Technicolor Modem TC7210: Questions about WiFi Speed Variations

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Technicolor Modem TC7210: Questions about WiFi Speed Variations

frednz

1467 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#177179 25-Jul-2015 11:40

I have recently had installed Vodafone's Technicolor Modem TC7210 .dNZ for which I selected the 50Mbps plan. When connected directly to the computer I get 49Mbps, but when I use WiFi I generally get between 30Mbps and 40Mbps.

I have found that this reduction in speed varies according to how far away from the receiving device the modem is located. For example, if the device is within a couple of metres of the modem, I get about 48Mbps, but a couple of rooms away (in a single level home) I usually get between 30Mbps and 40Mbps.

Can anyone tell me please whether this level of speed drop-off within a small single-level home is what you would expect?

Is there anything that can be done to improve this situation when the computer / mobile phone etc is not in the same room as the modem?

The upload speed doesn't seem to vary from room to room, being about 2Mbps.

It's interesting that the WiFi and the modem are all part of the TC7210, which eliminates the need for a separate router.

If I was to upgrade to 100Mbps, I guess I would then get about 70Mbps from WiFi when I am not in the same room as the TC7210, is that what you would expect?

Thanks very much for your advice.

Fred

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

6019 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#1351528 25-Jul-2015 11:40

Hello... Our robot found some keywords in your post, so here is an automated reply with some important things to note regarding broadband speeds.

If you are posting regarding DSL speeds please check that

- you have reset your modem and router

- your PC (or other PCs in your LAN) is not downloading large files when you are testing

- you are not being throttled by your ISP due to going over the monthly cap

- your tests are always done on an ethernet connection to the router - do not use wireless for testing

- you read this topic and follow the instructions there.

Make sure you provide information for other users to help you. If you have not already done it, please EDIT your post and add this now:

- Your ISP and plan

- Type of connection (ADSL, ADSL2, VDSL)

- Your modem DSL stats (do not worry about posting Speedtest, we need sync rate, attenuation and noise margin)

- Your general location (or street)

- If you are rural or urban

- If you know your connection is to an exchange, cabinet or conklin

- If your connection is to a ULL or wholesale service

- If you have done an isolation test as per the link above

Most of the problems with speed are likely to be related to internal wiring issues. Read this discussion to find out more about this. Your ISP is not intentionally slowing you down today (unless you are on a managed plan). Also if this is the school holidays it's likely you will notice slower than usual speed due to more users online.

A master splitter is required for VDSL2 and in most cases will improve speeds on DSL connections. Regular disconnections can be a monitored alarm or a set top box trying to connect. If there's an alarm connected to your line even if you don't have an alarm contract it may still try to connect so it's worth checking.

I recommend you read these two blog posts:

- Is your premises phone wiring impacting your broadband performance? (very technical)

- Are you receiving a substandard ULL ADSL2+ connection from your ISP?

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

tdgeek

29755 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1351550 25-Jul-2015 12:30

I think you answered your question.

I have found that this reduction in speed varies according to how far away from the receiving device the modem is located.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1351567 25-Jul-2015 13:07

What you are experiencing is to be expected, WiFi is not a replacement for Ethernet

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1351568 25-Jul-2015 13:08

You have answered your own question. Everything is working as designed.

You are on a plan that only has 2Mbps up. You can't get any higher than this. If you move to a 100Mbps plan your download will stay the same but upload will increase.

Jase2985

13466 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1351596 25-Jul-2015 14:14

if you are getting 30-40mbps then you will only be connected to the modem at 60-72mbps, take away wifi overhead and you are left with 30-40mbps of actual throughput.

the speed is related to your devices and how they have negotiated their connection speed with the modem.

Nothing wrong at all.

jlittle

188 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

Subscriber

#1351606 25-Jul-2015 14:26

frednz: If I was to upgrade to 100Mbps, I guess I would then get about 70Mbps from WiFi when I am not in the same room as the TC7210, is that what you would expect?

As other posts have implied, no; the WiFi speed is not related to the modem speed, except that the latter limits the former if using the internet.
50 Mbps sounds like a good 802.11g; if both your router and device support 802.11n, often referred to as "N" on adverts, you might get better, but in practice I don't know; it gets messy.
I'm just posting to point out the alternative of using "powerline" devices. Still a bit costly (IMO) in New Zealand, but very flexible. If you wanted to drive a TV rooms away from the router it might be the thing.

frednz

1467 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1351643 25-Jul-2015 16:55

sbiddle: You have answered your own question. Everything is working as designed.

You are on a plan that only has 2Mbps up. You can't get any higher than this. If you move to a 100Mbps plan your download will stay the same but upload will increase.

Thanks very much for your replies. I agree that it's obvious that, the closer the receiving device is to the WiFi source, the stronger the signal will be.

However, don't you think that a Vodafone WiFi speed test result of a download speed of 30Mbps, when the computer is 12 metres away from the modem, is quite a lot to drop when you consider that, when the computer is 2 metres away from the modem, the speed test on WiFi gives a result of 48Mbps?

So, if I want to get 50Mbps download speed when the computer is on WiFi and 12 metres from the modem, I guess I will need to upgrade to the 100Mbps plan?

Fred

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

Jase2985

13466 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1351647 25-Jul-2015 17:06

nope its more than acceptable, i can go 10m from my modem through 3 walls and it goes from 50/10 to about 20/7, thats just how wifi is.

upgrading to the 100mbps plan will have no effect as your issue is the wifi, not the internet plan you are on. if you want faster wifi you either need a device that supports N150/300 or anything wifi AC. and bring you device closer to source.

As has been mentioned wifi is a complementary solution to ethernet (wired) not a replacement, if you want fast speeds you need decices that support wifi AC and are close (same room) to your modem or you need to use a cable. its as simple as that

put it simply you are being limited by your wifi connection, not your internet connection, chaning internet plans wont make your wifi speed any faster

AKLWestie

641 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1351652 25-Jul-2015 17:11

In general, there is no way to guarantee minimum wifi speeds. There are lots of things outside your control that affects speed, such as interference (say your neighbour set up new wifi access points, adding more wireless phones), microwave ovens, individual devices (my numerous computers and tablets achieve different speeds at the same location), and even weather (yes, my wifi slows down during rainny / humid days).

Vodafone and all other ISPs supply broadband services, not wifi. So they cannot guarantee your wifi speed even you take the most expensive plan.

Just my 2 cents.

frednz

1467 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1351662 25-Jul-2015 17:45

Jase2985: nope its more than acceptable, i can go 10m from my modem through 3 walls and it goes from 50/10 to about 20/7, thats just how wifi is.

upgrading to the 100mbps plan will have no effect as your issue is the wifi, not the internet plan you are on. if you want faster wifi you either need a device that supports N150/300 or anything wifi AC. and bring you device closer to source.

As has been mentioned wifi is a complementary solution to ethernet (wired) not a replacement, if you want fast speeds you need decices that support wifi AC and are close (same room) to your modem or you need to use a cable. its as simple as that

put it simply you are being limited by your wifi connection, not your internet connection, chaning internet plans wont make your wifi speed any faster

Thanks Jase and Westie, so it would seem that, even if I upgraded to a 200Mbps fibre plan,I might still get only 30Mbps from my computer on WiFi if the computer is 12 metres away from the modem and the signal has to go through two walls. This is assuming that I am using the same router as at present.

I use WiFi at a distance of 12 metres from the modem because my computer is attached to my large LCD TV by HDMI for watching Netflix etc.

I guess it's made clear in the fine print somewhere that WiFi speeds may not improve even if you upgrade to a faster plan. Of course, the router I am using is built-in to the TC7210, so I guess it must be a pretty good one?

I suppose it would be possible to use a better router than the one built-in to the TC7210, but I'm not sure that this would then be compatible with the TC7210 set-up.

Fred

Jase2985

13466 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1351665 25-Jul-2015 17:55

what wifi card is in your computer?

andrewNZ

2487 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1351666 25-Jul-2015 17:57

If you want a reliable connection you MUST to use a cable, its as simple as that.

You just aren't going to get much better than you currently have ATM with WiFi. There are so many things that can degrade the signal strength and quality. Even if you do get a full speed WiFi connection, it could fail at any time due to influences both in and out of your control.

Just run a cable. Or, failing that, get some powerline adaptors.

frednz

1467 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1351721 25-Jul-2015 20:30

Jase2985: what wifi card is in your computer?

Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230

frednz

1467 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1351722 25-Jul-2015 20:35

andrewNZ: If you want a reliable connection you MUST to use a cable, its as simple as that.

You just aren't going to get much better than you currently have ATM with WiFi. There are so many things that can degrade the signal strength and quality. Even if you do get a full speed WiFi connection, it could fail at any time due to influences both in and out of your control.

Just run a cable. Or, failing that, get some powerline adaptors.

Thanks for that advice, I see that Vodafone talk about powerline adaptors here:

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/broadband/netcomm-adaptors-extend/

Fred

richms

28218 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1352614 27-Jul-2015 15:03

You would need to add an accesspoint to that router. Ideally cable it to the lcoation where you want to use the internet and get a decent 802.11ac accesspoint if your devices support that. 5GHz 802.11n is an option if the devices only do that, but getting any thruput on a 2.4GHz device near what you are seeing is about it for a good day. Some days < 10 when in the same room is common. Depends on what else is on the same band nearby.

If you are getting 50 megabit out of an ethernet port on the router then the conection and equipment is working fine. Vodafone cannot and will not be able to assist with wifi performance issues other than giving you a list of things to do like not put the router ontop of a microwave oven or a metal cabinet etc.

Richard rich.ms

1 | 2 | 3 | 4