Airport Extreme & Charter 100Mbps Service

Question

Level 1

1 points

Airport Extreme & Charter 100Mbps Service

I just received word that Charter has upgraded the service in my area to 100Mpbs. If I connect directly to the modem using a hardwired connection, I do get that speed, but when the signal is routed through my Airport Extreme, I get far less than that (about 45 -- still good, but no where near what it can be). Charter says that this router should be compatible, but nevertheless indicates that it's a problem with the router creating interference. The CSR suggested that perhaps there's a setting or something that needs to be changed to open the throttle, so to speak, but she didn't know what that would be.

Anyone have any wisdom?

Thanks!

Posted on Jul 2, 2014 4:58 PM

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Answer 1

mith101

Level 1

4 points

Jan 3, 2017 1:58 PM in response to jrosemergy

I have the same issue. I have a 100 mbps connection and uses an extreme and an airport express as an extensioner.

I only get the 100 mbps right next to the airport extreme. On my old router I get 100 mbps 2 rooms away but on the extreme only 20 on my laptop/ipad and perhaps 2 on my iPhone. Unfortunately, any further away than that, I lose signal on my old router. Otherwise, I would have scraped the extreme.

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Answer 2

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,318 points

Jul 2, 2014 6:04 PM in response to jrosemergy

If you connect directly to the modem, then you are using a direct Ethernet connection for the speed check.

When you switch to the AirPort Extreme, are you also connecting in the same manner to one of the LAN Ethernet ports on the AirPort Extreme?......or......are you connecting using wireless?

If the AirPort Extreme is working correctly and configured correctly, it is reasonable to expect that you would receive something in the 85-90 Mbps range when you run a speed check.....with your computer connected directly using Ethernet to one of the LAN ports on the AirPort Extreme. The reason for this is that there is usually some overhead loss in the routing process, typically 10-15% or so.

The 45 Mbps speed that you received......was this with a direct Ethernet connection from your Mac to an Ethernet port on the AirPort Extreme?.....or was this a wireless connection....which is an entirely different situation than an Ethernet connection. An Ethernet speed test on a router would also normally be done with the wireless function on the router turned off entirely....but we will not ask you to do that....unless you have the time and inclination.

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Answer 3

jrosemergy Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 2, 2014 7:00 PM in response to Bob Timmons

The test where I got the 100m speed was a direct, hardwire ethernet connection between the modem and my laptop. The 45m speed test was done wirelessly using the AirPort Extreme. Is that as good as I can expect With a wireless connection?

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Answer 4

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,318 points

Jul 2, 2014 7:06 PM in response to jrosemergy

Sorry, but until we know what connection speed that you are receiving with a direct Ethernet connection on the AirPort Extreme, we can't really proceed with troubleshooting in a logical manner.

In other words, we need to compare apples to apples first, before we can compare apples to oranges.

Is is possible for you to run that check?

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Answer 5

jrosemergy Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 2, 2014 7:12 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Sorry, I misunderstood, yes, I can run that test and circle back.

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Answer 6

jrosemergy Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 2, 2014 7:21 PM in response to jrosemergy

OK, just did that speed check -- it was 91.5M down, 4.3 up.

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Answer 7

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,318 points

Jul 2, 2014 7:33 PM in response to jrosemergy

OK, thanks for checking that.

The AirPort is performing very well with a wired Ethernet connection.....exactly what would be expected due to the normal 10-15% overhead loss in the routing process.

So, the issue is wireless......liikely wireless interference with other devices and other networks near you.

I assume that you have a simple wired modem......and not a modem/router or gateway that is also producing another wireless network, correct?

Turn off as many wireless devices in your home as you can for a few minutes.....cordless phones, baby monitors, thermostats, other computers, iPhones, etc and keep just one Mac laptop on.

Power off the AirPort, wait a minute, then power it back up.

Locate the laptop about 8-10 feet away with line-of-sight to the AirPort router and check the speed that way. What are the results?

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Answer 8

jrosemergy Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 2, 2014 7:41 PM in response to Bob Timmons

OK, I'll give that a go, although I cant really do it right now, will wait until a bit later when people are asleep and don't need the connection. Should I disconnect things that are hard wired as well?

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Answer 9

jrosemergy Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 2, 2014 8:00 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Clan actually decided to go to bed early, which gave me an opportunity to get this done. Speed was somewhat improved with everything with a wireless connection I could think of turned off -- 54 down, 4.3 up -- but still not really close to 100M.

Thanks much for your assistance with this, by the way, I really appreciate it.

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Answer 10

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,318 points

Jul 2, 2014 8:07 PM in response to jrosemergy

Only wireless devices need to be turned off during the "test". Don't forget the printer/scanner if yours is wireless as well.

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Answer 11

Bob Timmons

Level 10

185,318 points

Jul 2, 2014 8:15 PM in response to jrosemergy

50 Mbps or so wireless is going to be about it, unless you really want to dig much more deeply.......like hiring an IT guy to come out and run a scan using professional equipment to identify sources of wireless interference around you.

Unfortunately, you can't do much about the wireless networks at the neighbors.

If the AirPort Extreme is not already located in the center of your home.....as far away from the outside walls as possible.....that may buy you a bit more performance since signals from other networks will not be able to reach the AirPort as easily that way.

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Answer 12

jrosemergy Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 2, 2014 8:21 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Ok, fair enough. Thanks again for taking the time to respond and go through this with me.

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Answer 13

Jul 21, 2014 8:16 PM in response to jrosemergy

Here is an interesting story. For last last 6 months I have had a great wireless network using 4 airport extremes (large house) and running off Charter 100 mbps service. On Friday night 7/18/2014 Charter had a major crash in my area (La Canada, CA). When the service came back up on Sunday the airports would no longer connect properly to the cable modem though the modem would connect directly to the computer. Also the extremes worked fine with an older DSL model (backup service from ATT). Charter came out and spent 4 hours to no avail. There final solution was to blame it on Apple despite the fact that the whole network worked fine on DSL. As of today, the problem remains. Any thoughts or help invited. It is quite a mystery.

Brad Cornell, Caltech.

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