Why is my upload speed stuck at 2–10 Mbps when my plan includes 50 Mbps?
Asked by
MellowPine47
I'm paying for 1 Gbps download and 50 Mbps upload, but my upload speed has been consistently terrible. The gateway app reports roughly 1 Gbps down and 137 Mbps up, while real tests on my devices show around 788 Mbps down but only 2–6 Mbps up. I've tested multiple phones, computers, and tablets over both Wi‑Fi and Ethernet, including a computer connected with a new Cat 6 cable to a replacement modem/router. The ISP has replaced the supplied equipment, cables, and coax splitters, and two technicians have tested the connection, but they only say the signal looks fine on their end. What could explain the difference between the app's results and the actual upload performance?
Answers
Try one controlled test with a computer connected directly to the modem or ISP gateway, temporarily bypassing the mesh system and any personal router. Reboot the modem after changing the connection, then run several tests using different servers. If the upload is still poor there, document the results and dates for the ISP; that points strongly to their line or provisioning rather than your local network.
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Since several unrelated devices have the same upload problem over both Wi‑Fi and Ethernet, it’s very unlikely that all of your hardware is defective. The app may be measuring the connection between the gateway and the ISP, while your device tests measure traffic through the full network. Ask the ISP to run an end-to-end upload test from a device connected directly to the modem or gateway, not just a signal-level check.
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This sounds like an upstream signal or line-capacity problem. Cable connections can show acceptable downstream levels while upstream channels are suffering from noise, interference, or failing equipment. The maintenance crew should check the tap, drop, connectors, splitters, and return-path noise, then verify the upload rate under load. Ask them to identify where the speed drops instead of simply confirming that the modem is online.
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Make sure the plan is actually provisioned for 50 Mbps upstream and that the modem is using the correct upload channel configuration. A modem can report excellent signal levels while having a bad upstream channel, damaged return path, or congestion affecting real traffic. The ISP should check modem logs for timeouts, ranging errors, and upstream noise—not just look at the headline speed in the gateway app.
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MellowPine47: That’s what I’m hoping the maintenance visit checks. The earlier technicians mostly tested the modem and showed me the gateway app, but the actual device results stayed around 3–10 Mbps.