Not saying yours is bad but I cringe every time I see TP-Link equipment. Here's what I would do. Beg, borrow, or steal something with a good gig Ethernet port on it. Test the output of your modem. That'll give you a baseline and let you know if the inconstant is your service provider or your wireless network. If your wireless network is the issue then it doesn't matter who your provider is. The reason Verizon advertises 85-300 is that it's wireless also. They can't guarantee a stable signal because of that. So if you go with them you might just be adding to the problem. Next time I'm in the upstate want me to bring my meter?
tuna55
MegaDork
9/8/22 11:40 a.m.
Stampie said:
Not saying yours is bad but I cringe every time I see TP-Link equipment. Here's what I would do. Beg, borrow, or steal something with a good gig Ethernet port on it. Test the output of your modem. That'll give you a baseline and let you know if the inconstant is your service provider or your wireless network. If your wireless network is the issue then it doesn't matter who your provider is. The reason Verizon advertises 85-300 is that it's wireless also. They can't guarantee a stable signal because of that. So if you go with them you might just be adding to the problem. Next time I'm in the upstate want me to bring my meter?
I'm open to basically anything.
Which router is "better"?
I'll think about what devices I can get my hands on which have an ethernet port.
In reply to tuna55 :
From what I've seen Netgear has good stuff. No need to get their top of the line stuff but the middle of the road stuff is plenty. I'd do a lot of testing before buying. To the point of hitting the main breaker with a ups running the modem and router. Powering off all wireless (anything wireless not just Internet related) devices so that I could test in a "quiet" wireless environment.
Just for reference on the cost of fiberoptic installations, I helped my buddy install new fiberoptic at the campground this summer. Keep in mind this is commercial service and CDN prices.
To run about 1/8th mile of fiber from the road down to the campground using existing utility poles cost him just shy of $50k.
Hey, my new TP-Link AX-11000 WiFi6 Tri-Band router works fine, thank you. Well reviewed on Costco.com, and reasonably priced.
In reply to 1988RedT2 :
I'm sure it works fine and I'm sure you love it. But that doesn't mean I haven't seen a lot of TP-link stuff bad.
In reply to Stampie :
I hear ya!
Hey, it's Chinese electronics. My decision was based primarily on the fact that it was sold by Costco, and they are known for above average customer service.
Jay_W
SuperDork
9/9/22 12:23 p.m.
Unifi dream machine. I got sick and tired of replacing dead linksys/netgear/anything else you can get at Walmart. It will get the job done and it will last.. Trouble is, after 3-4 years of great service with all and sunday krap ISP's, Elon has finally seen fit to sell us a starlink. Which doesn't easily talk to third party routers. They sell an ether net adapter but we're using the supplied router which makes up in simplicity what it lacks in transparency.
tuna55
MegaDork
3/1/23 8:22 p.m.
Hey it's me again
Again
Spectrum just ended their trial period that I forgot we were on, the new bill is 80 bucks a month. I will try, and likely fail, to have them reduce this back to the promotional rate again.
Anyway this makes the $50 per month Verizon is offering seem even more good despite not switching cell services. Now it's simply a savings of 30 bucks a month. The speed test on my phone connected to the router wirelessly showed 200 and change the first time in 300 and change the second time. That seems pretty fine. I think Verizon claims to be able to match that roughly. Since there is no contract, I think I can just try it and if it doesn't work well I can send it back.
No, despite living in a very populated growing area, there are no other options.
Thoughts?
Make sure you keep an eye on latency as well. I think things have improved greatly, but when hotspots/tethering first became a thing, latency was bad compared to cable internet. Gaming was not really feasible. Not sure if that is a concern for you or not (was it your son that joined us in AC recently?)
tuna55
MegaDork
3/3/23 8:06 a.m.
ProDarwin said:
Make sure you keep an eye on latency as well. I think things have improved greatly, but when hotspots/tethering first became a thing, latency was bad compared to cable internet. Gaming was not really feasible. Not sure if that is a concern for you or not (was it your son that joined us in AC recently?)
That was absolutely my kid. He's on a laptop and saving for a better PC so driving isn't ridiculous.
I had not thought of that. How can I research if it will work for his online gaming aspirations?
tuna55 said:
ProDarwin said:
Make sure you keep an eye on latency as well. I think things have improved greatly, but when hotspots/tethering first became a thing, latency was bad compared to cable internet. Gaming was not really feasible. Not sure if that is a concern for you or not (was it your son that joined us in AC recently?)
That was absolutely my kid. He's on a laptop and saving for a better PC so driving isn't ridiculous.
I had not thought of that. How can I research if it will work for his online gaming aspirations?
Just have him test ping for you to a few servers on the hotspot vs. on your current connection. In AC or a number of older games it will give you the ping in milliseconds. There are probably more automated ways, but I am not aware of them.
Speedtest will tell you the ping to the closest server it speedtests from, but I am not sure that translates to gaming.
tuna55
MegaDork
3/3/23 12:26 p.m.
ProDarwin said:
tuna55 said:
ProDarwin said:
Make sure you keep an eye on latency as well. I think things have improved greatly, but when hotspots/tethering first became a thing, latency was bad compared to cable internet. Gaming was not really feasible. Not sure if that is a concern for you or not (was it your son that joined us in AC recently?)
That was absolutely my kid. He's on a laptop and saving for a better PC so driving isn't ridiculous.
I had not thought of that. How can I research if it will work for his online gaming aspirations?
Just have him test ping for you to a few servers on the hotspot vs. on your current connection. In AC or a number of older games it will give you the ping in milliseconds. There are probably more automated ways, but I am not aware of them.
Speedtest will tell you the ping to the closest server it speedtests from, but I am not sure that translates to gaming.
Wait I think I have a reading comprehension fail.
I am comparing Verizon 5G home internet with Spectrum cable internet. My wife's hot spot on her phone doesn't seem relevant.
