Poor router network connection

Keith Hamilton

Poor router connection using cable modem/router provided by my cable company. The radio and Maestro are hard wired via Ethernet. Would like to put in better modem but I don't know how and still keep my internet, television and telephone from the cable company.
My Ethernet connection starts out good, then goes to bad with lots of packet loss then back to good again sometime later. I have tried to see if it was something else on my network causing a problem but so far I have been unsuccessful. I need help on how to proceed from here. Do I just star unplugging things one at a time including WiFi devices or try to replace my modem/router. Or add another Ethernet router and pay the cable company twice for internet????

Gloomy in Ohio!

Mike-VA3MW

Keith

Do this test (unless you already did it).

Connect a laptop or computer to the Modem/Router with a cable (no wifi) and go to http://www.dslreports.com/speedtest and see what you numbers look like.

Try it a few times throughout the day.   

BTW, a lot of Hams have changed out their router for an IQRouter by Evanroute (on Amazon) with amazing success.

Mike

Keith Hamilton

Well I did some more experimenting and this seems strange to me. When I have the 6600 and Maestro both on Ethernet through a switch upstairs and then one Ethernet cable to the downstairs modem/router I get a bad connection. When I leave the 6600 connected to Ethernet and set the Maestro to 5GHz WiFi it works great.

Guess I should not look a gift horse in the mouth and leave the Maestro on 5GHz WiFi??????

Keith Hamilton

That sounds great! I would jump right in and buy but I don't know how to hook it up to my existing cable modem. Does anyone have any experience with cable modems and their own separate router?

Mike-VA3MW

Hi Keith

It is easy to make a network.  Making it work correctly does require some thought.  Can you sketch what you are saying out on a piece of paper so we can get a visual.

Mike

Keith Hamilton

Ok here goes. Hope it is legible.

Mike-VA3MW

It sounds like your upstairs/downstairs cable might be questionable.  I've had it happen to me.

Keith Hamilton

At  first I thought it was the cable or the switch.

Right now I have the 6600 on Ethernet and the Maestro on 5GHz WiFi and it goes back and forth between excellent and poor.

I  have lots of trouble when I try to put BOTH the Maestro and the 6600 on Ethernet.

I will try replacing the cable first then the switch.

Buford, W4HVW

I have a similar setup with my router supplying TV, internet, and phone. The router is several rooms away from the rig. The router is not WIFI so I added a Netgear WIFI transmitter and a Netgear extender at the shack. The 6300 connects to the jack on the extender and the Maestro  & computer connects through WIFI from the extender. I never have a problem with connectivity 

Keith Hamilton

Well... I ordered some new cat6 cable to replace the run to the basement. I also bought a newer 5 port switch for the upstairs shack. (TP-Link TL-SG105E)

So far I have just replaced the old switch with great results!

I will probably keep an eye on my network and replace the cable maybe later?

Mike-VA3MW

That is awesome news.