Cable internet
Saturday, 10Jan2015 Filed in: Life Hacks
I’m betting on usual weather, but since the middle of November my cable internet service has been bad. Yes, it’s a big part of living in a rural Arizona desert, but my cable company deserves a big part of the blame. Even when it’s up, it’s usually only about a megabyte per second download speed. Often my download speed is less than my upload speed.
Since Yule, my cable internet has been down for hours twice.
Anyway, after years of experimenting, here is what I know usually works.
Replace all your interior cable with high grade commercial cable. Most cable companies do not own the cable inside your house, even if they installed it. This is the first thing that’s usually blamed. So make sure all your connectors are good, tighten them with something like this or this.
Make sure the opposing tension on any unwound cable does not unscrew any connectors, particularly on splitters.
Amplify your signal. I suggest something like this pro-grade Motorola Signal Booster. Don’t rely on the RF booster you can pick up at WalMart. It won’t work.
Cable modems were not designed to be used by mere mortals. They have no on-off switches and no reset switches. Yes, I know that some have a internal diagnostic webpage, but I’ve found these usually don’t work worth squat. Cable companies also frown on using F-type female to male push-on plug adaptors, but trust me, this helps. When you call and actually talk to a human-type person, one of the first things you’ll be asked is to unplug the cable modem, wait, then plug it back in. Then you’ll be asked to unplug the modem, disconnect the cable, wait, plug the modem in, wait, then reconnect the cable. If that doesn’t work, you’ll be asked to check the cable.
If you do all this, 99% of the time it’s not going to be your issue. Don’t be surprised if after you call the problem soon “fixes” itself without you seeing a single cable company employee.
Since Yule, my cable internet has been down for hours twice.
Anyway, after years of experimenting, here is what I know usually works.
Replace all your interior cable with high grade commercial cable. Most cable companies do not own the cable inside your house, even if they installed it. This is the first thing that’s usually blamed. So make sure all your connectors are good, tighten them with something like this or this.
Make sure the opposing tension on any unwound cable does not unscrew any connectors, particularly on splitters.
Amplify your signal. I suggest something like this pro-grade Motorola Signal Booster. Don’t rely on the RF booster you can pick up at WalMart. It won’t work.
Cable modems were not designed to be used by mere mortals. They have no on-off switches and no reset switches. Yes, I know that some have a internal diagnostic webpage, but I’ve found these usually don’t work worth squat. Cable companies also frown on using F-type female to male push-on plug adaptors, but trust me, this helps. When you call and actually talk to a human-type person, one of the first things you’ll be asked is to unplug the cable modem, wait, then plug it back in. Then you’ll be asked to unplug the modem, disconnect the cable, wait, plug the modem in, wait, then reconnect the cable. If that doesn’t work, you’ll be asked to check the cable.
If you do all this, 99% of the time it’s not going to be your issue. Don’t be surprised if after you call the problem soon “fixes” itself without you seeing a single cable company employee.
blog comments powered by Disqus