29,829 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: changed router speed problem Connect to the router with a wired link for this test. Register at DSLReports and run their Line Quality Tests. It's useful many times to run this test several times, and we'd like to see each of the results. Post the results link from the top of the test display page for each test run here. The link to post is near the top of the page and looks like: If you wish to post this result to a forum, please copy/paste this URL http://www.dslreports.com/linequality/nil/2357195 <- sample only, yours will obviously be different! and your IP will be disguised. Copy/paste that link here. Note: You will have to enable PING (ICMP) request response either in your router (if you have one), or in your computer's firewall for direct modem connections. This is very important to get the most important part of the test to run. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

04-27-2008, 09:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
andyvosayslalal Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 14 OS: Windows XP	Re: changed router speed problem ok, i registered and im currently doing the test. just FYI the router i changed to was an actiontec GT704-WG and i am on a wireless connection. and i had a week of my new internet with my old router before i got me new router, and everything was working fine, until i chnaged it. so i dont think its the verizon server. in addition, the computer that is hooked up directly to router hasnt had any problems with speed. but once again, everything was working perfectly until i changed my router..im debating whether i should go with my old router again Last edited by andyvosayslalal : 04-27-2008 at 09:51 AM.

04-27-2008, 11:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
johnhook Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 810 OS: MS SBS 2003 SP2	Re: changed router speed problem andyvosayslalal, Question - what prompted the change in routers to being with? Did Verizon mandate this or were you having problems? I've not heard of the brand or your new router - and I suspect Verizon is getting "cheap" with their new hardware. Westell is a very reputable brand in the DSL modem/router market. I use Ameritech/SBC/AT&T DSL and my first DSL modems were Westell. They trying switching me to a USB SpeedStream and I had nothing but problems. I would switch back to your old router and see if your speed goes back to where it was. - John

04-27-2008, 11:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
andyvosayslalal Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 14 OS: Windows XP	Re: changed router speed problem yes i agree, i had no problems with my westell except that the signal strength was usually low, but the speed was always fine. I changed routers because i believed the signal would improve, so i decided to try it out. The signal in fact DID improve, but now im having speed problems...so i want to continue using this router if i am able to fix the speed problem. Yes, verizon seems like a fairly "cheap" source for DSL, but it is the only DSL offered in my area. I have the option of getting charter cable, but it seems too large of a price to pay on my budget. anyways, here are my line quality tests, i was able to do 2 http://www.dslreports.com/linequalit...632b22/2378040 http://www.dslreports.com/linequalit...55a8a6/2377795

04-28-2008, 12:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
johnhook Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 810 OS: MS SBS 2003 SP2	Re: changed router speed problem andyvosayslalal, Your signal strength has more to do with the physical wiring and distance between you and the central office that it does with the router. Some routers handle low signals better than others. My experience with Westell DSL modems is that they are good when it comes to dealing with weak signals. The bottom line is that if you were getting better speeds with the Westell and slower speeds with this new modem - I'd switch back to the Westell. - John __________________

04-28-2008, 06:42 AM	#8 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 29,829 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: changed router speed problem From the results, I'd say you have a marginal connection. You have a pretty high PING time to your node there... __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

04-29-2008, 11:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
andyvosayslalal Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 14 OS: Windows XP	Re: changed router speed problem sorry...what does marginal connection mean? hmm its happening again...yesterday i was dling at 300 all night and today its going 30 and all my pages are taking forever to load and im the only computer on the network..

04-30-2008, 12:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
johnhook Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 810 OS: MS SBS 2003 SP2	Re: changed router speed problem andyvosayslalal, Are you back on your old Westell modem and still having speed problems? You mentioned wireless - did you always have wireless or is this something new with the new modem Verizon sent you? Did you have wireless capability with your old Westell modem? This is VERY important as the addition of wireless could be the cause of your speed problem. What is the make/model of your PC? Is it a laptop or desktop? What kind of wireless hardware do you have? It's very important that you tell us about your PC and network environment as there are factors involved that may have nothing to do with your DSL service. Please reply with the make/model of your PC, type of connection/hardware (wireless, wired, mfg of NIC, etc). - John __________________

04-30-2008, 03:36 PM	#11 (permalink)
andyvosayslalal Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 14 OS: Windows XP	Re: changed router speed problem sorry, yes, i was always on wireless with my westell as well, i should have mentioned that earlier. I use a Netgear WG111v2 adapter for my wireless. its just the problems arose when i changed my router, so i assumed that was the problem. I am running on a desktop.

04-30-2008, 04:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
johnhook Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 810 OS: MS SBS 2003 SP2	Re: changed router speed problem andyvosayslalal, Did you change any settings on your Netgear WG111v2 wireless adapter (drivers, settings, etc.)? If you didn't change anything with your PC's wireless adapter or PC's network settings and both your new Actiontec and old Westell wireless ADSL modem/routers are now running slow, then Verizon downgraded your account speed to a lower speed when you switched from the Westell to the Actiontec devices. If this is the case, you need to contact Verizon's DSL tech support and demand that your call is escalated to a 2nd level or higher tech. Do NOT bother with the folks who answer the support line as they are usually non-Verizon call center reps working at some remote location who have little problem solving skills nor the ability to make DSLAM configuration changes to your DSL account. http://www22.verizon.com/forhomedsl/...ch+support.asp I don't believe that the problem is with your new ADSL wireless modem/router, but if you'd like, check out the support site for your Actiontec device: http://www.actiontec.com/support/bro.../gt704-wg.html - John __________________