Modem to device speed half of Network to modem (on an ethernet cable 5e)

[carlosmunoz08]

Hi Everyone,

I recently upgraded from 500Mbps to 1Gbps (down). Since the upgrade I randomly do speedtests and I keep getting more or less the same results (Network to modem of ~1Gbps and Modem to device of roughly half of that). 

I'm currently running on a 5e ethernet cable that connects my PC to the modem itself. From what I know (I'm no network expert btw), I should be able to more or less fully utilize ~1Gbps (say 900-1000Mbps) through this setup. To be transparent, there are other devices (phones and tablets) that use the same network over Wifi. I time my speedtests to ensure there are no heavy use outside of my PC when running the test (so resutls aren't materially affected).

Any thoughts/ suggestions on how I can fix this? 

[ZaneP]

Hi @carlosmunoz08 

Let's take a look at the big picture:

• You have 1Gb service and a Home Hub 4000 (or 3000) from Bell
• When you run Bell's speed test, launched from the Home Hub dashboard, you're getting approximately 1Gbs transfer rate (internet---->HH4k)
• When you run a speed test (say the Ookla one), from your PC, you're getting  ~ 500Mbps transfer rate

Your question is a good one: "why am I not getting close to the transfer rate I'm paying for?"

I suspect the answer is: Bell is delivering the rate you signed up for, to the modem. But your own hardware can't contend with the 1Gb/s data rate from the modem to your PC. If you're using a desktop computer, your network card (NIC) may be an older one, or it needs a driver update. You could replace the card with an up to date one.

If you're using a laptop/notebook, it's internal ethernet LAN likely has the same issue. You could attach a new external adapter to the ethernet port...one which has a higher data transfer rate capability. (You would disable the driver for the existing one).

So you won't be able to get close to utilizing the service until you can improve your hardware. That's "the fix", imo.

Thoughts, questions?

[carlosmunoz08]

Hi ZaneP,

First, thanks for sharing your thoughts. 

You got the items right on the big picture. 

I was thinking along the same lines as well when I started to do my troubleshooting. To isolate these variables, I did a bit of reseach on my equipment. My ethernet card is in fact capable of 1000Mbps, and the cable that's running between my desktop pc and the model HH3000 is CAT5e. Based on what I found, these are in fact capable of doing 1Gbps (~940Mbps). This makes me kinda confident that my equipment should be able to do roughly 1Gbps.

Before I posted in this forum, all of my tests (that show device to modem speeds of roughly half of what I'm paying for) was done on Bell speedtest. When I did a speedtest on Ookla last night, I was getting a 650-750Mbps range. While Bell speed test was still showing 500Mbps or lower on device to modem.

Additional info: Before I got my 1Gbps plan (1gbps down and 750mbps up), I tried the 1.5G down and 940 up. While I was on the 1.5Gbps plan, I saw my PC utilize 940Mbps up and down - which made sense cause it caps out the equipments capacity. Then I thought to myself, why should I pay for 1.5Gbps down when my main PC won't even be able to use more than ~940Mbps. So I downgraded.

Here comes my own 'conspiracy theory' So when I was at 1.5Gbps plan, obviously I can not validate if a single ethernet connection can in fact download more than 1Gbps - cause equipment can't. BUT I was in fact getting at least 940Mbps then (on Ookla speedtest). After downgrading to 1Gbps, I never got to experience that again (Ookla and Bell speedtest). Highest I've ever gotten on Ookla was close to 750Mbps (I won't even write down the Bell results on device to modem). Another thing that caught my attention is the fine print in Bell's packages.

"Download speed up to 1 Gbps:Assuming optimal network conditions. A wired connection and at least one additional wired or wireless connections are required to obtain total speeds of up to 1 Gbps with Gigabit Fibe."

So my theory is this - I've practically tried all plans from Fibe 500 to Gigabit Fibe 1.5. One thing I found consistent is that a single ethernet device max download always aligns with the published max upload.

Fibe 500 will give a single ethernet connection max 500down and up
Gigabit Fibe will give a single ethernet connection max 750 up and down (any diff between 750 and 1000 are 'spread' on other devices)
Gigabit Fibe 1.5 will give a single ethernet connection max 940 up and down (any diff between 940 and 1500 are also spread on other devices)

Again, I'm no network expert by any means and these theories are only driven by my own testing. If it doesn't make sense - I'll just chalk it up to not really understanding the fundamentals of networking.

[ZaneP]

Thanks for the details on your gear and what steps you've taken to test LAN performance.

A couple of minor points:

- I have the HH4000, and from its dashboard I run the speed test, to see what's being delivered. I assume the HK3000 has a similar utility on its dashboard? The other test I run is from any ethernet device I'm running on the LAN side. I use Bell's speed test as it's the most reliable. This one: support.bell.ca/Internet/Internet-Speed-Test.  Ookla is fine.

- I know that Bell over-provisions its fibre service, so a 1Gbps service may measure higher. My 1.5Gb is consistently delivered at 1.63Gbps.

Just a few added thoughts for you to consider. There are so many variables in play, including: the real-world performance of network interfaces regardless of their theoretical maximums; the total amount of available bandwidth and contention among the various devices on the LAN; jitter, ping times, and latency all impact data transfer rates; less than optimal overall conditions are frequently the norm.

Don't get too attached to your "conspiracy theory". Bell's service commitment ends at what's being delivered to the modem. Yes, optimal conditions are rare. But, I have a 2.5Gb ethernet-to-usb adapter used on a MacBook Air; when I plug it into the 10Gb port on the HH4000 and run a speed test I hit the maximum download and upload rate being provided by Bell for my rate plan. Meanwhile, other wired and wireless devices are running on the LAN without issues. 

Setting aside networking fundamentals, ask yourself if your real-world needs being met by the 500Mbps service you're subscribed to? Do you have enough bandwidth being allocated to all the devices on the network, so that there's no disruption when someone is streaming Netflix, another device is streaming YouTube or a music playlist, an online-learning session or Zoom is going on...and so on.

If you do, you're good to go! If bandwidth demand changes over time, you can move to a higher tier.

Hope this helps a little.

Cheers,

ZaneP

[carlosmunoz08]

This does help! Thanks again for taking time from your day to share tips and ideas. Truly appreciate it.

I understand that Bell's service commitment ends at the modem. It makes sense that they do that. It'll be too much of a headache for them to be investigating every person who complains on their device speed. That's also why those who don't get it, turn to forums to solve it. I did try asking Bell support if they have tips - but as you've mentioned, their commitment ends at the modem.

I envy you wehn you mentioned that you get your max download and uploat rates provided by your plan.

I agree with your last point. Real world use, its definitely working well. I love how Bell (at least in my location) barely gets service interruptions. Functionality wise - all our use-cases are covered. I guess there's just a part of me that's 'pennying up' on what I pay for. Plus there's this curiosity that - If the issue is my connection to the modem, why is it that my upload (modem to device) consistently close to the network to modem but the download side is half. Plus given that I've seen my PC get that 900+ Mbps (Ookla based test) when I was at 1.5Gbps plan, why don't I see it now while I'm at 1Gbps plan. 

Here's two tests that I ran just a few mins ago. Seeing that difference in download and upload speeds from device to modem is really tickling my curiosity. 

I just want to say thanks again! I actually just picked up an ethernet to usb-c. I'll try to see what my laptop would show. Now I'm starting to wonder if its a modem issue. LOL! 

[carlosmunoz08 · Accepted solution]

FIXED!

After more testing, I was finally able to isolate the issue. I tried rolling back LAN drivers, testing a CAT6 cable from my PC to the modem, changing the slot where the ethernet was connected (in the modem), etc.

In the end, it was never the hardware - the culprit was AVG (mind you, I don't use their VPN service). I don't know which of their 'products' was driving it but whenever I turn off the whole AVG product suite - the modem to client speed runs almost exactly as modem to network (ISP). 

With this, I retire my 'conspiracy theory'. You are right @ZaneP , we can get the full quoted service on one device. Cheers to you bud! Thanks for all the help! Appreciate it 100pct!

[ZaneP]

That's great! Well done!

[ZaneP]

Hi again @carlosmunoz08 ,

If AVG product suite includes any software that does packet inspection, that will certainly add overhead to the data transfer rate. As do firewalls, especially hardware ones. I should have thought to ask you about this. Anyway, sounds like you're all set!