Max 10/100 Ethernet speed?

[Prime2515103]

I tested the speed of someone's internet connection the other day and it maxed out at 76Mb (upload peaked at 6Mb). The internet connection is 100Mb. I know there is overhead involved with 10/100 Ethernet so it's not going to hit 100Mb, but I didn't realize it was so high.

Does that seem about right or is there something else I should check?

Thanks

 

[JackMDS]

76/6 indicates Cable Internet.

The nature of most Cable Internet and the way they are distributed is variation during each 24 hours cycle according to neighborhoods load.

So, 76/6 is not bad at all.

That said, there can be also other LAN variables but in lack of any info, but the Speed, there is No way to know.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I have a friend, that has Comcast, that was at one time using an older router that I had given or sold to him a long, long time ago, and when he hooked it up, his internet plan was bumped up again, and was higher than 100Mbit/sec (120Mbit/sec or so), and his router had 10/100 ports on it, so his speedtests were capped at 94-95Mbit/sec. That's the kind of overhead you'll see.

76Mbit/sec, that could be cable "speed lag" like Jack said. Or maybe something else is amiss, or your router is in fact older, and can't actual route 100Mbit/sec WAN-to-LAN, even though it has 10/100 ports on it.

Get a gigabit AC-compatible router if that's the case. (If router is more than 3 years old, and not AC-capable.)

Edit: Here's a paragraph from a review of an Asus AC1200 router (which I just picked up):

Got a new ASUS AC1200, followed every instruction, and updated the firmware. When the process was completed I check my modem speed (modem connected to the PC with a network cable), my modem speed was around 120 Mbps, next I connected the PC to the No. 1 LAN port in the router and tested the speed again all I got was a max of 80 Mpbs, next I check the WIFI speed (wireless connection) I got the same as from the router LAN port, around 80 Mbps max. This is a decrease of around 33% of the modem speed. I got in contact with ASUS customer support, they were very pleasant, and we spent over 2 hours over the telephone. I changed cables, channels, reset 3 times, and the results were always the same. ASUS suggested to send the router for repairs, however since this is a brand new product I decided to return the router.
This is my personal experience, the product maybe great, but cost me half a day’s work for nothing.

So, it seems with some routers, the overhead is higher. So it could be router overhead, especially if you have that same router.

Still, given my experience with the Netgear router, that it was only a 5Mbit/sec deficit, then I don't know.

 

[Prime2515103]

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, it's cable (Spectrum). The internet here is always faster than advertised though. When it was 60Mb it was always 66Mb, I'm on 300Mbit and it always tests between 350 and 400Mbit, etc., so I'm 99% sure it's not that.

One thing I didn't check was running the modem directly into the PC so I'll have to do that (networking stuff isn't my thing so I'm slow to realize these things lol). For all I know the modem itself is the problem.

If that comes out ok, any suggestions for a cheap Gbit PCI-E card? If I manage to convince him to get a new router he'll be needing one.

He told me he doesn't care; that 76Mb is fast enough, but I hate to see him not getting what he's paying for, especially since he's streaming to two TV's, and one of which is 4k.

 

[VirtualLarry]

If that comes out ok, any suggestions for a cheap Gbit PCI-E card? If I manage to convince him to get a new router he'll be needing one.

His current PC doesn't have a Gigabit-capable ethernet port / chipset? If so, then his PC is really old, and he should consider upgrading the whole thing, IMHO. PC motherboards have been gigabit standard, for like the last 10 years.

 

[Prime2515103]

His current PC doesn't have a Gigabit-capable ethernet port / chipset? If so, then his PC is really old, and he should consider upgrading the whole thing, IMHO. PC motherboards have been gigabit standard, for like the last 10 years.

Oh wow... I just looked up the specs on the board and it is indeed gigabit. That's funny because it is my old system that I just upgraded about a year ago. lol

It's still running 10/100 because of the router though. I'll see if I can find him a decent upgrade he'll be willing to pay for.

Thanks

 

[VirtualLarry]

Linksys EA6700 AC1750 3x3 gigabit refurb routers are $29.99 from linksys-official-store on ebay.

Also, there is a vendor selling Netgear R6300v2 gigabit refurb routers for $29.95.

I picked up both of those, going to test them when they arrive in a few days.

(Went on a router buying spree, kind of, LOL.)

Edit: If you need a cable modem, Newegg on ebay has SB6183 16x4 Arris DOCSIS 3.0 CMs for ~$45. (Picked up one of those too, LOL. Going to help a friend upgrade his network infrastructure, and finally be able to take advantage of his free Comcast speed upgrade, and hopefully save on equipment rental fees, like $10-12/mo now! IMHO, you would be a fool to rent your cablemodem and gateway or router.)

 

[Prime2515103]

Actually, Spectrum doesn't charge a rental fee for the modem where we're at. I wondered about it because he's had it there for quite awhile and they gave me a completely different modem (it's one with the phone modem built-in). They do charge for WiFi, but he has his own router.

That Linksys EA6700 is interesting, but I see it doesn't have external antennas. Won't that effect the range? Right now everything he has there is in relatively close proximity with the exception of a smart TV in the basement, and occasional use in the garage and around the yard. Right now I can get a decent signal in his detached garage, but I thought AC doesn't have the same range as N (his current router doesn't have antennas either, but it's N).

 

[aigomorla]

Spectrum doesn't charge a rental fee for the modem where we're at.

Spectrum doesnt charge rental fee's period.
If your being charged one, its because you were on time warner, and still on a legacy plan.

They do charge for Wifi however, because that requires a Wifi Router.

But if you BYO Router / AP, you can get WiFi for free.

 

[Prime2515103]

He ended up getting the T-mobile AC1900 (Asus AC68U). I had one of these when I was on T-mobile and had zero issues with it so I went ahead and recommended it to him.

The Ethernet and wireless both pull the full internet speed now (104Mb when I tested it) and everybody immediately commented on how much faster their devices are (including 'smart' TV navigation).

The biggest surprise was the picture quality improvement on Netflix. I suspected it might improve somewhat but the difference was immediately noticeable even by the kids (who really don't care lol).

So, mission accomplished.

 

[RScottyL]

I tested the speed of someone's internet connection the other day and it maxed out at 76Mb (upload peaked at 6Mb). The internet connection is 100Mb. I know there is overhead involved with 10/100 Ethernet so it's not going to hit 100Mb, but I didn't realize it was so high.

Does that seem about right or is there something else I should check?

Thanks

Depending on what type of ISP it is, whether it is cable or fiber.

If cable, then that would seem about right. It would depend what time of the day you checked as well as how many other people in your immediate area share that. The speed will fluctuate though on cable!

 

[VirtualLarry]

The AC68U is a very solid gigabit-capable router. That being said, I would have paid the extra $20 or so, even if I had to buy a refurb unit, just to get the official Asus model, rather than the T-Mobile model, due to firmware update issues. (Much easier to install 3rd-party firmware, with a real Asus model.)