Charter claims they are going to provide better pricing

[John2021]

They won't deal around here, at all, not even if you go into their "local" office, which is 35 miles away in Saginaw. I tried that, even CSR roulette. They refuse to give you ANY deals (except bundling of course, and that increases your price in total, not lowers it), and IF you even dare to threaten to quit, they'll immediately say, "Ok, sorry to see you go, I'll cancel your account right now".

They KNOW we don't have any options around here, not even 5g internet is available to us from any supplier. NOT having internet is no longer an option, it's a MUST to have it.

agree they know they have a monopoly in your area and they won't deal!!! in my area we have all kinds of options once we get wired for 10GB fiber that's where were going

 

[harshness]

Specially since the Marvel content is not on MAX.

That's two mistakes in a month. I meant DC but the same thing goes for Marvel content on Disney+ (though perhaps to a lesser extent).

To watch most DC content in 4K w/Atmos (as you tout ad nauseam as a big attraction of streaming), there's a $19.99/month price tag. The rest of the Max offering doesn't excite me much but once every year or two.

My point is that even if I want specific content, more and more I must subscribe to some form of ever-expanding package with an incrementally higher price and, more recently with add-ons for "special" features like 4K and higher level multi-channel audio.

No, I'm not impressed that I can now subscribe to Disney+, Hulu and Max (sans 4K/Atmos on Max) in one huge steaming pile.

 

[harshness]

I see that DiSH still puts out a self-install kit.

This is not true. To set up an account, you must submit to a professional installation.

Once the account is established, you have considerable flexibility.

 

[Bruce]

To watch most DC content in 4K w/Atmos (as you tout ad nauseam as a big attraction of streaming), there's a $19.99/month price tag. The rest of the Max offering doesn't excite me much but once every year or two.

That is why keeping a eye out for specials is a good idea, for example, have 4K MAX for $139 a year, Paramount+ w/Showime for $60 and Peacock for $20 (still not worth that).

Plus the Hulu/Disney/ESPN+ bundle for $26 a month.

 

[EarDemon]

Yes, they replaced a splitter to even get it that high, when my modem and speed was upgraded to the 300/10 speeds. They originally sent me a "self install" kit with the new modem, and it didn't change my speed from the old 100/10. So, tech came and replaced an ancient splitter from back when I had cable AND internet, and that upped me to 175/10. I can't remember now if he installed a newer splitter, or replaced it with a coax to coax connector. It comes up behind and in the middle of a HUGE tv stand, and it's not easy to get back there without a major operation.

What modem did they give you? If anything other than one of the D3.1 Spectrum branded modems from Ubee, Hitron, Technicolor or Sercomm exchange it. I would push for a Technicolor or Ubee personally.

If you plug the modem directly into a PC with a 1 Gb (or greater) NIC, bypassing all routers and switches with a brand new CAT5/5e/6 cable what is the result?

Also to rule out LAN hardware issues, have you tried to transfer a single large file across your LAN to see if the transfer rate exceeds 22 MBps?

If you do a speedtest in the middle of the night what are your results? 300 x 10 should get you just under 360 x 12 with the 20% overprovision minus the TCP/IP overhead.

When the tech was out, what speeds was he getting on his meter? Their new meters have the ability to run speed tests on them. The can plug it directly into the coax or have the coax plug into the modem and use the modems ethernet port to plug into their meter.

Did the tech mention the signal and SNR levels? Did he notice anything off with the downstream ODFM channel?

Is the splitter balanced ot unbalanced? If unbalanced is the modem on the -3.5 leg or - 7 leg

Any security software inplay that can be disabled? Can't speak for present day, but in the past with certain Network Intrusion features enabled in Symantec Endpoint Protection, my WAN speeds dropped to 600 - 650 Mbps.

 

[EarDemon]

we threatened to cancel and goto fiber as it was cheaper they gave us the gig plan for 45.00 a month for a year!!! it will be interesting to see what happens when i have to call in and rattle there brains again for a better rate. i'll drop em and not care for a better rate

Please drop them. Do you think these companies are stupid? Sure they will give you a $30 price break now, then next year all of our bills increase to negate what was lost and then some.

They have changed, but one of the things I liked about Charter was if you called up to cancel, they'd close the account on the spot. No retention, you got what you asked for. Bye, bye.

agree they know they have a monopoly in your area and they won't deal!!! in my area we have all kinds of options once we get wired for 10GB fiber that's where were going

Why should they? I live in Upstate NY, it's hundreds of miles to the nearest Kroger. I can't walk into a Wegman's and expect them to honor Kroger's price for a bottle of Coke.

While I have nothing against faster speeds, multigig is pretty much a marketing gimmick at this point for home use. How many people have 10 Gb NICs in their devices, how many people have 10 Gb routers and switches? And while 802.11be (aka wifi 7 for the uneducated masses) can deliver >gigabit speeds, now many people will rush out to buy 802.11be routers or WAPs and get Wireless be devices so they can take advantage of those speeds while sitting a few feet from those routers or WAPs?

 

[harshness]

That is why keeping a eye out for specials is a good idea, for example, have 4K MAX for $139 a year, Paramount+ w/Showime for $60 and Peacock for $20 (still not worth that).

Laying out $139 for a handful of movies one or two TV series is not a good deal. It gets worse when you look at how many episodes are offered in a modern "season". If you can binge the whole of a year's good offerings in a day or two, I can't see subscribing to even a month, much less a year.

 

[harshness]

How many people have 10 Gb NICs in their devices, how many people have 10 Gb routers and switches?

10Gbps isn't the next logical step. I'm in the process of migrating my most powerful machines to 2.5Gbps. It is relatively inexpensive (compared to 10Gbps) and makes a big difference in bandwidth-intensive programs.

Another bit of magic with 2.5Gbps is that you can pull it off with Cat5e up to 60 feet.

You can get serviceable NIC cards for under $20 and five-port switches (with a 10Gbps uplink) for under $45.

At the router level, it probably doesn't make much sense as multi-gig broadband service is typically quite a bit more expensive but if that's what you have, 2.5Gbps will usually cover it.

 

[primestar31]

What modem did they give you? If anything other than one of the D3.1 Spectrum branded modems from Ubee, Hitron, Technicolor or Sercomm exchange it. I would push for a Technicolor or Ubee personally.

Hitron EN2251 My router is a Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 R7000, and it's updated with the newest firmware from a few months ago.

If you plug the modem directly into a PC with a 1 Gb (or greater) NIC, bypassing all routers and switches with a brand new CAT5/5e/6 cable what is the result?

Tried that years ago with the old modem, and it MARRIED the modem to the laptop (Charter did this for some strange reason). It was a bitch to get it uncoupled, and back to working with my router. Not going to try it again.

Also to rule out LAN hardware issues, have you tried to transfer a single large file across your LAN to see if the transfer rate exceeds 22 MBps?

Maxes out at about 28.2 MB/s (edit 4:36pm)

If you do a speedtest in the middle of the night what are your results? 300 x 10 should get you just under 360 x 12 with the 20% overprovision minus the TCP/IP overhead.

Will have to try that later. 175MB/s 4am

When the tech was out, what speeds was he getting on his meter? Their new meters have the ability to run speed tests on them. The can plug it directly into the coax or have the coax plug into the modem and use the modems ethernet port to plug into their meter.

Don't remember, but he checked right at the pole, right at the input to the side of the house Dmarc box, and right at the modem before and AFTER replacing the splitter he determined was the biggest issue.

Did the tech mention the signal and SNR levels? Did he notice anything off with the downstream ODFM channel?

Don't remember, but he had the modem re-provisioned by calling in. By the way, back when he was here, it was only promised to be like 200/10 at that time, and I've seen it as fast as 178 MB/s. Not sure when they supposedly UPPED me to 400/10, but I've NEVER gotten speeds like that.

When they first offered high speed here, it was like 30/10. Then some years later, went to 100/10, then later to 200/10. Now they claim 400/10.

Is the splitter balanced ot unbalanced? If unbalanced is the modem on the -3.5 leg or - 7 leg

It was a coax coupler. I removed it, and pulled the coax going to the Spectrum demarc box out more, (there was enough extra coiled up) and connected it directly to the modem. So, that jumper piece is now gone. It made no difference on the speed, as you can see below.

Any security software inplay that can be disabled? Can't speak for present day, but in the past with certain Network Intrusion features enabled in Symantec Endpoint Protection, my WAN speeds dropped to 600 - 650 Mbps.

NO special security software on the router.

 

[harshness]

That's an unhappy result given an advertised "up to" 400Mbps service. It looks more like 100-120Mbps service.

 

[primestar31]

Hitron EN2251 My router is a Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 R7000, and it's updated with the newest firmware from a few months ago.

Tried that years ago with the old modem, and it MARRIED the modem to the laptop (Charter did this for some strange reason). It was a bitch to get it uncoupled, and back to working with my router. Not going to try it again.

Maxes out at about 28.2 MB/s (edit 4:36pm)

Will have to try that later. 175MB/s 4am

Don't remember, but he checked right at the pole, right at the input to the side of the house Dmarc box, and right at the modem before and AFTER replacing the splitter he determined was the biggest issue.


Don't remember, but he had the modem re-provisioned by calling in. By the way, back when he was here, it was only promised to be like 200/10 at that time, and I've seen it as fast as 178 MB/s. Not sure when they supposedly UPPED me to 400/10, but I've NEVER gotten speeds like that.

When they first offered high speed here, it was like 30/10. Then some years later, went to 100/10, then later to 200/10. Now they claim 400/10.

It was a coax coupler. I removed it, and pulled the coax going to the Spectrum demarc box out more, (there was enough extra coiled up) and connected it directly to the modem. So, that jumper piece is now gone. It made no difference on the speed, as you can see below.

NO special security software on the router.

View attachment 174574

Just installed a new TP-Link Archer AX3000 router. Here's the difference between the new one, and my 8~ year old Netgear Nighthawk AC1900. Quite a difference, and I'm not 100% done doing some tweaks to it:

 

[EarDemon]

Just installed a new TP-Link Archer AX3000 router. Here's the difference between the new one, and my 8~ year old Netgear Nighthawk AC1900. Quite a difference, and I'm not 100% done doing some tweaks to it:
View attachment 174863

So do you still despise a company that was giving you the speeds you were paying for all along but couldn't achieve because your equipment was at fault and had nothing to do with Charter?

Glad you are seeing the speeds you are paying for. My Cisco RV320 router couldn't achieve gigabit speeds when I first upgraded to Gigabit in 2018, even though the ports were GigE. Not once did I blame Charter, I bought it's successor, the RV340 and get 900+ all the time ever since

For your pervious post, there is no 'marrying' the modem to your computer if you bypass the router. The closest thing would be if you were a business or enterprise customer with a static IP, you would have to manually enter the IP assigned by Charter along with the subnet mask and DNS info in the NIC properties on the computer, i used to do this at my previous job to test things with plugging the fiber media converter directly into a laptop. In a non business environment, when you go bypass the router you have to reboot everything. I have a StarTech 10 Gb NIC in my desktop and every once in a while do just that so I can get those 1.2 Gb results. It's not a bitch to get everything working again, just takes 5 minutes of patience waiting for things to reboot.

 

[primestar31]

I despise Charter/Spectrum for their pricing, which internet-ONLY just went to $82.99 a month for 300/10, (which by the way I never get higher than around 175~/10). But I really don't need any higher speed. I'd LOVE to find an internet provider that was under $50 a month, but there's nobody else here except TDS Telecom DSL, and TDS is far WORSE than Charter/Spectrum with outages and technical issues, and locked down network. I got rid of their POTS line 10 years ago, and was happy as a clam to do that.

So do you still despise a company that was giving you the speeds you were paying for all along but couldn't achieve because your equipment was at fault and had nothing to do with Charter?

IF you notice from my original post, which I linked above, I clearly stated that I despise Charter/Spectrum for their PRICING, which IMO, is far too high for an "internet-only" account. I NEVER said I despise them for the speeds they stated, or what I was getting with the old router.

Also by the way, I never expected THIS high of a difference, just because of swapping the router with a new one, or I'd have tried it a long time ago. This TP-Link router did about 90% of the configuration automatically, AND, got it all perfect compared to my original Netgear router that had to have nearly everything configured manually, and in depth. It was a great router, but I got about 8 years out of it before it started acting up these last few weeks, so I can't complain too much. To boot, the new TP-Link router was 1/2 the cost of the Netgear.

There's only 1 single thing the new router can't do: It doesn't have a built-in USB print server capability, and I would have liked that. I have an older Brother laser printer that's USB only. So, I'll have to get a print server to handle that. Or maybe I'll get a network laser. Not sure I want to lay out that much money for one though.

 

[navychop]

I don’t recall the term, but there is a class of printers that let you print from anywhere in the world.

My next printer will be such. Local LAN printing isn’t enough.

1% of the first world problems?

 

[harshness]

I bought it's successor, the RV340 and get 900+ all the time ever since

You must be a glutton for punishment. I threw out the Cisco router I inherited as it only supported the proprietary (and horribly inefficient) Cisco VPN scheme.