I've been dealing with a frustrating internet issue for the past 2.5 weeks, and neither my internet provider (BAI Connect) nor NETGEAR has been able to solve it. I pay for 1000mbps up and down, and until recently, my speeds were decent. After an outage about 2.5 weeks ago, my speeds dropped significantly to only 150-200mbps down and 0-200mbps up, both wired and via Wi-Fi. When I run upload speed tests, they often freeze, and I get a ping of over 3000 before the test ends.
When I'm on video calls or gaming, people complain that my voice sounds robotic, even though I use a high-quality microphone (SM7B). Strangely, using a VPN seems to improve my voice quality. I've spent countless hours troubleshooting with my ISP and NETGEAR, and I even bought a new router, but the speeds remain the same. A technician from my ISP checked everything, connected directly to the wall, and saw around 600mbps, which is still way below my plan. I need fast internet because I'm a video editor working with large files in the cloud. I've already gone through the process of changing channels and static settings. I can't switch ISPs because it's provided through my apartment building. I'm looking for suggestions on what to do next, as I'm really at my wit's end with this issue.
4 Answers
You might want to ask them to come out and run a speed test themselves. If they don't find any issues, it could be worth checking your router, PC motherboard, or Wi-Fi card updates. If nothing works, consider complaining enough that they might discount your bill or even let you out of the contract!
Have you run a 'tracert' to the websites you upload/download from or even to things like 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8? This can help identify where the slowdown starts.
Dealing with ISP issues in apartments can be a pain. Just remember, even though you’re getting 600mbps now, apartments often have wiring issues, like splitters that mess with the signal. The tech should test the egress and ingress on your coax to check for noise and problems. If the ISP can't give you the speeds you're paying for, maybe consider downgrading your plan to match what you actually get.
Try testing your LAN speed by transferring a file between devices on your home network. You should see at least 1 gbps. Once you do that, you can claim there's an ISP issue and let them sort it out. Also, double-check what speed you are guaranteed in your contract with them.
They did send someone out, and he got the same speeds with my new router.